REPLY TO SOVIET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 11

REPLY TO SOVIET

POLICY OF ALLIES

CHECK TO CONTRABAND

INCLUSION OF FOOD

ESSENTIAL ELEMENT

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—L T nited Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 2, 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1.

The Minister of Economic Warfare, Mr. Hibbert Cross, in a broadcast address to-day gave what was tantamount to a reply to Russia’s protest against the inclusion of food in the British conditional contraband list. He said that the blockade was one of the most powerful weapons in warfare, particularly to-day when the whole of the nations and not only the armies were mobilised for war. “In our considered opinion, the treatment of food as conditional contraband is an essential clement of economic warfare, which would bo seriously weakened without it,” said Mr. Cross. “To except certain goods would merely prolong the war." Of the total seizures so far, about 14 per cent could normally be classified as foodstuffs, of which 9 per cent contained fats and oils which could be used by Germany for munitions. The remainder intercepted, namely 86 per cent, could be used for war purposes.

The prolonging of war unnecessarily was incomparably more cruel than exercising economic pressure, said the Minister. It is announced that a Board ol Trade order coming into force to-mor-row requires that goods imported from a number of European countries must'have a certificate they are not of enemy origin and that there is no enemy interest in them. The order does not aoolv to goods which lett the'last place "of consignment before November 5 and a number of commodities are exempted, including all foodstuffs and feeding stuffs loi animals, numerous raw materials, newspapers, periodicals, books personal effects and certain samples ot bona fide gifts.