Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12. ECONOMIC GAINS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 209, 12 June 1940, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12. ECONOMIC GAINS.

In dealing with the economic effect of the withdrawal of Norway from the war, the “Guardian” yesterday referred to the necessity for the Allies going further afield for supplies now cut off. Though iron ore does not enter into the picture, it is interesting to recall in general the suggestion made in London recently that benefit will accrue, in respect to many commodities, through the co-ordination of supplies of many products from the Dutch and Belgian Empires with those from the British and French Empires, The occupation of the Low Countries has not vested the Germans with any title of possession in the overseas territories of either nation, even if there existed any- power of enforcement. Each country maintains a government in being and any attempt at invasion of the colonies by Germans from neighbouring States would be strongly and assuredly successfully resisted. The invasion of the Mother countries has automatically stopped trade between them and the colonies, any diibble that there might be .being subject to check by the Allied blockade. The trade from the Dutch possessions is valuable, particularly at this time, the exports including petroleum from both the East and the West Indies—rubber, bauxite, gold, tin, copra, other vegetable oils and many foodstuffs. The Belgian Congo exports principally copper, tin, radium, diamonds, vegetable oils and other tropical products. These commodities are available for purchase by the Allies in the legitimate course of business, all non-bel-ligerent countries being given opportunities to buy though natural patriotism may be expected to incline the scales in favour of the antagonists of the ruthless hordes that plunged the home countries into indescribable horrors.