Food-Ships in Wartime

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 819, 13 November 1929, Page 9

Food-Ships in Wartime

HOOVER WANTS IMMUNITY Varied Views Expressed “IMPOSSIBLE PLAN,'’ SAYS FRANCE PRESIDENT lloo\ EK S plan to make food-ships immune from interference or attack in time of war has had a varied reception. It has aroused support and some doubt in the United States and in Britain, while France holds that the proposal is an impossible one.

United PA. — Bn Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON, Tues. The Washington representative of the United Press Association says President Hoover's proposal to except food ships from the contraband of xvar has been received with mixed sentiments in the Senate for, while the President’s purpose to lessen the wartime suffering of women and children is universally praised, some Senators publicly or prix’ately expressed displeasure that the whole subject of the freedom of the seas is being barred from the forthcoming London Naval Conference. The general impression xvas that President Hoover is seeking to appease one of Britain’s vital problems for wartime, namely, the protection of her food lanes. It is pointed out that she produces only enough food to supply her population for a fexv days, and the conclusion was that Britain xvould more readily enter into disarmament if she were assured of open food lanes for lier food ships. OPINIONS IN BRITAIN PROPOSITION LESS SIMPLE THAN IT SOUNDS DIFFICULTIES SEEN Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. President Hoover's proxxosal for the immunity of food ships in time of war is featured in many of the newspapers. The “Daily Telegraph” expresses the opinion that, the President’s speech may become historic, but suggests that the proposition may be less simple than it sounds. For instance besides being food, are important in the manufacture of munitions, and grain and other foodstuffs can be used in making industrial alcohol. “Another possibility of objection arises,” says the “Telegraph,” “if xve consider the case of txvo combatants, one of xvliom is depending mainly upon sea-borne food and is assured of uninterrupted supplies, xvhile the other is depending upon overland imports of food, the cutting off of which it is not proposed by Mr. Hoover to make illegal.” “The Times” says:—“lt should be borne in mind that the problem is a hypothetical one, namely, xvliat laxv shall be applied in eventualities which,

if the pact of peace is observed by all the signatories, may never arise. In any case its discussion must not be allowed to detract from making a success the approaching Naval Conference.” The “Daily News” says it doubts whether attempts to humanise war are anything but a pitiful illusion. Mr. Hoover’s proposal, however, must receive the serious attention of the civilised world. The same consideration should also be given to the proposal recently reviewed by General Smuts, that in the exercise of law, a clear distinction should be drawn between a “public” war, waged as a police duty, and a “private” war, banned under the Kellogg Pact. That involves an interpretation of the freedom of the seas, which seems a more simple line of approach to the problem. “If war is treated as an outlaw’, then the whole question of neutral rights would be revolutionised, and the question of the freedom of the seas would cease to have any practical importance.” The “Manchester Guardian” expresses the view that, so far as Britain’s own interests are concerned, she lias two main objects—firstly, that she shall not be entered in a war; and, secondly, that if war comes, her population shall not be starved, as, more than the population of almost any other great State, it is liable to be starved under the modern conditions of warfare. It says President Hoover’s proposal would be a notable contribution to the achievement of the second, no less than the first object. “IMPOSSIBLE PLAN” FRENCH RECALL SINKING OF HOSPITAL-SHIPS MORE MEN FOR FIGHTING Reccl. 9.10 a.m. PARIS, Tuesday. French opinion is convinced that President Hoover’s plan for the exemption of food-ships Is impossible of application. Frenchmen point to the number of hospital-ships sunk by the Germans in the xvartime, despite the agreement about their immunity. Furthermore, they point out that if food is immune, it xvould release for fighting vast numbers of men hitherto engaged behind the lines, operating farms and food factories to feed the soldiers.