The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-14
MEMBER OF
ECONOMIC BLOCKADE

In addition TO the threat Of the
new lend-lease law, the United
States government is moving stead
lily nearer participation with Great
Britain in an economic blockade
not only against Germany Italy
and the Nazi-dominated territories
of Europe, but against Soviet Rus
sia and Japan.
These measures are claimed 70
be both in the interests OF Amer
lean national defense and TO help
Great Britain win the war. The
plan is an export control licensing
system. This system gives the
government the power to control
the expectation of all war supplies
and other important defense arti-
cles TO foreign countries. Approx
imately 500 classifications Of arti.
cles, representing more than one
third OF this country's exports,
have been made subject 10 this
control
Cotton and food commodities,
such as wheat and corn, may be
added 10 the control system later
If such a move is considered es'
sential for American defense pur-
poses or 10 help the British.
American government approval
must be obtained for the eXporta-
ton OF any articles which have
been placed on the export control
list. Such approval is not being
granted for the expectation OF
anything TO Germany or Italy. or
TO the Nazi-controlled territories.
Shipment OF important supplies TO
Russia and Japan is being steadily
restricted.
Ou the other hand, Canada. Great
Britain and northern ireland have
been granted blanket licenses TO
obtain war materials and other sup
plies in this country.
In addition TO the restrictions on
direct shipments TO Germany and
Italy, the government also is seek
ing to prevent so-called triangular
trade with those two Axis powers.
Thus. it has informed Soviet Rus
STA that it will not permit Amer
lean goods to be used to replen-
ish Soviet supplies shipped to
Germany.
In order TO prevent German
agents from purchasing vital sup
plies in Latin America for trans
shipment to Germany via Russia,
this government Is buying up i'm
portant supplies in those countries.
~,
tungsten in Bolivia.
? BY freezing the funds OF the Nazi-
conquered nations OF Europe, the
American government is curtailing
their buying power. Never before
in the history Of this country has
the government welded such eco
nomic power against nations with
whom the United States was not
at war.
AS an example OF the effect OF
economic war changes and the
blockade we find Italian house
wives returning empty tin cans
much like Americans leave empty
bottles for the milkman. japanese
cargo shipbuilders abandoning steel
in favor of wood, and new auto
tires disappearing in Europe.
At the same time there are new
developments abroad for sidestep-
ping shortages Of essential mater
ials. including several inventions OF
military importance.
German scientists are expert
menting with a silent airplane en-
CINE TO enable bombers to approach
enemy detectives at night without
detection. Berlin claims "a GER
tain amount OF success has already
been achieved" with the silent
motors and that such motors were
used in the Polish campaign.
II is also claimed that several
ships in operation IN the North Sea
nave been successfully equipped
with them and that the expert.
nents are being made on both
gasoline and Diesel engines.
German engineers also are re-
ported to have developed a new
electric express locomotive capable
OF hauling eight cars at speeds
well over 100 miles per hour.