South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-28
j. s. TO ASSIST
SPAIN IN TRADE
Will Help DonS in Moving Big
Amount of Supplies to Gen.
PerShlng's Camp.

WAsHINGTON. Feb. $50 as
sist Spain in moving supplies 10
Gen Pershing's forces the United
states is ready. the war trade board
announced tonight. 20 release for
Spanish use some OF its own badly
needed railway materials.
Spain has been notified again that
all Spanish ships held in American
ports are free TO sail a. soon as they
discharge parts OF their cargoes for
which licenses have been refused
or revoked.
The offer IS made 20 induce the
Spanish government 10 lift its en-
barge on the shipment OF goods in
10 France. placed, it was claimed.
because OF "a breakdown in Spanish
railroad transportation. A final
agreement between the two nations,
the board announced, is near. al
though not actually signed as yet.
railroad system is planned by the
United States 10 make possible the
Rehabilitation OF the Spanish
plies from Spain 10 Gen. Pershing's
forces in France.
An offer Of American railway ma
terials has been made as a part of
negotiations the United States is
conducting 10 induce Spain TO lift
her mbargo against the shipment
Of goods into France, placed. ac-
cOTding to the Spanish govern
ment because of the broken down
condition OF her roads.
End of Negotiations Near.
While a final agreement has not
been signed, a conclusion of the ne
gotiations, it was said today. are
near, and Spain, which the Amer
lean government could charter.
again has been notified that all
Spanish ships held in American
ports are free 10 sail as soon as they
discharge the parts Of their cargoes
for which licenses have been de-
MED or revoked. 1t was reiterated
that there is no disposition TO hold
Spanish ships 10 exert pressure on
the negotiations There are now in
American ports six Spanish steam
ers and half as many sailing ships
The American government. it
was learned today. ira its latest pro-
posal TO Spain. has asked for the
use of considerable Spanish ION
mage on terms similar 20 those on
which il obtained ships owned by
the northern European neutral
countries. The tonnage would be
paid for at a high rate and for the
most part would be used by tho
United States in the n-hazardous
trades.
The war trade boards plan for
reducing imports calls for a con-
siderable decrease in the importa-
tion of Spanish products as the
American governments own needs
and those Of its associates in the
war will absorb most of the export
commodities produced in the Unit
ed States Exports to Spain also
Will be limited. This, in the view of
officials should release a number of
Spanish ships now plying between |
the United States and Spain, which |
the Spanish government could char |
ter.
The Spanish railroads have been /
in poor condition for long. time /
Cut off to a large extent from mate I
rails TO make repairs, the govern |
ment has beer unable 20 keep the /
roads efficient. The situation was
given by the Spanish government as
its reason for refusing to ship any /
thing into France. The embargo /
the shipment Of munitions, /
blankets and other supplies Gen. /
Pershing had ordered The United |
States will let Spain have general /