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Typed statement signed as president, "Woodrow Wilson," three pages, 5.25 x 8, June 25, 1917. An official typescript of President Wilson's public declaration of economic warfare against Germany, headed: "Statement of the President with regard to the Policy of Export Control." In part: "It is important that the country should understand just what is intended in the control of exports which is about to be undertaken, and since the power is vested by the Congress in the President I can speak with authority concerning it. The Exports Council will be merely advisory to the President.
There will, of course, be no prohibition of exports. The normal course of trade will be interfered with as little as possible, and, so far as possible, only its abnormal course directed. The whole object will be to direct exports in such as way that they will go first and by preference where they are most needed and most immediately needed, and temporarily to withhold them, if necessary, where they can best be spared. Our primary duty in the matter of foodstuffs and like necessaries is to see to it that the peoples associated with us in the war get as generous a proportion as possible of [our] surplus; [which we can spare;] but it will also be our wish and purpose to supply the neutral nations whose peoples depend upon us for such supplies as nearly in proportion to their need as the amount to be divided permits.
There will, thus, be little check put upon the volumes of exports and the prices obtained for them will not be affected by this regulation. This policy will be carried out, not by prohibitive regulations, therefore, but by a system of licensing exports which will be as to constitute no impediment to the normal flow of commerce. In brief, the free play of trade will not be arbitrarily interfered with: it will only be intelligently and systematically directed in the light of full information with regard to needs and market conditions throughout the world and the necessities of our people at home and our armies and the armies of our associates abroad.
The government is taking, or has taken, steps to ascertain, for example, just what the remaining available present supply of wheat and corn is remaining from the crops of last year; to learn from each of the countries exported these foodstuffs from the United States what their purchases in this country now are, and where they are stored; and what their needs are, in order that we may adjust things so far as possible to our own needs and free stocks; and this information is in course of being rapidly supplied.
The case of wheat and corn will serve as an illustration of all the rest, of supplies of all kinds. Our trade can be successfully and profitably conducted now, the war pushed to a victorious issue, and the needs of our own people and of the other peoples with whom we are still free to trade efficiently met only by systematic direction; and that is what will be attempted."
Includes President Wilson's cover letter to news reporter Ames Brown: a TLS as president, signed "Woodrow Wilson," one page, 5.25 x 8, White House letterhead, June 25, 1917, in full: "Here is a statement which I hope you will supply to all the press, to accompany the announcement of the creation of an Exports Council for to-morrow morning's papers. You will notice that it is a signed statement." In fine condition, with a rusty paperclip impression to the transmittal letter.
In June 1917, President Woodrow Wilson declared economic warfare on Germany during World War I by implementing export controls to deprive Germany of critical supplies needed to sustain its war efforts. The Exports Council, created under Wilson’s executive order, controlled U.S. exports, ensuring that American and Allied needs were met while enforcing an embargo on goods that could indirectly reach Germany through neutral nations. This strategy, combined with the British blockade, intensified the economic strain on Germany, which was already facing severe shortages of food, coal, and essential materials, leading to riots, strikes, and widespread unrest.
The U.S. quickly mobilized its economic and military power, with Congress passing laws such as the Selective Service Act to draft soldiers and legislation to enforce export controls. Wilson’s measures included embargoing key resources like corn, meat, iron, and gasoline, while granting limited export licenses to neutral countries to prevent hardship. To manage public perception, Wilson established a Committee on Public Information, which issued official updates to the press, explaining the rationale behind these policies; the department's news releases were handled by newsman Ames Brown. These economic actions, combined with military involvement, significantly weakened Germany’s economy and contributed to the eventual Allied victory in 1918.
