THE BRITISH BLOCKADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 5

THE BRITISH BLOCKADE

TRADE AGREEMENT WITH DENMARK STRONG CRITICISM By Telezraph—Press AsEoclation—CopyTlgM London, Deoember IS. Sir Edward Carson, in a letter to the "Times," says ho is filled with deep anxiety and concern regarding the trade agreement with Denmark: "I believe the nation will greatly rosent tho relaxation on any grounds of the principles of the 1 blockade." Parliament had been kept in ignorance of the military situation and also the policy regarding the use of our naval supremacy. fit was reported from London rast •Tuesday that, in the House of Commons, Sir J. B. Lonsdale asked for particulars of the agreement with the Merchants' Guild at' Copenhagen, and whether that agreement permitted the .re-export of goods to belligerents.. Lord Robert Cecil, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that the agreement was based on the principle that there would be on effective distinction letween bona fide neutral and enemy overseas trado._ The Admiralty had approved of it. Lord Robert Cecil emphatically denied Lord Charles Beresford's suggestion that this was a further surrender of our sea. power, or distinct advantage t-o Germany and a disadvantage to Britain, which would be likely to prolong the war.] INCREASING THE ECONOMIC PRESSURE. (Rec. December 14, 5.20 p.m.) London, December 18. Speaking in the House of Commons, lord Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), in reply to a question, said that the Government's policy of concluding trading agreements through the Foreign-Gffice was to inflict upon Germany all the economic pressure possible in order to bring the war to a spee<ly and successful conclusion. DETAILS OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT. (Rec. December 14, 11.5 p.m.) Copenhagen, December 14. The trade agreement, which hitherto has been kept secret, stipulates that goods are not to lie re-exported except to neutral or Allied countries. Both seller -apd buyer must declare to this effect, and give tho committee tho widest scope for tho control of the goods to their filial destination. Reexport to Sweden and Norway is allowed on the following:—Coffee, t-ea, tobacco, sheet iron, and cloth. The concessions under the agreement do not apply to raw cotton;' coal, coke, oils, paraffin, tinware and-rubber. There are heavy fines for contraventions of the agreement.