GERMANY’S CHOICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1940, Page 6

GERMANY’S CHOICE

NO NEED FOR STARVATION IF FOOD COMES BEFORE GUNS. EFFECTS OF ALLIED BLOCKADE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 24. The Minister of Economic Warfare, Mr Cross, in a broadcast speech, said:— “There is no shame in our blockade. There will be no starvation in Germany if the Nazis feed the people and not the guns. Relaxation of our economic attack would merely prolong the war and increase the loss of life. Germany is practically self-sufficient. If the Nazis use their plentiful foodstuffs for the people and do not choose to use fats for the guns they will not starve German women and children.”

Explaining the work of the Ministry Mr Cross said it was the business of his department to prevent the enemy from obtaining a supply of those things necessary to keep the German fighting forces properly clothed, fed and armed. To effect that object there were now three lines of attack. THREE LINES OF ATTACK. The first was the contraband control, whereby Germany was prevented from obtaining from overseas those goods which tended to increase her military strength. The second was the stoppage of enemy seaborne exports, which action was a reprisal for the ruthless sinking of neutral as well as Allied shipping. Mr Cross described this line of attack as a bitter blow to the Nazis, who depended upon exports to obtain the foreign money needed for buying goods and making propaganda. The third line consisted in competing in those markets which Germany could reach overland. “The merchants of these neutral European countries,” the Minister said, “are beginning to get better prices and returns from us, and as they do they will find it more unprofitable to send supplies to Germany, and our net will be drawn even tighter.” UNITED EFFORT. Mr Cross added that the sea, land, and economic fields were a united Brit-ish-French effort. He pointed out that it had been said and published that the quantity of German imports and exports seized was not large compared with the German needs. His opinion was that the actual seizures were comparatively unimportant and showed only part of the picture. "They don't show—no figures can show —the volume .of goods which have not left port for fear of our contraband control,’ ’he said. “Compare the immense volume of goods shipped in peace time from overseas to Germany and from Germany to overseas with the volume of her present overseas trade. Then you will begin to appreciate what our contraband control has effected.”

The Minister commented: “We have thus got as far as the complete economic isolation of Germany.”

Dealing with the question of intercepting food, the Minister said that in these days it was impossible to separate foodstuffs from industrial raw materials. After instancing the manufacture of bakelite from milk and high explosives from fats, he continued: “Above all, I want to make it absolutely clear that there need be no starvation in Germany, no matter how long the war may last. A PAINFUL CHOICE. “It has been a really painful choice for the German people. It may become more painful yet, but it is the Nazi Government which made the choice and which will have to unmake it. It is they, not we, who starve the German women and childern.” After saying that no immediate German collapse was to be expected, the Minister said there were good, solid signs already that the economic campaign was beginning to take effect. “For example, in Germany today the use of railway engines is restricted because of the shortage of lubricating grease. Even in their fighting aircraft the lubricating oil is now used many hours longer than we consider safe. Many textile factories have closed down and others are forced to work short time because of the lack of raw materials.” Mr Cross concluded by saying that economic warfare meant a hard struggle against the accumulated Nazi stocks.

“We have already achieved something and I am confident that the cooperation with the Dominions and the French will achieve much more. Our share of the ultimate and certain victory will not be small."

STEEL WANTED

STEPS TO CONSERVE SUPPLIES.

LATEST GERMAN DECREES.

A decree issued in Germany on Wednesday by Field-Marshal Goering goes to confirm Mr Cross's claim. The decree ordered engineers to chock projects already begun in an effort, to find a means of saving steel. Field-Marshal Goering also ordered the greater use of wood wherever possible in place of steel in constructional work.

The people of Berlin have now been ordered to use less gas, according to a Belgian correspondent. Hot water is already rationed in many German towns to two days a week. —By radio.