Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-11
USE CENSORSHIP
To GAIN TRADE
SECRE IS Of j. s.
Europeans Said to Be Obtain
ing Data From Reading Let
terS. Which Is Being Filed
for Future Reference,

Paris, April 10 (by the Associated
Press Although the blockade has
been formally lifted against all enc
my countries except Germany and
against Boishevist Russia, restrictions
on trade with Poland, Esthonia ana
eastern and southeastern Europe con-
tinue. There still is censorship of mail
and kilograms and an absence of pos
tai communication with the infant
states and resumption of trade and
of business relations is virtually
blocked
The American delegates have been
pressing in the ter-allied economic
council for modification of the CEN
sorship, but the system as regards
Europe remains in force The asso-
ciated governments therefore remain
in the position of giving with one
hand by lifting the blockade and with
holding with the other by maintain
ing commercial censorship. 1t is
hoped, nevertheless, that there soon
will be relaXations in or q removal
of the censorship.
The business situation in Poland,
Fsthona and the other new states
illustrates the entire dependence of
trade upon communications. The
blockade no longer exists for these
countries in theory, but owing to the
absence of postal or cable communi-
cations business men in Poland, for
instance, are unable to communicate
with the outer world to place orders
ar ARRANGE for resETnptioI~. of bnsi-
ness relations.
One Pole who reached Paris with
the Polish mission this week brought
no less than 10S important letters
which will reach the United States,
thanks only to this special opportun-
ity. Other business interests in War
saw and LodZ and similar trade and
industrial centers of the new state
cannot even lay the preliminary foun-
dations for business with the United
States until n mail route is estab-
lished and the commercial censor
ship Is modified.
European censorship OF mails and
cables to European neutrals contin-
ues in full force. Complaints. backed
by evidence are constantly being re-
ceived in Paris. These are to the ef- |
feet that the censorship is being util- |
ized not alone for the legitimate pur-
pose of preventing or hampering
trade with Germany but also to give |
the nationals Of the country exercis- |
ing the censorship an unfair advant- |
age over American competitors |
through information extracted from |
business correspondence
The assertion that all important |
business, information obtained from
American mail was being registered. |
tabnlated and studied for the benefit |
of British trade. was constantly made |
In Scandinavia before and after the |
entry of the United States into th, |
war American business men who re-
GENTLY have been in Scandinavia as
sert thev received the distinct impres-
sion that this system was stilI in
vogue. In one case an American bus
mess man with etensive connections
In Europe, is said to have found a cir
cular letter to his agents on the busi-
ness conditions in his particular line
reproduced in the information serv-
Ice of the censorine government.
The blockade procedure as applied |
today has to do principally with ey-
ports to European neutrals which are
still subject to extended DELAYS
through the necessity of cabling the
1etails of license applications back
md forth across the Atlantic. In
practice there is verv little limitation
IN the quantities of most of the COM
nodities which these neutrals are
permitted to receive
The formal blockade of Germany.
and with it of the adjacent nnutrals
will however probably he continued
'ntil the conclusion of peace. With
hat event it is the present intention
IT the economic representatives at
he peace conference to have the
whole blockade system end. the pro
oosals to continue economic pressure
,n Germanv after the war by such
means having been abandoned.