THE BLOCKADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23916, 18 September 1939, Page 7

THE BLOCKADE

EFFECT ON COMMERCE ITALY’S DEEP CONCERN THE BRITISH INTENTION UNPARALLELED MEASURES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.) The New York Times’s Rome correspondent says Italy is most worried concerning the effect of the French and British blockade. “Italian commerce, and even the general welfare of nearly all European countries are going to suffer, whether they are belligerents or neutrals,” it is stated. It is realised that Britain intends unparalleled measures, and it is believed that the traditional rules of neutrality will not apply, and that nations will not be able to declare their neutrality and then help one. side materially instead of militarily. Italy is convinced that Britain intends to apply different forms of blockade and search against European and American ships, being stricter with nations bordering Germany than with a country like Brazil. One of the main reasons why Italy stayed out of the Great War was her vulnerability to blockade. She has made enormous strides towards autarchy since 1935, and although she does not yet claim to be self-supporting her foodstuffs are assured. RUSSIAN PRODUCTS SUPPLIES FOR NAZIS NEW YORK, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 9 p.m.) The New York Times’s Berlin correspondent says that the Nazis are battering a direct road to Rumania and to Russia, on which is dependent the supply of Nazi oil and food, thereby defeating the British blockade. Russia does not conceal her determination to provide Germany with overseas products, and Rumania has no choice. There has already been a discussion regarding the rapid construction of an oil pipeline from Rumania to Germany for the purpose of assuring the continued operations of the German air force. Germany appears to be anxious not to emphasise the British blockade, the counter blockade, or the western fighting. The submarine campaign is not men-

tioned at all in the press, except for rescues, showing the chivalry of submarine crews. Germany appears to be preparing, if necessary, to use the air force as a blockading weapon, “ CONDITIONAL CONTRABAND ” FOODSTUFFS AND CLOTHING (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.) The German wireless is attacking the British “ blockade ” as illegal on the grounds that the contraband list included goods other than armaments. It is a fact that the list describes foodstuffs and clothing as “ conditional contraband,” which means briefly that they will be seized only if there is reason to believe that they are likely to be used by the enemy for the purpose of war. This was the practice established during the last war, not only by the Government of Britain, but also by the United States. The importance to the German military machine of petroleum imports is well known, and the announcement made by the Ministry of Information that among the contraband . consigned to Germany which has been seized during the week ended September 9 were cargoes of petroleum amounting to 29,500 tons, was of special interest. During the same period cargoes intended for Germany, which were intercepted, included also large quantities of iron ore, manganese ore, wood pulp and phosphate. Germany before the war stated that she could supply about one-third only ot her peace-time need of petroleum. Iron ore is another great deficiency, Germany depending on foreign sources for at least two-thirds of her requirements. Most of Germany’s manganese is imported, and phosphates are an essential fertiliser for which she is completely dependent on supplies from abroad. Many of the cargoes detained up to this date were consigned openly to Germany before the war started, so that evidence of enemy destination was readily available.