Evening star., 1935-11-16
HULL REPR|MANDS
WAR EXPORTERS
Increased Shipments Bring
Warning 1t Is Contrary
to Policy.
Nv the Associated Press.


A sharp reprimand to business in
terests of this country that consider
able increase in export of war ma
terials" Is being noted and that such
activity is directly contrary to the
policy of the Government" was voiced
last night by Secretary of State Hull.
The exports involved were oil. cop
per, trucks, tractors, scrap iron and
steel.
This class of trade is directly con-
trary to the policy Of this Government
as announced in official statements Of
the President and the Secretary Of
State, as 1t is also contrary to the
general spirit of the recent neutrality
act" Secretary Hull said.
The statement, issued only few
days before the League Of Nations
economic and financial sanctions pro-
gram Is scheduled to become effective
against Italy. constituted the third
warning to American business men
since President Roosevelt admonished
them on October that any tranSac-
tions they might have with the bel
ligerent countries would be at their
own risk.
London Is Gratified.
In London, Hulls statement was re-
eeived with qualification in official
quarters. It was said there that while
the action of the United States had
been awaited with interest, 1t was
considered too early to say whether
further sanction steps would be taken
against Italy by the League.
Hull gave no specific figures on the
amount of exports of war materials
nor did he say whether they were
being sent to one or both of the
belligerents. American trade with
Ethiopia, however, is relatively in
significant.
THE American people are entitled
to know that there are certain COM
modities such as oil, copper, trucks
tractors, scrap iron and scrap STEEL
he said, which are essential war ma
terials, although not actually arms
ammunition or implements of war, and
that according to recent Government
trade reports a considerably increased
amount of these is being exported for
war purposes"
He added that the Government was
closely checking the volume OF ex-
ports to both countries and that def
mite figures would be available soon
at the Commerce Department.
Data on this countrys exports to
italy in October probably will be made
public the last of next week.
Preliminary figures have been given
to President Roosevelt, but these are
not to be made public until revised,
Commerce Department officials said
today.
Shipments to Italy Continued.
Ii has been known for sometime
that shipments of unidentified classes
Of goods were being continued to
Italy Notwithstanding the Govern
ment's efforts to discourage trade
with the belligerents. The Secretarys
statement, however, was the first Of
ficial acknowledgment that it had not
been successful in obtaining voluntary
obedience on the part of American
business interests to the spirit of the
neutrality law.
Whether the new warning meant
steps might be taken to compel ad-
herence to it If moral pressure fails
was not revealed. officials concede
that consideration has been given to
q possible extension of the present
arms and war implements embargo to
embrace key commodities" The
question arises, however, whether
President Roosevelt has such author
ity under the present neutrality act.
Hull recently indicated that the ad-
ministration would seek a more far
reaching law at the next session OF
COnpresS