ENEMY TRADE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLV, Issue 13452, 14 May 1918, Page 2

ENEMY TRADE.

A.AIKKICA'S VUm ACTION. A lengthy notice in last week's Gazette deals'with the restriction of imports into tlio l*iiile<l States. No gooo'i m:iy bo split into tile I'nitod States now, ' without license, and the regulations re* (itiiro that raw materials ol various, kinds :diall lie forwarded to speeiiied organisations on behalf of tho real < onsignoes. The- reasons for these arrangements are set forth in a memorandum that' lias been issued by the Anierica.il Bureau of Imports. "The most effective manner in which this weapon of imports control may heused against the enemy is the prevention of trailing with (inns of pro-enemy character," states -the Bureau. "Xo commerce, of course, exists between tilUnited States and the countries v. itii which we are at war. Unfortunately, however, largely due to the fen '-sight - ' erlness of our enemy in long years of preparation, individuals and firms arc established throughout the worl 1 who-e eontroll'ng motive is the iidvai'cemeti! of German interests. -Still more unfortunate is tile fact that siioh agencies have existed in our own land. To stamp out all activities among such agencies,' and to safeguard our wellintentioned ciii'/eus from d'aluuz with I them, we must proceed with_ the ul- ; most, promptness and vigor. The terms ; of activity of these concerns and the J subtle and intricate methods- pureed bv them are innumerable, but are invariably directed, either by furnishing information. smuti'ding suppli"-; through the blockade, providing credits, or hoarding for post-war purposes, to give aul and comfort, to the enemy.

"Before the advent of the United States into the war Great. Biitain and her Allies found it necessary to surround the importation into this country of commodities controlled by- them with various safeguards in the form of guarantees and agreement- procured from importers. Xow that we hare entered the war. and e-lablislied our export and ini|H>rt control, our Alliehave verv willingly relinipii-licd to us the duty of seeing that the import-. comma forward to us are Used by our own legitimate purposes'. end are not re-exported to pro-German linns in neutral countries to trickle through, either physically or in the forms of credits, to Germany, or accumulated to foster Germany's commerce after the war.

"To accomplish those results * 11«- War Trade Board, through its Bureau of Imports, lias adopted certain regulationin connection with the importation of manv of these raw materials. to which it is the duty of every patriot <• American citizen to give compute and whole-hearted support. Organisations have been voluntarily created, m many of the trades, such as- rubber, wool, jute, tin, etc., to act as consignees when required and to perform othoi duties in connection with the importations under and bv direction of the War' Trade Board. "'Every effort, will be made- to administer' regulations with the slightest possible detriment t<> •oiiitjmate business interests, but when r. e considered that the transmittal of a few pounds of rubber or copper to flervnanv may cost, the lives of scores of our men'at the front, and that each day's supply of wool, or food, or money, to the enemy means another day's war with, ite accompanying toll of lives the very thought of hesitancy or weaklier is inconceivable. The policy will he 'safety first' for our soldiers, regardless of every other consideration. Persons and firms in this country as well an abroad who before our entrance into the war had little sympathy with the war-time commercial safeguards «l the Alliesi must be taught that those are now matters of the first importance to this country, and violators ot nresent restrictions need expect no favors, regardless of how importantsuch individual* or firms may he in the business world. The time has come when all must realise that the war i-> not limited to combating the enemy on tlie battlefields at France, but must he carried into our everyday transactions of life, and that our business practice must be remoulded where necessary to meet existing conditions. "It is unnecessary to mention other desirable results which may be obtained by this import control, such as the Catherine of trade information, or the 'conservation of tonnage by elimination of non-essentials."