Second Edition Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 59, 15 February 1916, Page 6

Second Edition Great Britain

ENGLISH PUBLIC OPINION, PROTEST AGAINST INEFFECTIVE BLOCKADE. NAVAL POLICY CONDEMNED. GROANS FOR POLITICAL LEADERS!, United Pkkms Absooiatior. (Received 1.40 p.m.) Loudon, February 14. At a large meeting liekl in tlie Cannon' Street Hotel, to protest against tlie. ineffective blockade of Germany, the-greatest enthusiasm was shown when the speakers advocated,that tlie Navy should prevent any article reaching Germany. Condemntition of the Government's policy was greeted with cries of "Throw them out!" "Give us new leaders!" Groans were given for Mr Asquith and Sir Edward Grey, and tlie meeting carried with cheers a motion:—"That the meeting views with alarm the enormous quantities of commodities reaching Germany through the North Sea, and urges, the Government to make full use of our sea power for the purpose of forcing an absolutely effective blockade-." ' : *'"■•• -'"■''' ; • Lord DeVonpbrt, who presided, said: Tlie Nation is determined nothing will prevent our progress. Is the British Fleet in Supreme Command of the Seas? -Are we utilising to the full that power? We ought to be depriving Germany of the essentials of her trade ancUivelihood, without which no nation could sustain a resistance. Mr Asquith liad declared that.all commodities had been prevented from entering Germany. .An Order-in-Council gave all the poyer necessary, bub that power had not been used. The neutrals were having the times of their lives at our expense. Sir Edward Grey had overestimated the importance of not,interfering with.the rights of Neutrals. During seventeen mouths of war one and a-half million tons of iron ore in three hundred ships were allowed to enter Kottordam. The ore mainly comes from Sweden and Norway, and is taken by barges ? to the Rhine and eventually to Essen, where it is used in making bombs.l-Cries of "Shame!"