Paris Peace Conf. 180.0501/18
Supreme Economic Council: Special [Eighteenth] Meeting Held at the
Ministry of Commerce [on 13th May, 1919, at 12 Noon]
May 13, 1919,
noon
The Supreme Economic Council held its Eighteenth Meeting at the Ministry
of Commerce on Tuesday, 13th May, 1919, at 12 noon under the
Chairmanship of Lord Robert Cecil.
The Associated Governments were represented as follows:—
| United Kingdom. |
Sir Wm. Mitchell Thomson. |
| United States. |
Mr. McCormick. |
|
Mr. Norman Davis. |
| France. |
M. Clémentel. |
|
M. Loucheur. |
| Italy. |
Signor Crespi. |
|
Prof. Attolico. |
| Belgium. |
M. de Cartier de Marchienne. |
158. Prohibition and Pre-emption
Lists.
The resolution (127)1
suggesting that the Allied and Associated Governments should waive their
right of pre-emption, except as regards dyestuffs and coal, under the
terms of the telegram of 24th March was again considered.
The French Delegates stated that their Government considered it
undesirable for political reasons, and in view of the negotiations now
proceeding with the German Delegates at Versailles, to take any action
which would appear to indicate that the Allied and Associated
Governments were prepared to grant any further relaxations to Germany
pending the signing of the Preliminaries of Peace.
After some discussion it was agreed:—
- (a)
- that the existing privileges which Germany now has permitting
the free export over her land frontiers of commodities other
than gold, silver securities and war materials of all kinds,
should be retained;
- (b)
- that Germany should be permitted to export to neutrals by sea
and without restriction one-third of the balance of her
exportable surplus of any of the commodities on the pre-emption
list;
- (c)
- that the Allied and Associated Governments should have
absolute right of purchase at fair and equitable prices over the
remaining two-thirds of the balance of the exportable surplus of
any of the commodities on the pre-emption list;
- (d)
- that the prices at which such purchases are to be made should
be fixed by the representatives of the Allied and Associated
Governments on the Council of their experts;
- (e)
- that the German Government should be notified
accordingly.
The Delegates on the Blockade Section pointed out that unless a system of
export licences were enforced they feared it would be impossible to keep
any adequate check or control on the exports from Germany authorised by
the above decision and it would rest with the German Government to
ensure that goods were not exported in violation of these rules.
159. Relations With Germany.
With reference to Minute 150 a draft statement setting out the present
position with regard to the Blockade of Germany was submitted, amended
and approved.
It was agreed that the statement as amended (140) should be transmitted
to the Council of Heads of States for approval and subsequent
publication.2
Appendix 1403
[Statement for Submission to the
Council of Heads of States Concerning] the Present Position With Regard to the Blockade of
Germany
The Supreme Council of the Principal Allied and Associated
Governments have authorised the following statement as to the
present position of the blockade against Germany. Arrangements have
been made to remove the blockade against Germany immediately and
completely as soon as the German representatives have signed the
Treaty of Peace.
In the meantime the following temporary relaxations have already been
made for the duration of the Armistice:—
- 1.
- Foodstuffs.—The import of
foodstuffs into Germany is now free within the limits of a
monthly ration of 300,000 tons of cereals and 70,000 tons of
fats. Foodstuffs within the ration may be exported to
Germany without formality from any country which is prepared
to allow the export to her. Fish imported from the neutral
countries contiguous to Germany does not count within the
ration. Since the 25th March, 1919, the quantity of
foodstuffs delivered in Germany by the Associated and Allied
Governments has amounted to about 400,000 tons. In effect
Germany is now free to import all the food for which she can
pay.
- 2.
- Exports.—Exports of gold, silver,
securities and war material are prohibited. Other exports
over land frontiers are free. As to overseas exports, the
Allied and Associated Governments have retained certain
rights of pre-emption over coal, dyestuffs, and certain
other commodities. Other articles can be exported freely to
any country prepared to accept them.
- 3.
- Black Lists.—All black lists of
firms and persons in neutral countries have been withdrawn,
and all disabilities attaching to trade and communications
with such firms and persons have ceased to operate.
- 4.
- Communications.—Commercial
correspondence with regard to the export and import trade of
the character indicated above is permitted, subject to
certain regulations which have been accepted by the German
Government and to the enemy trading laws of the belligerent
countries.
- 5.
- Fishing Area.—The area open to
German fishing craft has been largely extended. A quantity
of net thread, &c., for repair of nets has been allowed
to proceed from Holland in accordance with a request of the
German Government.
- 6.
- Exports from the Allied and Associated
Countries to the Countries Contiguous to
Germany.—There is a free list of articles which may now
be exported without licence or other formality. In the case
of other articles (except where a control has been retained
for domestic reasons) the rules as to the obtaining of
licences and guarantees have already been largely relaxed.
Export will be further freed from formalities if a general
guarantee is given by the Governments of the neutral
countries concerned that they will prevent re-export of such
imported articles to Germany without the consent of the
Associated Governments.
- 7.
- Raw Materials.—Permission has been
given for the import of raw materials urgently required for
use in the German coal mines. Arrangements are being made
for the early shipment of these supplies, subject to the
necessary finance being forthcoming.
- The principal difficulty with regard to the import of raw
materials is the financial one. In order to obviate this
difficulty as far as possible, the Supreme Economic Council
has approved a plan whereby Germany may be permitted to
import rations of raw materials for the urgent needs of the
coal-mining and other essential industries, in so far as
these requirements can be met from German-owned stocks in
neutral countries.
