GERMAN EXPORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20111, 4 December 1939, Page 11

GERMAN EXPORTS

BRITISH REPRISALS PROTEST BY NEUTRALS ONLY SEVEN OUT OF 42 COMMENT IN PRESS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The United Kingdom High Commissioner in New Zealand, Sir Harry Batterbee, has been advised by cablemessage from London as follows: “Certain misleading statements having been made regarding the British reprisals against German exports, it is authoritatively stated in London that of 42 neutral countries only four. Holland. Belgium, Denmark, and Japan, have protested in writing, while others, Italy, Norway and Iran, have made verbal representations. "Tiie neutral press csomment shows in general sympathetic understanding of the British motives. Thus the Belgian Vingtieme Siecle, of November 27 writes: ‘Belgium and Holland cannot escape the consequences of their geographical position. It would be puerile to think that Britain will resign herself to lose the war sooner than cause momentary damage to Rotterdam and Antwerp. One must ask if her defeat is really desirable for Holland or Belgium. It would be puerile also to think that if the invasion of Holland gave .Germany a substantial chance of victory respect for neutrality would stop her.’ “Hard Blow For Germany”

"The Gothenburg Handelsblad. Sweden, says: ‘lt is undeniably a hard blow for Germany that England intends to stop German exports. Germany hoped, notwithstanding the war, to export 80 per cent of her 1938 figures. German propaganda says that, Anglo-French economic co-operation forces neutrals to deliver their goods at the lowest price, thus contributing to the Allies’ war expenses. There is doubtless a particle of truth m this, but it is mostly false. What the neutral's now want is neither money nor gold. They are all willing to deliver their goods merely in exchange for goods which they themselves need.' , . „„ " ‘La Prenza, Peru, says: Protest m no protest, the neutrals must accept Britain’s decision to blockade Geiman exports. War is war, and the fact must be accepted with all its consequences.' ”