FOOD & CLOTHING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 6

FOOD & CLOTHING

FOR FRENCH INFANTS I I ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH BRITISH BLOCKADE. WHEAT SHIPMENT FOR SPAIN . .

(British Official Wireless.) j (Received This Day 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY. January 8. The British Government, at the personal request of President Roosevelt,! has agreed to pass through the blockade a shipload of foodstuffs and clothing intended for infant children tn occupied France. The foodstuffs, which consist of vitamin concentrates and dried milk goods, will be admitted in strictly limited quantities and will be, distributed under the direct control of; the American Red Cross organisation. : It is pointed out that the concession! in no way affects the British policy of' blockading unoccupied France as a' whole. The fact that the distribution of | the food and clothing is being under-: taken by the American Red Cross has; been accepted by the British Govern-:, ment as a sufficient guarantee that the concession will not be abused. I Mr Roosevelt’s request was received: ' in London through the usual diploma-: ! tic channels in the course of the past' j few days. It is understood that thei j President made it clear that his desire 1 I was not to see any impaired efficiency i of the economic weapon being used j against aggressor States. ! The concession to date covers only a single shipload, to be unloaded at Marseilles, but if the methods of distribution prove satisfactory to the Bri-i ; tish Government there is no doubt that! i similar consignments will be allowed.,' to go through. Under the arrangement. I some vitamin capsules confiscated ini Bermuda recently from Madame Schi-f perelli, an American dress designer.; will be released and handed to the AmI erican Red Cross for the children off j unoccupied France. In the same vessel which is to unload' ' these supplies at Marseilles, there will; be a cargo of wheat for Spain. This } cargo is being sent by America and no} question of the arrangements arrived' at between the British and Spanish’ Governments arises in this B instance, j Spain is not subject to the British} blockade. Existing measures aim at en-j suring that while Spain has sufficient! tor her own purposes, no imports capable of re-export to enemy countries shall bo permitted to be sent there. Accordingly. suggestions regarding a modification of the British blockade policy have no relevance in connection; with the arrival of this cargo.