Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-03
SENATOR SMITH
GIVES STATUS OF
COTTON EXPORTS

Senator Hoke Smith has given out
statement explaining the cotton
situation in so far as it is affected by
the embargo regulations Of the War
Trade Board. He explains that the
board has recently lifted ali quantity
restrictions on shipments to Switzer.
land, Holland, Norway, Denmark and
Sweden, SO that the only remaining
restriction is one which prevents re-
shipment Of cotton from those couu-
tries into Germany prior to the re-
moval Of the allied blockade. Also
the board has removed the restric-
tions on shipments into Jugo-SIavia
and German-Austria, which are the
sections of Austria where most Of
the cotton mills are located. This
was done with the approval of the
allies. Senator Smiths statement
follows.
$50 many inquiries about the
status of the embargo, on cotton and
the prospect of it's being raised have
reached me during the past few days,
the public should be given the facts.
'"There is a clear distinction be-
tween the embargo and the blockade.
The blockade against Germany and
Austria was by the allied govern
ments and applied to shipments into
these countries.
Congress authorized the president
by proclamatio nto place American
commodities upon an embargo list,
and, therefore, these commodities
could not be shipped out of the
United States except upon rules and
regulations by the president. The
| president placed cotton upon the en-
barge list and the War Trade Board
was authorized to fix rules and reg
ulations allowing shipments.
| Ever since the armistice was
signed I have been urging the War
| Trade Board from time to time to
modify restrictions as to cotton ship
ments. The latter part Of November
! I succeeded in obtaining moditlca-
tons permitting shipments to go
| freely to Spain and all countries not
contiguous to Germany and Austria.
[ have been urging further modifi-
cations during the last thirty days,
| and a number Of most important
changes have been made.
with the approval Of the allies
the blockade has been raised. as to
Austria proper, now consisting Of
Jugo-Slavia and German-Austrla.
This is the part Of the old Austrian
Empire in which most of the cotton
mills are located.
lies, the War Trade board have
agreed to permit cotton to go. freely
into all ports of the Adriatic Sea
and into Jugo-Slavia and German
Austria. This should furnish mar,
ket for a large amount Of cotton, as
annually before the war.
"The War Trade board has also
modified restrictions as to shipments
into Switzerland, Holland. Norway,
days ago only three hundred thou
sand bales annually were permitted
shipped to all these countries COM
bined. Now the quantitat1ve restrlc-
lions, have been removed ana cott TO
ties to these five countries con-
tiguous to Germany.
while cotton still remains on the
embargo list, these mod1hcat1onns
made by the War Trade board as to
the effect of being upon the embargo
list. The only restrictions as TO
Switzerland. Holland, Denmark, Nor
way and Sweden apply to the con-
REQUIRES that shipments shall be
made to a local corporation created
to supervise cotton after it reaches
each of these countries, with view
to preventing it reaching Germany. l
am assured by the War Trade board
promptly transfer to a consignee
named by the shipper. upon being
given satisfactory guarantee that
these consignees will not send the
cotton into Germany until the block
ade is raised.
''The changes by the War Trade
board greatly lessen the evil effect
of the embargo, and the cotton mar
kets have thus been substantially
broadened during the past two
eve now need more ships, and we
are urging the Shipping Board to IN
crease aliotments of ships for use to
transport cotton. They are giving
ships. but hope for large increase
7,,ri,oo Tune ~