Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1916, Supplement, The World War
File No. 763.72112/2175
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 1.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose, herewith, two clippings from the Morning Post of the 18th instant.1 The article from the Washington correspondent of this paper is important and is exciting much comment and interest.
I have [etc.]
Article from the “Morning Post” January 18, 1916
THE BLOCKADE FARCE
Increase in Germany’s Imports—The Navy Crippled by Foreign Office—Startling American Trade Figures
In order that the full significance of the figures given below by our Washington correspondent may be the better appreciated we give them in tabular form. The quantities are for the first ten months of 1913 and the corresponding period of 1915:
exports from the united states
| 1913 | 1915 | |
| Wheat | Bushels | Bushels |
| Germany | 12,000,000 | 15,000 |
| Neutrals | 19,000,000 | 50,000,000 |
| Maize | ||
| Germany | 6,000,000 | 15,000 |
| Neutrals: | ||
| Denmark | 4,750,000 | 10,950,000 |
| Netherlands | 6,900,000 | 11,600,000 |
| Other neutrals | 2,100,000 | 6,400,000 |
| Total neutrals | 13,750,000 | 28,950,000 |
| Flour | Barrels | Barrels |
| Germany | 140,000 | — |
| Neutrals: | ||
| Netherlands | 708,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Other neutral | 709,000 | 3,800,000 |
| Total neutrals | 1,417,000 | 5,100,000 |
| Bacon | Pounds | Pounds |
| Germany | 1,100,000 | 273,000 |
| Neutrals: | ||
| Netherlands | 3,900,000 | 9,000,000 |
| Other neutral | 27,000,000 | 82,500,000 |
| Total neutrals | 30,900,000 | 91,500,000 |
| Boots | Pairs | Pairs |
| Germany | 471,000 | — |
| Neutrals | 462,000 | 4,800,000 |
| Cotton | Bales | Bales |
| Germany | 1,700,000 | 194,000 |
| Neutrals | 53,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Automobiles and Parts | ||
| Germany | $775,000 | $2,800 |
| Neutrals | 1,300,000 | 20,000,000 |
(From our own correspondent)
Washington , January 17.
London despatches intimating that the British Government really intends to make the blockade against Germany effective causes great satisfaction among the supporters of the Allied cause, who have been indignant at the fact that the great power in the hands of England should have been frittered away owing to the stupidity or mistaken idea of treating savages with consideration. Unofficially the news is not displeasing to the Administration, which is prepared to [Page 343] admit the validity of a legal and effective blockade, but has declined to recognise half-measures and Orders in Council as complying with the requirements of international law when simpler and more obvious measures were clearly indicated. A blockade, following the example laid down by the United States during the Civil War, could not be assailed, and it would end the dangerous controversy over neutral commerce and the right of Americans to send their goods, whether contraband or not, to Germany, whether by direct or indirect routes. Had the Navy not been hampered by the Foreign Office it is probable that Germany before this would have been forced to sue for terms or to surrender, having been starved into submission.
significant statistics
The latest export trade statistics, which have just been made public, prove unmistakably how the blockade has been nullified and the power of the Navy destroyed by the failure of the Foreign Office to grasp the situation. For instance, in the first ten months of 1913 the United States sent 12,000,000 bushels of wheat to Germany and in the corresponding period of 1915 only 15,000 bushels were sent; but to balance this deficit the wheat export to the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark rose from 19,000,000 bushels in 1913 to more than 50,000,000 bushels last year Every American exporter of wheat knows why there has been this tremendous increase: it is only the Foreign Office that remains in ignorance. The export of other foodstuffs tells the same story. Comparing the figures for the first ten months in 1913, when the world was at peace and trade was normal with those for the corresponding period of last year, that is, from January 1 to October 31, the latest date to which the figures have been made up, the falling off in German imports was in every case compensated by the increased imports of her neighbours. Thus, in 1913 Germany took in round figures 6,000,000 bushels of maize from this country and only 15,000 bushels last year; but the Danish importations increased from 4,750,000 bushels to 10,950,000, those of the Netherlands from 6,900,000 to 11,600,000, and other neutrals increased their importations from 2,100,000 to 6,400,000. Of course, no American exporter can swear that he sold maize to Germany, but, as one exporter commented, after looking at the figures: “It is simply significant.”
flour, bacon, cotton, and boots
In 1913 Germany bought 140,000 barrels of wheat flour in the United States, and in 1915 nine. In 1913 the Netherlands imported 708,000 barrels and in 1915, 1,300,000. Other neutrals increased their importations from 709,000 barrels in 1913 to 3,800,000 barrels last year. Germany’s needs for bacon have been well taken care of. In 1913 her American purchases were 1,100,000 pounds; in 1915 they were 273,000 pounds. The Netherlands in 1913 purchased 3,900,000 pounds and in 1915, 9,000,000 pounds, and other neutrals increased their importations from 27,000,000 pounds to 82,500,000 pounds. No less striking is the increase in the exports of American boots. In 1913 Germany purchased 471,000 pairs in the United States, and not a single pair in 1915; but neutrals’ purchases jumped from 462,000 pairs to 4,800,000.
In 1913, 1,700,000 bales of cotton were sent to Germany and in 1915, 194,000. The exports in the same period to neutrals increased from 53,000 bales to 1,100,000. One of the most startling illustrations is afforded by automobiles and parts. German imports in 1913 were valued at $775,000 and in 1915 at $2,800. The exports to neutral countries in 1913 had a value of $1,300,000, which in 1915 rose to $20,000,000.
Commenting on the anticipated change in the blockade, the Washington Times says that the British blockade has been neither successful nor satisfactory, and has produced anomalous conditions. Great Britain and her allies have been moved by consideration for the sensibilities of neutrals in their efforts to ameliorate the rigours of naval operations, but this mildness has not been appreciated by the anti-British agitators, “and it is now proposed that the full rigour of the American Civil War procedure shall be enforced against commerce destined or suspected of being destined to belligerents. If that be done the blockade will be more effective and at the same time more easily defended as against American criticism.”...
- As the two articles are rather similar in context, only one is here printed.↩