Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1919 — U. S. IS CRIPPLED IN WORLD TRADE [ARTICLE]

U. S. IS CRIPPLED IN WORLD TRADE

Must Lai Behind While Franca and England Go Ahead Under Treetj. ALL THE WAR LAWS STAHO Lack of Consular Agents Compel* American Merchants to Depend on Facilities of Spanish Agent* in tics msnj Until Peace is Washington, Nov. 21.—Although not changing technically the ’ existing status of relations between the United, States and Germany, the senate’s falM uro to ratify the peace treaty at Its special, session Is expected by administration officials and diplomata to have an Indirect result of some Importance on the steps now being tukoq to restore the world to a peace basis. One of the first consequences, so cording to the view Uken here, ll likely to be the hastening of the negotiations In Paris, including promulgation of the process verbale, which will restore full commercial and diplomatic relations between Germany and tb« powers which have ratified the treaty, Paris dispatches have said this was waiting for one thing—on the ac tion of the senate—but It Is though there will be no further delay now sos that reason. The new congress will meet on December 1, but not even the most ari dent supporters of the treaty believe It would be possible to take Is up again at the outset of the session. The .Christmas recess was expected to Intervene before much ,could be accomplished, with the result that a clear field for treaty consideration would not be opened before January at the earliest. Once the other great powers have gone ahead with their establishment of fuM trade and diplomatic relations with Germany, officials say new arrangements will have to be made by -the Unlted States to fit Into the commercial scheme thus created whatever trade the United States has with the central powers.

America Without Representation. I At present the war arrangement by which Spain Is taking care of American interests in Germany continues in force, and that Is not expected to be disturbed. The rationing of supplies of various sorts to Germany must begin under the treaty terms, however, and the powerful reparations commission will be set up to determine alt the details of Germany’s commercial Intercourse with other nations. On this commission the United States will have no representation though It Is hoped to Work out a plan by which this country can keep in close touch with the body’s work in order to protect American interests. The state department is emphatic in Its stand that no American consuls cant be sent Into Germany until peace has! been definitely established between! the United States and that country,, and they declare only an Imperfect! trade relation can be built up Without: the consular officers who are In charge-! of the legal end of International trader

A contrary view Is held, however, by: some of the senators who oppose ratification of the treaty. Notable in that connection Is the (Hand taken by Sena-' tor Knox (Rep.) Of Pennsylvania, a former secretary of state, who holds that by the language of the treaty full commercial and diplomatic Intercourse, can be resumed with Germany by all! of her late enemies as soon as the process verbale is exchanged. Various other senators have taken a similar view, and Senator Fall (Rep.), New Mexico, has declared repeatedly In the senate that the United States already is trading with Germany In the full sense of the that American consular agents could be installed without overstepping international law.

Must Depend on Spain. There seems little prospect, however, that the state department-will accept such a construction and officials there say American trade will have to accommodate itself to the facilities of the Spanish agents In Germany until a state of peace .has been defined directly between that country and the United States. As a matter of fact, the lack of American consular representation is declared by the administration officials to be the greatest present handicap to resumption of trade. With the president’s authorization of blanket licenses under the trading with the enemy act last July, commercial Intercourse with Germany practically- was freed from legal restrictions and It continues in that situation. There are some prohibited articles, such as drugs, chemicals and dyestuffs, but

the bars are aown to most or <ie or--dlnary articles of commerce. It is explained that this condition applies chiefly on Imports from Germany, though It affects in less degree shipments from this country to Germany. .It is in the import situation that the government is chiefly concerned and for which the American consuls In Germany are needed. Of course, Germany also lacks consular representation here, though arrangements have been made to admit certain German trade agents to arrange for shipments of raw material from this country.