BRITISH BLOCKADE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 252, 1 August 1940, Page 8

BRITISH BLOCKADE

EXTENSION OF SYSTEM.

NAVICERTS FOR ALL SHIPPING. * (United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 30. . . The House of Commons heard two important statements announcing measures whicli will ensure the continued efficiency of the relentless economic pressure being exerted by Britain upon Germany. Henceforth any consignment and any ship sailing to or from any European and certain other ports, and not covered by a “navicert,” will be liable, to'seizure, rr The Minister for Economic Warfare (Mr Hugh Dalton) explained the reason for this decision, and showed how the system would work. Ho denied that Great/ Britain intended to extend the blockade to certain neutral countries.

The Minister for Shipping (Mr It. H. Cross) said that shipping not taking advantage of the navicert system would no longer be given facilities under British control-; such as bunkering, repairing, or insurance. '

. Mr Dalton said: “The German occupation of the west European coastline from North Cape to the Pyrenees has greatly changed the conditions of the economic war. The German armies have succeeded in over-running large parts of Western Europe, but the overseas imports which they require arc still barred from the seas commanded by the Royal Navy. Many fewer ships are now engaged in legitimate neutral trade between Europe and the Americas..

“Moreover, we must now control noc .only shipping approaching the Mediterranean or North Sea, but all shipping crossing the Atlantic. To apply .this control in the old way would mean diverting many ships far out of their course to contraband bases in British waters, either in this island or in West Afribai To avoid imposing such grave inconveniences upbn shippers, sliipbvyiiers, and crews, his Majesty’s Government has decided to extend the navicert system to all seaborne goods consigned to any European port, as well as to certain Atlantic islands and certain neutral ports in North Africa. “In future, ships sailing from a. neutral port to any such destination must obtain navicerts for all items of cargo, and, in addition, a ship navicert at the last port.of-loading. Any consignment not navieerted, and any ship without a ship navicert, will henceforth he liable to seizure by our patrols.” The Position of France. Recalling a statement earlier this month concerning the application of the contraband control to French territory under enemy contol, Mr Dalton said: “After a most careful review of all the circumstances, Britain has now decided with regret that in the present conditions it must treat all metropolitan France, as well as Algeria, Tunis 1 and French Morocco, in the same manner ,for the purposes of contraoand and enemy export control, as cnemvcontrolled territory. Goods destined for those territories are therefore; liable to he seized as contraband, end goods originating in or owned by persons in such territories are liable to he placed in prize. “These steps which I have now announced, are designed to smooch Die path of genuine neutral trade, while increasitag the strength, our blockade and- avoiding all unnecessary (oils' upon the Royal Navy.”

Mr Cross said the course of the war made necessary new measures for the control of shipping. “Hitherto” he said “the widespread and important shipping facilities under British control have been freely available to all vessels. Such fapilifcjbs ijhci'ude drydocking, repairing, insurance, stores, and many minor services. It is not reasonable that these facilities shoidd continue to be freely available to shipowners who do not render commensurate service in return or to those who fail to satisfy Britain that they will refrain from carrying on trade which would be injurious to the Allied v.ar effort. The ..possession of a ship’s navicert for every voyage to which the navicert system applies, will he essential,”

Those giving acceptable undertakings woiild receive a, “ship’s warrant” which would secure for them are continuation of British shipping facilities, while ships unablp to produce this document would he subject to inquiries on each occasion that they- desired shipping services while under British control. This scheme would come into operation forthwith. Mr Cross added: “It has been suggested in some quarters we intend to extend the blockade to certain neutral countries. This is not so. Where supplies, can roach, such neutrals without risk of their falling into the hands of the' enemy, wo shall grant navicerts on such a scale as to allow imports adequate for domestic consumption, blit not Toi‘ re-export to other countries. | Moreover; it-will ho Britain’s policy j not merely to allow such adequate sup-, plies to pass through our controls, W", to ' assist neutral countries to obtain them.

“These measures will greatly benefit those engaged in honest neutral trade. Delays in such trade, due to the exercise of our controls, will he m uch reduced. ,At the same time a hey.vy blow will be struck at those who seek to elude our controls and carry supplies either to or from the enemy.’’’—British Official Wireless.