SEA CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20061, 6 October 1939, Page 11

SEA CONTROL

BRITISH NAVY CONTRABAND CHECK CRIPPLING GERMANY ARMAMENT NEEDS OBJECTIVE REVIEWED (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.30 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 4. In a broadcast to-day the Minister for Economic Warfare, Mr. Ronald Cross, said that neutral countries were naturally anxious to see their interests and needs were recognised. “I need hardly say, that we fully appreciate this,” continued Mr. Cross. As soon as the war broke out, we declared that we were anxious to take pccount of the legitimate trading requirements of neutral countries and we informed neutral Governments that we would gladly consider any suggestion they might care to make. v '• “Britain seeks to maintain her own exports at the highest possible level, and from the very beginning we have done, and are doing, all in our power to ensure a continuance of the friendliest trading relations with neutral States,'to mutual benefit. "Naturally we do not desire to prevent neutrals from importing foodstuffs and other goods and materials for their own people, nor do we wish to cause more than the inevitable minimum of inconvenience to neutral shipping at our control bases: Already we have opened talks with several neutral Governments and a number of missions have come over from neutral countries to carry on discussion with us. These are taking place in the friendliest atmosphere and we hope, in certain cases, to be able to come to arrangements which will still further simplify the procedure of contraband control. , German Action “In the meantime Germany has been flooding neutral countries with a mixed stream of assurances, protests and threats. Latterly she has begun to translate these threats into action and nearly every day brings news Of fresh sinking by German submarines of neutral shipping under circumstances contrary to international law.” Earlier in his address Mr. Cross explained the object of the efforts which gave the name to his department was to strike at Germany’s armament production to such an extent as to cripple the power of her army to carry on the war. Ability to do this was based on the Royal Navy’s command of the seas and the right to do it was derived from “those belligerent rights which international law entitles us, as a combatant, to exercise." Contraband Intercepted Up to September* 30, 289,000 tons of contraband consigned to Germany had been intercepted and detained by the British Navy, and in the first three weeks of the war 100,000 tons had been intercepted by the French Navy. The Minister for Economic Warfare warned his listeners that the Mirlistry, could not be expected to produce quick results. For one thing Germany had accumulated considerable stocks of material before the war. “But what we have done is to cut her off, from the day when war

was declared, from many of her sources of supply and with every day that passes her stocks are being drained and she is finding it increasingly difficult to replace them,” he added. In connection with the references by the Minister in his broadcast to the desire of the British authorities to show every consideration in the exercise of the contraband control plans for the needs and trade of neutrals, special interest attaches to an answer he gave in the House of Commons. Allowed to Continue He was asked what British ships, laden with animal feeding stuffs for foreign ports, had been allowed since the war to continue to their destination and, in view of the shortage of these commodities in England, why were such cargoes not diverted here? Mr. Cross replied by giving the names of eight British ships having on board feeding stuffs, including wheat, which had been allowed to proceed to their destination 'in neutral countries, and adding: “I would remind the House that it is not the policy of the British Government to seize cargoes regarding which there is no evidence of an enemy destination. No question, therefore, arises of interfering with cargoes destined for the internal consumption of neutral countries.”