WAR TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, in the World War, a British Government committee which advised it on the blockade. It succeeded and continued the work of the Restriction of Enemy Supplies committee (q.v.). It was appointed by the prime minister, H. H. Asquith, in Sept. 1915, with the marquess of Crewe as chairman. On the retirement of Lord Crewe, Sir Francis Hopwood (afterwards Lord Southborough) became chair man on Feb. 25, 1916. It dealt, among other commodities, with coal, cotton, rubber and tin.
The subjects investigated included contraband, and what goods should be placed upon the contraband list; the prohibition of export and re-export from the United Kingdom and the British empire of goods intended for the enemy or likely to reach the enemy through neutral channels; agreements with responsible bodies in neutral countries for the consignment of imported goods under guarantee for the purpose that such supplies should not be re-exported to the enemy, e.g., the Netherlands Oversea Trust in Holland, the Societe de Surveillance Economique in Switzerland, and the Danish Merchants Guild in Denmark; recommendations in respect of the purchase in neutral countries adjacent to the enemy of native produce which otherwise would be available for export to the enemy; the surveillance and control of stores of commodities suspected of having been made for the ultimate benefit of the enemy. Difficult and intricate subjects were dealt with by the appointment of sub-committees.
Rationing Neutrals.—One of the most important questions dealt with by the committee was that of the "rationing" of foreign countries contiguous to the enemy to prevent them becoming bases of supply to the Central Powers. This was carried out by arrangements with responsible bodies in the countries affected, and provided for the prevention of the import of supplies in excess of the home requirements of the particular neutral country.
The committee was also interested in matters relating to the prep aration and administration of the "black list," and in connection with this subject special questions arose involving the abrogation of the Article 57 of the Declaration of London, the definition of "enemy," marine insurance, bills of lading, "to order," the use or abuse of facilities for the purpose of covering transactions of black-listed neutral traders, and consular certificates of origin given in neutral countries.
The contraband sub-committee was appointed on Sept. 6, 1915. In Aug. 1914, the British Government proclaimed that they would abide by the terms of the Declaration of London. It soon, however, became apparent that it would be necessary to enlarge the contraband list. The most important recommendation made was that of adding "gold, silver, paper money, securities, negoti able instruments, cheques, drafts, orders, warrants, coupons, letters of credit delegation or advice, credit or debit notes, or other documents, which in themselves, or if completed or if acted upon by the recipient, authorize, confirm or give effect to the transfer of money, credit or securities." A sub-committee considered oleaginous produce. In due course the Ministry of Blockade in parts superseded the Committee which, however, continued to do useful work. In all, the committee held 68 meetings.