The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-18
CONSULS SPEED
ALLIED SHIPPING
Vessels Cleared without Wait
ing for Ratification of
Peace Treaty.
NO CONTROL; PRICES SOAR
Hoover Says Congress Must
Act Before American Ex-
ports Are Safe.
NO CONTROL; PRICES SOAR
by LAURENCE HILLS.
StoD Correspondent Of THE SUs.


Copyright. 1919; all rights reserped.,
PARIS, July 17.-Despite the fact
they have not yet ratified the peace
treaty, Great Britain, France and
other nations are putting consuls in
Germany rapidly and clearing ships,
while the United States, without any
consuls, seems to be in bad way to
compete. So far several American
ships have reached German ports.
owners taking chance that they
would be cleared just as the food ships
have been cleared.
Two of these ships were loaded with
pork and one with cotton. The pork
was consigned to German firms by
big American packers and the cotton
to a Slovakian firm.
Herbert Hoover. Interallied Relief
Commissioner, cleared these ships yes
terday, but has decided that 1t isn't
up to him to clear any more vessels.
Therefore when additional American
vessels arrive at German ports they
will find nobody there to clear them
under the navigation laws. This situ-
alton is likely to continue until the
treaty is ratified unless Congress
sanctions the putting in Of consuls
before ratification, as other countries
are doing.
No stocks I'm Germany.
Reports reaching here from Germany
fail to bear out reports that the Germans
have accumulated large stocks OF goods
to be sent back in American ships. In
fact this idea seems to have been a myth
as shown by the fact that the Germans
already have turned over Sl6o.o0o,OOo
in gold, which they could i'll afford to
do. Under the agreement reached at
Brussels they are allowed to pay for
food with exports.
The gradual removal OF centralized
control over the transportation of food
and fuel which the Allies maintained
during the war. is producing great de-
moralization through Europe. Mr.. Hoo
yer now virtually is out OF the food
situation. his function having officially
ceased July /. He Is now preparing his
report to Congress on the expenditure
of the 800, 900, 900 fund for food relief,
some OF which remains unexpended. He
expects to leave shortly for his Cali
fornia home for a long rest.
Europe, which has been depending on
Mr.. Hoover to solve Its food problems,
| faces a serious situation, whereof trans
portation Generalization is the chief
factor.
Clear Field for Prohteers.
Another big factor Is profiteering. The
American commission kept profiteerins
down, and with that control removed
the profiteers have the field to them
selves.
The situation Is bad in France and
England, but worse In Italy, which Mr
Hoover's reports show is practically
without food or fuel and with little
credit TO buy any. This is at the bot
tom OF all the social troubles now going
on there. The Europeans want inter
allied and international control reestab'
lished. but Mr.. Hoover does not favor
this. and has told tho Europeans he
greatly doubts whether Congress would
approve It now that the war Is over
America Is reported to be glutted witf
food, yet prices are soaring here anc
chaos seems to prevail.
The whole question is to be discussed
at Mondays meeting OF the Economic
Council, of which Mr.. Hoover still Is q
member. At THIS meeting the French
will renew their demands for inter
national control Of food. The foot
situation is only one feature or the darl
economic outlook. which has only beer
accentuated by the removal OF the block
ade.