DANISH AGREEMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2648, 20 December 1915, Page 5

DANISH AGREEMENT

ENEMY COMPANIES

HOT DEBATE IN HOUSE.OF LORDS By Telegraph—Press Association—tfoprrightLondon, December 17. The Enemy Companies Bill passed the Committee Stage in. the''House of Lords.- ... . . fcord" Lansdowne 'intimated] that the Government would not participate in a discussion,- believing that - the Bill did not go as far as the existing law. He had, been assured that Germany and Austria had not taken steps to prevent British companies registered there from carrying on business. Lord. Strachie asked . whether the trading agreement permitted Denmark to import food and other goods and reexport them to neutral or belligerent countries. He urged the Government to produce the secret agreement. Lord Portsmouth said that _ a suspicion, amounting to indignation, had -been aroused in. the country,.that some-, tbing was being 'done to tamper with the effective force of our sea power. He had seen a draft agreement which allowed Denmark to re-export a long' list of, goods to Norway anl Sweden. The agents in these oountries, probably, were Germans or traders interested in Germany. The _ agreement gave Denmark preferential .treatment against' America. Tf/the agreement weakened the Navy's pressure, it was treachery to the country. Lord Devonport said the Government, by a series of indulgences, prevented the enemy feeling the full consequence of the blockade. Lord Lansdowne said the Government still adhered to the belief that it was undesirable to reveal the . agreement, which does not interfere with the carrying out of tho war to a successful conclusion. Tho object of the agreement was to make the blockade work as efficiently and smoothly as possible. Tfie Government was prepared to enter iKTb a corresponding. agreement, with other neutral countries. It_ would be unfortunate if the country were to be confronted with the resentment'and illwill of those neutrals. Speaking seriously and with umisual emphasis, lord LanSSbwne said: "The agreement gives 11s advantages in carrying on the war, and is similar' to the agreement wTtll the associations in Switzerland and tho Netherlands. It ■ contains nothing touching. , our belligerent rights to search and capture. The procedure was infinitely Tbetter than trying to limit the export to neutrals to their normal consumption. Denmark was peculiarly exposed geographically to pressure from Germany, and Danish traders were exSosed to the temptation of vast profits. ' a neutral country' was importing excessively, wewere helpless if the ship's papers were in order, and there was 110 proof of enemy destination. There is corruption on every hand, and a working arrangement with neutrals is therefore indispensable." - The deb at 0 was adjournod, MISGUIDED CRITICISM COALITION DISADVANTAGES (Rec. Decomber 18, 8.10 p.m.) London, December 18. The "Daily Chronicle" says: "Tho absence of a responsible Opposition is one of the disadvantages of a Coalition Government. Tho discussion on the Danish agreemont is an example of misguided criticism. The Foreign Offico is not manned by fools, Sir Edward Grey's one desire, is to use our weapon of Ben. power for inflicting tho maximum pressure on the enemy."