THE BLOCKADE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 37, 23 November 1939, Page 5

THE BLOCKADE

TIGHTENING BY BRITAIN. SEIZURE OF GERMAN EXPORTS. SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE. United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, November 21. Mr Chamberlain’s announcement that exports of German origin-or ownership would he seized in reprisal for the illegal laying of mines has met by anticipation tho demand for action which indignant public opinion was already beginning to formulate.

So far in the present war German exports in neutral vessels have not. been subject to interference, and Germany has made great efforts to maintain he’, exports overseas so as to obtain foreign exchange with which to pay for essential war imports from those sources, access to which is not already cut off by British contraband control.

The further measure of economic pressure now to be applied to Germany lias very considerable significance. One effect will be to place her under the necessity of furnishing to those countries from which she is still able to import without the interference of th? Allied ' contraband control those kinds of goods which they themselves require or are prepared to accept.

Britain’s form of retaliation is appreciated when it is remembered that the essential purpose of the Nazi methods of sea warfare are to further the “blockade” of Britain by intimidating neutral shipping. The indiscriminate sowing of German mines was heralded by the repeated warning to neutral shipping from Nazi sources of the danger of approaching the British coast, and of allegations that shipping losses by mines were due to minelaying outside British ports and a dangerous reduction in. the width of clear channels.

These allegations which are without a vestige of justification, were based on the insinuation that such action had been taken as a result of the sinking of the Royal Oak at Scapa Flow—an irrelevant contention, since Scapa Flow is, in any case, declared a defended port and not a commercial port. British mines are not laid in the neighbourhood of or near the approaches to any commercial port, except in publicly announced minefields.

Furthermore, British mines are automatically made innocuous if they break their moorings. An interesting confirmation of this comes from Belgium, where a British mine which was, washed ashore at Ostend did not explode for the reason stated. Tho outrage of the sinking of • the Simon Bolivar was the culmination of a. series of violations of international law of warfare at. sea, beginning with the stoking of; the ; , Athenia. .p These events pointed to the increasing disrespect by Germany of the rules of war, and of the most. elementary dictates of humanity.

FRENCH FOLLOW SUIT.

ACTION AGAINST NAZI TRADE. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m,.) PARIS, November 22. It is officially announced that the Government has taken the same decision as Great Britain concerning the application of reprisals against the German export trade as a result of the nature of the naval warfare which the Germans have been conducting for several weeks, especially during tho last few days.