The signing of a general commercial agreement between the United States and Norway--the first agreement of the kind to be entered into by America with one of the North European neutrals--was announced by the War Trade Board on May 3, 1918. It was signed by Vance McCormick, Chairman of the War Trade Board, and Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, the famous explorer, who was sent to the United States at the head of a special mission. Under the agreement Norway is assured of supplies to cover her estimated needs so far as they can be furnished without detriment to the war needs of the United States and its allies, and Norway, on her part, agrees to permit the exportation to America and its allies of all Norwegian products not needed for home consumption. It is provided that none of the supplies imported from the United States or its allies or forwarded with the aid of American bunker coal shall go directly or indirectly to the Central Powers or be used to replace commodities exported to those countries. This applies to anything produced by any auxiliaries to production obtained under the agreement. In consequence of the agreement the War Trade Board announced on May 9 that exports to Norway were about to be resumed. Another result of the improved relations between the two countries was the chartering by the United States Shipping Board of 400,000 tons of Norwegian sailing ships, to be put in non-hazardous trades, thereby releasing other ships for traffic in the danger zones. This was one of the most substantial increases which the American-controlled merchant fleet has received since its inception. BRITISH SHIPPING LOSSES In the May issue of the Fortnightly Review of London appears the following analysis of the gains and losses of the British merchant navy since the outbreak of the war: 1914 (August to December.) Tons. Tons. Built 675,010? Total losses 468,728 Captured from enemy 753,500 Total gains 1,429,110 --------- --------- Total gains. 1,429,110 Balance +960,382 1915. Built 650,919 Total losses 1,103,379 Captured from Total gains 662,419 enemy 11,500 --------- ------- Balance in Total gains. 662,419 1915 -440,000 Brought down from 1914 +960,382 --------- Balance at end of 1915 +519,422 1916. Built 541,552 Total losses 1,497,848