File No. 600.119/356a
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Representatives in Certain Countries 1
Give immediate publicity the following:
President to-day issued proclamation concerning control exports from America giving lists articles which may be exported only under license under two categories, first, exports to the enemy and his allies and to neutral countries of Europe and secondly to all other countries. Proclamation is accompanied by following explanatory statement by the President:
The purpose and effect of this proclamation is not export prohibition but merely export control. It is not the intention to interfere unnecessarily with our foreign trade but our own domestic needs must be adequately safeguarded and there is the added duty of meeting the necessities of all the nations at war with the Imperial German Government. After those needs are met it is our wish and intention to minister to the needs of the neutral nations as far as our resources permit. This task will be discharged without other than the very proper qualification that the liberation of our surplus products shall not be made the occasion of benefit to the enemy either directly or indirectly. The two lists have been prepared in the interests of [Page 938] facility and expediency. The first list, applicable to the enemy and his allies and to the neutral countries of Europe, brings under control practically all articles of commerce while the second list, applicable to all other countries of the world, makes only a few additions to the list of commodities controlled by the proclamation of July 9, 1917. It is obvious that a closer supervision and control of exports is necessary with respect to those European neutrals within the sphere of hostilities than is required for those countries farther removed. The establishment of these distinctions will simplify the administrative processes and enable us to continue our policy of minimizing the interruption of trade. No licenses will be necessary for the exportation of coin, bullion, currency, and evidences of indebtedness until required by regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury in his discretion. Woodrow Wilson.
- Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Russia, Japan, China, Greece, and all Latin American countries except Santo Domingo and Haiti.↩