VERY REAL BLOCKADE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 2

VERY REAL BLOCKADE.

DUTCH FIGURES PROVE COMPLETENESS. measures to stop smuggling. The Amsterdam Telegraaf, in a long article headed “Our Trade with Germany,” discusses the articles published by a London newspaper regarding Dutch exportation to Germany, as compared with the statistics published by the Economisch-Statistiche Berichten. The Telegraaf gays: The blockade of Germany, as regards articles against whose export to Germany the British Government has protested, must be acknowledged as complete. It is true that in 1915 106,613 tons of copra were exported, 21,721 tens of' margarine, and 79,092 tons of linseed oil, as against 26,728 tons of copra, 401 tons of margarine, and 10,526 tons of linseed oil in 1913, but the inference that the present blockade, pclicy dees not hinder the exportation of these articles to Germany is incorrect. THE LAST THREE MONTHS. Of the gross amount of 106,613 tons of copra exported in 1915 about 106,605 tons were sent to Germany in the first nine months of the year. During the same period 21,701 tons of margarine were sent to Germany, and 79,090 tons of linseed oil. Therefore during the last three months the exportation of these articles to Germany has been almost suspended. In fact, even if the Dutch ports had been officially blockaded, we do net known that the British Fleet could have done more than it has done now, when no official blockade exists.

The journal asserts that this result might have been attained earlier if he British Government had been aware that linseed oil could be usefully employed in producing glycerine, and that it was only when the British Government discovered this that these articles were placed on the contraband list.

The paper then explains the measures taken by the Dutch Government and the Dutch Overseas Trust against smuggling, and the exportation of prohibited articles, and quotes figures showing that in December last Germany received from Holland scarcely any finished margarine, nut oil, cotton oil, other edible oils, lard, tallow or train oil. THE GRIP IN DECEMBER. These statistics refer to general exports, but the figures relating to dutyfree articles are, the Telegraaf says, ■till more remarkable, since in December, 1915. Germany did not receive from Holland one single pound of cocoa, butter, copra, cocoanut oil,- linseed oil, palm oil or other oils. The Telegraaf points out that,-since the British Government changed its policy regarding fat and oil, the exportation from Holland has been reduced to nil, and says that the conclusion drawn by the London journal from its series of articles is misleading, since it failed tc point out that the exportation of oils and fat mentioned took place only during the first months of 1915, and that the exportation hag now stopped owing to the Dutch prohibition, which is carried out with the greatest strictness. “As regards our oil and fat export,” says the Telegraaf. “this London jour- ■ ml's campaign comes exactly a month ,too late.”

2000 NEW CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

The Telegraaf heartily welcomes the pclicy of the new Dutch Minister of Finance against smuggling. , In the supplementary Budget for 1915 the Minister asks for a further credit of 270,000 florins (about £22,500), representing for nine months a monthly expenditure of 30,000 florins (£2500) for 2000 new Customs officials, who will be recruited from the military.