SEIZURE OF EXPORTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 46, 4 December 1939, Page 6

SEIZURE OF EXPORTS

firtE NEUTRAL’S ATTITUDE. ' AN OFFICIAL stATEMENT. WELLINGTON, December 2. The United Kingdom High Commissioner in New Zealand (Sir Harry Ba.tterbee, has been advised by a cablegram, dated at London, November 30, as follows: — “Certain misleading statements having been made regarding the British reprisals against German, exports, it is authoritatively stated in London that of 42 neutral countries, only four— Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and Japan—Lave protested in writing, while others —Italy, Norway, and Iran —have made verbal representations. Neutral press comment shows, in general, a. sympathetic understanding of motives. Thus the Belgian “Vingtieme Siecle,” of November 27, writes: “Belgium, and Holland cannot escape the consequences of their geographical position. It would he puerile to think that Great .Britain will resign herself to lose tlr© war, sooner than cause momentary damage to Rotterdam and Antwerp. On© must ask if her defeat is really desirable for Holland or Belgiufti. It would he puerile also to think that if the invasion of Holland gave German a substantial chance of victory, respect of neutrality would stop her.” The Swedish newspaper, “Gothenburg Handelsblad” says: “It is an undeniably .hard blow for Germany, that England intends to stop German exports. Germany hoped, nothwithstanding the way, to export 80 per cent, of her 1938 figures. German propaganda says that Anglo-French economic co-operation fox-ces neutrals to deliver their goods at the lowest price, thus contributing to the Allies’ wiar expenses. There is doubtless a particle of truth in this, but it is mostly false. What the neutrals now want is neither money nor gold; they aye all willing to deliver their goods merely in exchange for goods which they themselves need.”

The Peruvian newspaper, “La Brenza” says: “Protest or no protest, the neutrals must 'accept Great Britain’s decision to blockade German exports. War is war, and the fact must be accepted with all its consequences.”