NO SURPRISE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 5

NO SURPRISE

SOVIET PROTEST NOTE CONTRABAND CONTROL BRITISH BLOCKADE PLAN ALLEGED NAZI PRESSURE (British Official Wireless.) Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Oct. 27. War and blockade were discussed in a leading article in this morning’s Times, which examined the repiy which the Soviet Government, after a somewhat leisurely consideration, has returned to British intimations to neutrals on September 6 and 11, of the imposition of contraband control.

The Soviet note was handed to the British Ambassador in Moscow late on Wednesday night.

The Times observed that the Soviet Government demur to the list of contraband goods prescribed on behalf of Britain is not altogether a surprise. The definition of contraband has been a constant subject to dispute between belligerents and neutrals, largely because a nation is no less apt to change its view of the law when it passed from one class into the other than is a private citizen to modify his opinion of the highway code according to whether he is at the moment a motorist or a pedestrian.

A message from New York states that the Moscow correspondent of the New York Times says that diplomatic circles believe that the note which the Soviet Government was yesterday reported to have sent to Britain declaring that the British contraband list violates the principles of international law, gravely impairs the interests of neutrals, and destroys international trade, was presented because Germany insisted, after the collapse of the “peace offensive” on the fulfilment of the agreement to consult anti act appropriately.

The- correspondent adds that the lame conclusion, harmless threats and claim to compensation seem to rule out bellicose intentions.