Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 118, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1916 — BLOCKADE CAUSE OF BIG DECLINES [ARTICLE]

BLOCKADE CAUSE OF BIG DECLINES

Norway is Only Northern European Neutral to Increase Purchases in U. S. During the War. Washington, May 16.—Restrictions placed on commerce by the British orders in council are credited here with being the cause of sharp declines in American exports to the northern European neutrals during the la#t year. Figures assembled today in the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce show that Norway alone in the countries in the north had increased purchases in the United States. Spain and Switzerland, however, are buying in America in increasingly large amounts. Shipments to the entente allies continue to grow. During the nino months ending with March, Great Britain took slightly more than one billion dollars worth of American goods. Frances purchases grew from $225,000,000 to $442,000,000; Russia’s from 12 million to 128 million; Italy’s from 138 million to 200 million; Greece’s American takings increased from 19 to 23 million dollars. Denmark’s American purchases declined during the nine months period from 63 to 44 million; the Netherands from 101 to 74 million; Sweden's from 65 to 43 million; Norway's from 32 to 37 million, dollars. Exports to South America more than doubled, increasing from 63 to 129 million dollars. Shipments to the Asiatic countries increased from 10 to 156 million dollars.