ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15498, 27 January 1916, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

THE BRITISH BLOCKADE. fi FOREIGN OFFICE CRITICISED. BITTER NEUTRAL COMMENT? GERMANY UNEASY. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services.) (Received January 26th. 5.10 p.m.)' LONDON. January 25. Lord Head Icy. speaking in London, said the nation was dissatisfied with the Foreign Office i'or not backing up the Naw. and because it was apparently attempting to interfere with and lessen our sea power. Ho eited the ivcnntlv published statistics of jieutral M

trade as proof of our "ovcr-squeamish-ness towards the Huns." Mr J. L. Garvin, writing in the "Observer," remarks that Sir Edward Grey s repudiation of tne cnarge tuat the Foreign Omce has practically been feeding tne L-ermans, nas not settled the pntilic conviction that more serious measures ot strangulation are possible. N aval -opinion on both sides ot the Atlantic agrees that it is now practicable to replace the illegal Orciers-in-Council by a declared ana regularised blockade. . Other publicists point out that victorv in the war is more and more dependent on naval strangulation. A Copenhagen message states thai -the legality ot the Orders-in-Council has never been admitted, but thev have he en accepted calmly because of Great Britain's war necessities. It is understood, however, that if the trade agreements fail to achieve the end desired there will be a reversal of public opinion against England. Evil lcrebodings arc genera!. . A C'hristiania message states that opinion, specially in industrial circles, is bitterly anti-British. Her control o: the seas, u is thought, is too arbitrary, in view of the fact that no goods arc in transit to German;."- Ihe Customs and the liclice are msat watchful to enforce the prohibitions against export by confiscation, line, and imprisonment. A Stockholm message states that Swedish industrv has already suffered through the dea'ith of raw materials. Owing to the lack ot sulphate some papers mills are closing. '1 he proposed tightening of tlie blockade is _ being bitterly discussed. The suggestion of putting the nation on rations is regarded as impracticable and humiliating. The tigures showing the increase in •Swedisn imports, are said to be exaggerated, and to be due to the importation or home necessities from the United States instead of from the belligerents. The German Press is pretending tc scoff at the blockade. The Munich newspaper "Neuste Nachrichten" comments: ''The suggested tightening, like the blockade itself. is mere humbug." The "Kolnische Zeitung" says: "First the English tried to make us buy articles that wore not necessities, with the view of helping on our bankruptcy. They are now trying to starve'us altogether, which is plain futility." RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. SEIZURES OF CONTRABAND. (Hy Cable.—Prees Association.—Copyright.; (Received January 23th. 8.1-5 p.m.) LONDON, January 25. Fifteen cases, labelled "hammers," were seized on board the Swedish steamer Varna, bound from America to Copenhagen; The cases contained copper, brass, and aluminium filings. Sixty-nine postal parcels seized on "board the Dutch liner Gelria contained 400 revolvers consigned to Copenhagen and Amsterdam, by Spanish firms.

ATTITUDE OF SWEDEN. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. AN INTERESTING DEBATE. STOCKHOLM, January 2-5. A debate on the Budget took place in both Houses. ! Herr Uksslag, the Liberal leader, de- i clarcd that the people demanded a policy of unreserved neutrality. Herr Treating, the Socialist leader, said he feared that in the future they would bo unable to maintain a firm neutrality. The Premier urged that it was impossible to doubt that the policy of the Government was sincerely neutral, consistently adhering to tho principle of co-operating on tiio common objects of neutrals, especially with Denmark and Norway, and their efforts had largely succeeded. The present grouping of Powers would not be a lasting one, and it was possible'that in future a belligerent would regret tearing up treaties and violating international law for the sake of a doubtful temporary advantage. If the Government had insisted upon loss strict commercial I nontrality they might have lessened the industrial inconvenience, although the inconvenience actually suffered was no more than in the case of other neutrals. Herr Trauting complained that the speech was obscure in regard to the neutrality policy. Reasonable compromises'were needed not to allow v themselves to be driven to extremes. Although the Premier had said the Government's aim was peace, they must remember that that might be impossible, despite all their efforts.