TRADE HELD UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1940, Page 5

TRADE HELD UP

GERMANY’S MANY PROBLEMS. Small wonder that the Nazi trade negotiations with Rumanian are facing deadlock, that the talks with Sweden have broken down, and those with Belgium been interrupted, while the tecent agreement with Yugo-Slavia is already out of joint through German failure to deliver the promised goods. Trade with Hitler is apt to be one-sid-ed, said the London “Daily Telegraph in December. These countries have doubtless been watching commercial events of the past few weeks in Italy. The former partner, whose sympathy Germany is so rapidly alienating, has found it remarkably difficult since the war to get cash or goods out of the Nazis. When, in November. Italy’s frozen credits in Germany had reached £7,000.000. trade between the two countries came to a standstill. . Relations became so strained mat Italy suggested liquidating the debt by taking over the German ships, which had sought refuge in Italian ports. The Nazis refused and ordered these ships to get up steam and be ready to leave at short notice. To this the Italians retaliated by refusing clearance to all German vessels. Matters remained in this tense state for some time, until a strictly temporary accommodation was reached. Its terms were not revealed. Either the Nazis were forced to recognise Italy s lien on their ships, or else they paid something off the debt by handing over the Italian property of the unfortunate evacuees from the South Tyrol. Whatever the facts behind the agreement. Italy has made it clear that trade credits will bo stopped again if at any time the balance due to her from Germany increases.