The sun., 1919-06-23
SEEK MORE LIGHT
ON CABLE JUGGLERY
Charges That British and
French Are Selling Goods in
Germany Stirs Capital.
U. s. MESSAGES HELD UP
American Sales in Neutral
Countries Alleged to Have
Been Blocked.
sp.clar pespa.eA 70 Tn. Sun.

bptGot bcsD0fcN 10 TuD QUIZ.
wAsHISoroN, June e2.--oovernments
Investigation Of reports to New York
firms that British and French interests
are selling supplies and materials TO
Germans In Germany is likely. of,cisl
reports on such sales are lacking. bnt
keen interest Is apparent in the story
told by a representative OF New York
house who lost an oil sale in Holland
because Of delayed cables to his New
York house
The United States Government has
used all its war restrictive powers TO
prevent American firms or individuals
from selling goods to the enemy or SAIL
ing goods In neutral countries that were
destined for the enemy.
The United States has shipped under
Government supervision and control
many cargoes of food to Germany which
the Germans have been compelled TO pay
for. Industrial materials, however, have
been held up rs effectually, II is believed,
as they were during the war. II IL
regarded as likely that the British and
French have supplied food ana materials
to the Germans from army stores or stfr-
plus ttored behind tho front, but 20 far
a. can be learned there Is no Official
knowledge OF other transactions such as
those indicated by the New York sales
man.
There is little doubt that the invssti-
eating committees in Congress will look
Into the situation reported and demand
All or the facts. IL any. in possession
or the State Department, the Depurt-
nient OF Commerce and the War Trade
Board.
The War Trade Board In lifting trade
restrictions and embargoes following the
signing OF the armistice repeatedly has
called attention to the fact that removal
or such restrictive measures and the
issuance or license Of removal of license
requirements could not be construed as
permission for enemy trading and has
warned that goods must not DO shipped
where It was known or suspected they
were destined for German hands.
Inc blockade against Germany, exoept
as to food and necessities Of life has not
peen lifted and II was understood hare
that the War Trade Board and other
agencies were acting ut the behest of
the economic conference or the Inter
allied council to which all Of the coun-
tries were parties The British and
french particularly have insisted upon
that Germany would not be strengthened
until peace had been secured
Many members OF Congress have given
close attention to the trade atuatIon.
however. particularly In the aspects of
It's dependence on the cables. Repre-
sentative Kahn (Cal.) and other mem.
bers who visited the war area havs
came back convinced of the necessity
OF establishing an all American cabIe
line with terminal offices In the Du-
ropean countries.
There have been many cha r~a- ~
fore the war and since that American
commercial cabiegrams have been with
held. or at least not delivered or greatly
delayed. despite the fact that American
censorship was lifted. II was supposed
that all censorship was removed months
ago, but official announcement was made
that all censorship was Off June 10.
Under present cable arrangements
practically all American cablegrams 20
Europe and most South American ccun-
tries go through London and through
British hands. Mr.. Kahn and other
Statesmen are convinced that this
should be remedied 10 that American
messages would under normal condi-
tons be handled by Americans IN an
all American service.
Before the United States entered the
war there was bitter complaint that
messages between this country and all
northern European peutrals were In
many cases not delivered. ana American
firms lost large foreign trade orders as
q result.