FULL JUSTIFICATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1940, Page 5

FULL JUSTIFICATION

CLAIMED IN BRITAIN ' ALL. RULES OF WAR BROKEN BY GERMANY. ACTION TO REDRESS BALANCE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.57 a.m.) RUGBY, April 8. The dramatic Allied announcement of the northern blockade did not find the British public unprepared. Mr Chamberlain’s firm statement last week, of the Allies’ determination to prosecute an economic war against Germany to the utmost of their power, created an expectation of early effective action. It was confirmed by the summoning to London of British diplomatic representatives in South-Eastern Europe, by the creation of an official corporation to develop British trade with the Balkans and by communications addressed to Norway and Sweden by the Allies at the end of the week, which' were understood to deal with the general question of neutrality. The preparations for the laying of minefields were undertaken with the greatest secrecy and the actual work was completed with the precision and expedition always associated with the Navy. The operation, which is directed solely against Germany, involves a technical breach of neutrality, but the rules of neutrality have always reposed on common acceptance of their validity. Persistent disregard of them on one side rules out the claim that they should be applied with their ancient rigour against the other. Germany has broken all the rules of international law, except perhaps that with which today’s operation, is concerned. A German breach of this particular rule has not occurred merely because it suited Germany to observe it. The vital importance for the Allies of blocking the trade for German benefit, which is taking an undue advantage of this rather imprecise customary law concerning territorial waters, becomes manifest when it is remembered that it is not only calculated to prohibit the passage of iron ore to Germany through Norwegian territorial waters, but will prevent German shipping from employing Norwegian territorial waters to evade contraband control and German raiders from slipping out by the same route to attack our trade routes. It is confidently anticipated here that the motive actuating the measure will be fully appreciated abroad.