Public Statement Issued by the Exports Administrative Board, September 29, 19172
The Exports Administrative Board, in accordance with requests made by the United States Shipping Board and by the Navy Department, has instructed the Director of the Bureau of Export Licenses not to grant licenses for any proposed shipments by sailing vessels going through the war zone. It is, of course, obvious that steamers [Page 947] can navigate the war zone with less danger than slow-sailing craft, and sailing ships, if used in safer waters, would to an extent release steam vessels now used in such waters.
The attention of shippers is, therefore, called to the fact that clearance will be refused sailing vessels destined to proceed through the war zone regardless of the fact that the goods themselves may have already been licensed. Licenses will be granted in the future for shipments to European countries only on condition that the goods are to be shipped by some vessel other than a sailing vessel. The board will revoke licenses covering goods to be shipped through the war zone if any shippers attempt to ship them by sailing vessel.