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Show RESTRICTIONS ON AMERICAN TRADE Washington Officials Worried Over the Blockade Orders of the Allies. Washington, Sept 15. In the absence ab-sence of Information detailing what commodities are affected by the new British restrictions on American trade with Holland and the Scandinavian countries, officials here are uncortain just how heavily American exporters will suffer. Stops to obtain this information in-formation already had been taken tonight to-night and it was indicated that should any sweeping extension of restrictive measures be revealed, it would be regarded re-garded as a serious development In the controversy over the legality of allied blockade methods. No report on the new order has come through official channels, but today's news immediately to the attention at-tention of the British embassy by stnte department officials with informal in-formal inquiries as to the purpose and scope of the proposal. It was said a similar investigation would be made through the American embassy at London. Lon-don. Cut Off Dutch Trade. Officials oxpressed much concern over the first report that the ney order would completely cut off trade with Holland and seriously cripple that with the Scandinavian countries. In some quarters it was suggested that the present was a particularly Inopportune Inop-portune time for promulgating such a degree, with Secretary Lansing studying study-ing Intricacies of the new legislation under which the executive branch of me (juiuunumiL it cuiijuwcicu IU iitlvu drastic retaliatory action against .nations .na-tions interfering with American trade. Later advices, however, saying that only certain unnamed commodities would be affected, led officials to hope that no far-reaching restriction had been attempted. While American exports to Holland already have been greatly curtailed by a scries of British orders, a considerable con-siderable trade, especially in foodstuffs, food-stuffs, is still done with that country. Wheat, flour, corn, basic oils and tobacco to-bacco are among the most Important articles being sent there. In addition to the new order, state department officials are Investigating an arrangement effected by Great Britain and France for establishment 01 Dureaus to etiect an exchange or merchandise on the list of prohibited Imports. Official confirmation has been received that such an arrangement arrange-ment has been consummated, but until its effects are understood no formal protest will be made. Legal authorities authori-ties of the deDartment believe, however, how-ever, that such a plan Is In contravention contra-vention of the British-American commercial com-mercial treaty of 1815 which provides for free access of national and ships of the respective countries and for unrestricted commerce until prohibitions prohibi-tions of exports apply alike to all countries. Lord Cecil Explains. London, Sept 15, G:55 p. m. Lord Robert Cecil, minister of war trade, today to-day explained the recent orders of the British government refusing to allow Holland to accept furthe consignments consign-ments of American goods and refusing letters of assurance that American shipments would reach Scandinavia. He said the orders applied only to certain cer-tain prohibited articles and not to trade in general. Great Britain has forbidden the export ex-port of various articles to European neutrals on the ground that they have already received in the first seven months of this year more than an ordinary or-dinary year's supply. Lord Robert said it was not logical to forbid such exports from Great Britain and to permit per-mit them from America and other neutral neu-tral sources. Lord Robert explained that one neutral nation, taking normally 18,000 tons of coffee, in seven months of this year, already has Imported 50,000 tons, so all further imports of coffee to that country are looked upon as likely to reach an enemy destination. The list of prohibited articles, he said, varies with different countries, according accord-ing to what they already had imported, import-ed, all allowances being made for imports im-ports formerly made to German ports. oo |