The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-12
ships LOADED
FOR GERMANY
Three Ready to Sail From
America as Soon as Block
ade Is Officially Raised.
BRITISH TRADE AWAKE
Preparations Under Way to-
Resume Economic Relations
With Former Enemy.
BRITISH TRADE AWAKE

Washington. July 12.-With the
economic blockade of Germany to be
lifted today, in accordance with the
decision of the council of five In
Paris, preparations were under way
for the immediate resunptiPn of
trade between the former enemy
power and the United states. No
official word Of the action of the
council had reached the state depart
ment early today, but was expected
momentarily.
Acting Secretary of State Polk, in
announcing yesterday that trade with
Germany would be resumed as soon
as the blockade was formally lifted,
said details would be furnished
American firms within forty-eight
hours after legal experts had decided
as to the necessity of a formal proc
lamation by the president. Trading
with Germany pending ratification
by the senate of the peace treaty and
the formal termination of the war
will be carried on under a system of
blanket licenses to be issued by the
division of the state department
which recently took over the duties
of the war trade board. Movement
of American goods to German ports
was expected to begin as soon as
these licenses can be issued, three
ships already having been loaded.
The shipping board has announced
that direct steamship lines to Ham
burg will be established from New
York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore
and south Atlantic and gulf ports as
Cargoes become available.
To Resume Consular Relations.
London, July 12.-Great Britain is
preparing to resume her consular
service in Germany soon and to give
every facility for British firms to
distribute goods there, says the Daily
Mail. A special committee of the
foreign Office is selecting men for
consular work and it is expected that
the amba ssador to Berlin will be ap-
pointed in the near future.
1t is expected Germany will send
a charge daffaires here, but that no
German ambassador will be named
for some time. Travel to Germany
will be restricted, the newspaper
says, but bona fde commercial trav-
elers will be given facilities to go
anywhere they desire.
Lines to Hamburg and Bremen.
Washington, July 12.-Steamship
lines to Hamburg and Bremen, Ger
cargoes are available at American
ports. the shipping board announces.
Forcing Out Hidden Goods.
Berlin, July ia. PIN view
of the impending raising Of the
blockade, the governments recent
action i'll reducing the price OF food
staples is forcing food traffickers to
get rid of hidden supplies. AS a re-
suit of a sharp decline in prices is re-
ported from all sections of Germany,
the most marked decreases being in
the Rhenish zone Of occupation,
where they have fallen from 80 to
so per cent.
AS stocks in occupied territory ap-
parently exceed the demand, large
quantities are being shipped to Ber-
lin, where good prices still prevail
Berlin probably will be the last city
to enjoy appreviable price reductions.
1t is reported from Weimar the
government will exercise active con-
troll OF incoming war material and
also exports. The latter part of the
program is meeting with vigorous
opposition in commercial and in
dustrial export circles where it is
maintained personal initiative would
be more successful abroad than gov
ernment control. The clerical organ
Germany, edtorially opposes the in
lection of bureaucratic compulsory
measures" into the nations eco
nomica during this transitory stage,
and declares that German commerce
needs freedom"
French Decree Sunday.
Paris, July 1.-THE German dele
CATION at Versailles was informed to-
day in a letter from the peace con-
ference that the ratification of the
treaty of peace by Germany had been
accepted and that the raising of the
blockade was about to occur. Deci-
sion to raise the blockade was taken
by the council Of five Friday.
The interallied supreme council
met today TO discuss the blockade
question. A French government de-
cree raising the blockade will appear