The sun., 1919-05-25
Immediate Reply to Identi-
cal Note Requested by
Victorious Powers.
SUPPLIES GUARANTEED
Blanket Export Licenses
Would Be Issued Under
Proposed Arrangement.
RESENTMENT IN HOLLAND
Dutch Believe Ebert Govern
ment Will Yield After AL
lied Troops Advance.
RESENTMENT IN HOLLAND
ny LAURENCE HILLS.
Star Correspondent Of Tue Sun.

otuU N"Tccpc'ee"t W Ah@ oc"'
Copyright, 1919: all rights reserved.
PARIS, May 24.-In preparation for
reimposing a rigorous blockade upon
Germany should she refuse to sign
the peace treaty the Allies have ad-
dressed an identical note to all contig-
uous neutrals asking them If they will
agree not to trade with Germany
either by re-exporting importations
from the allied countries or by i'm
porting anything from Germany.
The neutrals are asked to answer
Immediately so that the Allies may
perfect a license plan in case a block
ade should be necessary.
The new arrangement would differ
materially from the old, sealing Ger
many up tight. Under the old guar
antees by the neutrals re-export was
forbidden, but the neutrals were al
lowed to import from Germany coal
and other necessities, which the AL
lies, because Of the shortage of ship
ping, were unable to furnish to these
countries. Consequently, all through
the war blockade Germany did much
business with Scandinavia, Holland
and Switzerland. particularly In coal.
Since the signing Of the armistice
in November this business has in
creased, free trade in foods being al
lowed and also other German prod
ucts, provided that the credit be used
for purchases of food under the
Brussels agreement. In their note the
Allies promise that If the required
guarantees are given by the neutrals
that they will not do any business
with the Germans the Allies will sup
ply the coal and other things now
purchased in Germany, as they are
able now, because of the cessation of
submarine warfare, to divert shipping
for the supply of these neutrals.
Effect of Arrangement.
The effect of this ARRANGEMENT
would be tiiat Holland, Switzerland
and Scandinavia would seal their
borders to the Germans more COM
| pletely than ever was done in the war.
With the fleets of the Allies in the
Baltic, Germany, therefore, would be
closed tight. Such guarantees as are
required from the neutrals, 1t Is ex-
plnlned. would permit the Allies to
issue blanket export licenses instead
Of resorting again to the cumbersome
system that was necessary under the
old form Of guarantee.
How the neutrals will view this
suggestion is question which IS
causing much speculation. Probably
some of them, including Holland, will
resent it; the Dutch here already are
saying that right long ago was super
seded by might Should the neutrals
refuse, troops of the Allies could cor
don the borders Of Germany, accom-
plishing the same result.
The note to the neutrals IS another
illustration of how far the Allies pur-
pose going to compel the Germans to
| hNNNuS " their IeTilS.
However. it is generally admitted
that the Allies. II their troops should
occupy Germany, probably would
have to feed the Germans, and In that
case 1t would be to their advantage
to encourage German industries by
letting in raw materials.
On this account some Germans be-
lieve they would profit by not signing
the treaty, but economic experts here
do not think the Germans will cling
long to this idea. as the effects of oc-
cupation would be so depressing that
the Germans would hasten TO sign
the treaty in order to get their coun-
try back.
Three Possible Courses.
, The present German Government
seems to have three possible courses
If it fails to sign the treaty, which
may be summarized as follows:
I Permit the Independents to
take charge and assume the
responsibility for signing through
a new delegation, which would
be somewhat Bolshevistic and
upon which the Allies could not