Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 45, 28 January 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

THE BLOCKADE'S EFFECTIVENESS.

FOREIGN OFFICE CRITICISED

SSR E. GREY IN DEFENCE.

[Unitbd Pttjae Ajibooiation.l London, January 26.

In the House of Commons Ml ■Benn moved a resolution urging the Government to enforce as effective a blockade as possible, without interfering with neutral countries' normal requirements for their interna] consumption. He said that if the Government had grasped the nettle and used Britain's sea power with greater effect it might have saved a certain period of the war. He hoped that the Government, in conjunction with their allies, would prevent the whole of Germany's oceanic trade by the blockade, and make everything for Germany and out of Germany's contraband. He did not think that America, would object, as the full commonsense of,the majority of her people was keenly alive* to their interest. Mr Leverton Harris referred to Germany's, ruses to get contraband through the navy. We had seized honey which on analysis proved to be a mixture of rubber and glycerine, and had also captured rubber disguised as onions, and metal as Japanese works of art, wrapped.in rubber.

Sir Edward Grey said the subjectwas not as simple as it might appear from speeches and articles. There were most difficult complications. There was real misapprehension in the House of Commons in regard to the. amount of trade passing between neutrals and the enemy, and a vast underestimate of what the Government was doing to prevent it. The figures recently scattered broadcast would not bear examination, and the conclusion founded thereon had undoubtedly done great harm. The fact was overlooked that in peace time many neutrals drew supplies from countries which would be unavailable in war time. Further, a large amount of stuff from the United States that was believed to be destined for the enemy had never reached the neut.als as ". was in British prize courts. In regaici to the statement that the export of ' wheat from the United States to Scandinavia had increased from nineteen million bushels in ten months in 1913 to fifty million bushels in 3915, those fifty millions included exports to Spain,'Portugal. Greece, and Malta, amounting to twenty-three millions. The last named countries had hitherto largely depended on Black Sea ports. They must also deduct several million bushels used for the relief of Belgium. Sir E. Grey instanced several more deductions to show that the Scandinavian imports were not excessive. They could not stop the leakage altogether and whatever system was adopted they could not take over the administration of neutral countries nor prevent smuggling against neutrals' own regulations. It was impossible, however strict the super vision of the navy, to ensure that no part of a cargo would find its way to the enemy. Sir Alexander Henderson's report showed that the maximum was being done that was possible, without serious trouble with neutrals. . The charge that the Foreign Office was spoiling and undoing the navy s work was grossly unfair and untrue he continued. Since the beginning o 1916 the Government only released three ships without consulting the Contraband Committee. Two of these cases were discussed by the Cabinet and the ships were released For special reasons. The third case was that oi the Stockholm, about which the bweuish Government specially appealed The Government telegraphed that H they received certain assurances they would release, and they received the undertaking. Was it not time thai these reckless statements were stopped? The Foreign Office had done its best to retain the goodwill of neutrals, from whom we wanted special supplies, and had to explain and justify interference with their trade. I hat was not easy. We had no right to say that the Prize Court was the neck of a bottle through which all neutral trade must I pass. Had we attempted to go thai | far the war might possibly have been

over now, because the whole world would have been against us and tlie Allies would have collapsed under its resentment. "Our correspondence with America (vfill continue to be a justification of cur policy. We arc consulting Franc:.' | before replying to the Tinted States' ia.;t note, with a view to pursuing tne same policy, justifying it with the same arguments, and putting the same use before the world. We are perfectly ready to examine any means o! carrying out the policy laid down Li March last, which is likely to be mole igreeable to neutrals and less inconvenient in practice. So long as it vas effective they could not abjure .he right to interfere with enemy lade. They could not exercise it uthout considerable inconvenience to auitrals, who must answer one of the nain questions. Do they admit our •ight to apply the principle with America applied in, the war between the >'orth and the South, and do our best o prevent trade with the enemy Trough neutrals? if the neutrals answered 'yes,' as in fairness they are >ouiid to do, we will say, 'Make it •■asy for us to distinguish goods which .re bona fide destined for neutral coniumption." If they answer, 'No,' then ve must say definitely that their atti,ude is a departure from neutrality. "The United States' last Note contained proposals which, if conceded, vould make it absolutely impossible to ueveut even contraband goods from ,-oing wholesale through neutrals to he enemy. If we conceded all the vote asked we might as well give up he attempt at carrying out the blockade, but 1 do not understand vfchat the United States or any Government hold hat view. We are entitled to claim he utmost rights recognised nude-i----nternational law in previous wars." Sir E. Grey said he did not intend o say what would be the conditions if peace. He pointed out that we .mist end Prussian militarism, which is i constant menace to peace. The vhole of our resources were engaged in ihe war, and our maximum efforts—nilitary, naval, and financial—were :t the Allies' disposal for carrying on die conflict, and we would exert all our efforts to put the maximum pressure m our enemies. Part of that pressure night be the preventing of supplies going to the enemy by using the full >ower of the navy, and Britain will •elax no effort, in common with her Vllies, to see the thing through to the >nd. Sir E. Grey received a prolonged >vation at the close of his speech. The House was impressed by the ewight of 'is arguments, and even the doubters realised the difficulty of the problem.

DR. DILLON'S OPINION.

CRITICISM OF FOREIGN OFFICE

London, January 26

Dr. Billon, in an article in the Fortlightfyl protests ■ against thwarting' the' magnificent efforts ot the navy, and says the Foreign Office is going out of its way to make the blockade a farce. There is only British sea power between us and defeat, and if success depended upon the exercise of intelligence that is superior to that of the enemy we might regard the war as already lost beyond recovery. Dr. Billon further says; "The reason for the present desperate plight is the absence of genuine leaders of strong will, high purpose, and true insight; also the lack of efficient internal organisation. The failure which paralysed the heroism of the army has been applied more considerately and more subtly to thwarting the magnificent efforts of the navy. Tf the Foreign Office had not hampered the navy Germany would have been forced to sue for peace before the end of 1915. We are slowly organising for defence, •ind have yet to organise for victory. We may to-morrow have to organise r or bare existence. The public believes Hhat things are going better, but T know enough.to be unable to share that consoling faith." THE BLOCKADE PROBLEM. PROPOSAL FOR FOOD AS ABSOLUTE CONTRABAND. THE NEED FOR CAUTION. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, January 2.7. In the House of Commons, Mr Finay proposed that food he absolute ontraband. Lord Hugh Cecil, replying to the.demte, admitted that the blockade was : mperfcct, but the complications were . : reat. The Government had not lost ;i K ht of the possibility of a blockade if the Baltic. He said: We are trending to what no Nation ever tried before in trying the blockade of Germany ihrough Neutral countries. It is not a ■use of highhandedness, but of great •aution and circumspection, and it is iasy to make mistakes which might burn out so seriously as to prevent us winning the war. The motion was talked out. ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, .January 27. The Dailv Mail opines that Sir Edward Grcv's attack on the scaremon gering press was an impudent invention based on grotesque figures. Tile Dailv Chronicle attacks the foreign Office' and says it is representing ~ policv of fouling its own nest. Tlifl Daily Telegraph says it expects Sir Edward Grey's statement will silence impertinent and ignorant critic--IST!,e Tinu-s maintains the belief that

the Government should establish a regular blockade. If the public misunderstands the Foreign Office, it is because the public have been kept in mischievous ignorance. ihc Druiy 'vi.'.il and the Morning Post remain convinced that a large quantity of goods are going to Germany despite Sir Edward Grey's arguments. The .Morning Post says the silence :* Mr Balfour is very remarkable. The liiifcry holds Mr Balfour responsible or any failure to use bis full powers. AEROPLANES FROM THE OVERSEAS. ONE FROM POVERTY BAY. (Received 8.10 a.m.) London. January 27. Official.-.Mr Bonar Law acknowledges gifts of twelve biplanes, including one from Poverty Bay, through the Overseas' Club. SHORTAGE OF PAPER. DRASTIC NEWSPAPER ACTION PROPOSED. (Received 8.-F) a.m.) London, January 27. ' Adeputation from the PapermakLrs' Association met Mr Runeiman, as it was rumored that the Government intends to prohibit sixty per cent, of the import of wood pulp. In order to keep the money in the country and cope with the shipping difficulty, newspapers are considering reducing their size forty per cent and prohibiting the return of unsold pap-

The Government similarly contemplate the prohibition of the importing of cinema films.

THE PAPER PROBLEM IN INDIA.

(Received 8.45 a.m.) Delhi, January 27

The authorities favor extensive experiments for manufacturing paper from Sabai grass and bamboo.

TRADING WITH GERMANY.

DEBATE IN THE LORDS,

NEUTRALS' FIGURES QUOTED.

(Received 8.-15 a.m.) London, January 27

In the House of Lords Lord Devonport said that from the commencement of the war to the end of 1915 three hundred cargoes of iron ore amounting to a million and a-half tons arrived at Rotterdam, and the inference was that it was intended for Germany.

Lord Devonshire, replying said the average imports annually from 1911 to 1913 amounted to five and a-half million tons, nearly the whole of them proceeding to Germany. The imports to Hallond in 1915 were 650,000 tons. Lord Lansdowne resented the suggestion that the Foreign Office ? War Office, and Admiralty required waking up. LABOR AND THE WAR. LORD DENMAN'Sf ADVICE. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, January 27. During the debate on the Military Service Bill on its third reading, Lord Denman said Labor had nothing to fear from the Bill. It was likely that after the war Labor would play a still greater part in political affairs. If any considerable section of the Laborities failed to realise that they were Englishmen first and trades unionists second they hampered the administration of the Act, and their advent to power was bound to be greatly delayed. FATHER VAUCHAN 3 INDICTMENT OF THE GERMA IS. BUSINESS OF BRITISHERS IS KILLSNO. THE WAR LORD'S DIRECTIONS. "NOTHING BUT EYES TO WEEP WITH!' 1 (Received 910 a.m.") London, January 27. Speaking at the Mansion House, Father Vaughan said that if Prussianised Germany v Duld play the 'game according to Jie rales of international law she might command 'respect of Englishmen but she had failed to play the game, an,] the business of Britishers was to keep on killing the Germans. Referring to the atrocties, he said that we were sometimes told that newspapers exaggerated them, but his answer was that if the Germans had not done the things with which they were charged they were failing to carry out the 'directions of their War Lords to leave 'women and children nothing but eyes to weep with, i j MORE PEACE TALK. j I COLONEL HOUSE'S MISSION. ; London, January &■ I The Mail's Salonika correspondent 'savs that (he German press insists on

the importance of Col. House's mission to Europe. It hints at the sounding of pence, but the immediate business is to restore harmony with the American Ambassadors. A section of the press is asserting that Mr Page, who i s :» violent Anglophile, is interfering with Mr Gerrad's activity, and would have been recalled but that his attitude coincides with that of President Wilson. Colonel Bouse will advise him to be more cautious. (Colonel House is President Wilson's envoy to Europe.)