A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 8

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

The British Blockade

HOW IT IS BEING IMPOSED Though much bus been written of Britain’s Ministry of Economic Warfare. few people are fully aware of the part it is playing in the war. Few realize that this close-mouthed and unspectacular department is conducting far and away the most effective offensive against Nazi Germany—the blockade.

By a recent mail has come an American review of British economic warfare. It discloses a number of facts not previously touched on in official statements from London, and has the added value of having been written from a strictly impartial, not to say critical, standpoint.

It describes Britain’s M.E.W. as having taken a “death-grip on Germany”— a grip whicli is tightening slowly but inexorably and a dozen times as effectively as in the Great War. It agrees that unless the Nazis can break that grip their cause is lost. A Mere Pipe-opener A year ago an officer of the Economics Division of the German General Staff said: “God damn England and her money. If we lose a war against the British it will lie because an army still marches on its stomach, and because England still owns the stomachs

of Europe.’’ The words were prophetic, but still the speaker did not realize that if Britain went to war again her previous efforts on tlie economic front would bo a mere pipe-opener for her future activities.

“The last war,” says the American writer, “taught London economists several lessons. The Navy could sweep German shipping from the seas. It could blockade Germany’s coasts. But the real problem was to keep the neutral nations bordering Germany from importing her requirements for her and delivering them by land. . . . "lir London a staff for the ‘Shadow Ministry’ was hand picked. Financial, economic, shipping, statistical and international law experts were marked for service in case of war. Ronald Cross, a wealthy merchant banker, was decided on for Minister. He is young, attractive, an Old Etonian, and a diplomat.”

Immediately Britain was at war, the M.EAV. went into action with a rapidity that dazed friends and enemy alike. All countries received contraband lists, and in The Hague, Brussels, the Scandinavian capitals, Rome and Belgrade, British diplomats appeared with draft: treaties. Holland, Belgium and the rest agreed: (1) not to re-export, to Germany any products which they imported; and (2) not to export to Germany any more, of their own products than they had been sending before the war began. In exchange for this assurance, Britain agreed to allow tlie neutral countries to import their own needs. When import ration lists were examined, it was found that each contained exactly the goods needed in tlie country concerned —and no more. Helpful Italy

"Of all neutral countries, Italy has taken the British decrees in best part,” the article proceeds. "In fact, Signor Mussolini lias allowed the M.E.W. extraordinary privileges in Italy to check up on German-Italian trade. “ ‘Passport-control oflicers’ is the euphemism adopted for the Ministry’s agents. They swarm ... in Rome, Trieste, and in alpine passes—the main trade channels to Germany. Himmler, the Nazi Gestapo chief, went to Milan in an attempt to have them removed. The Duce declined. In exchange, his ships now get rapid clearance at the British control ports, special fueling facilities and very profitable trade. Britain’s control ports are Kirkwall (northern Scotland). Weymouth (south coast of England), The Downs (near the moiith of Hie Thames), Gibraltar, Haifa (near Port Said) and Aden (month of the Red Sea). The control oflicers who board ships are picked naval men. They combine firmness with suave tael. Their strict instruct ions are to end every sentence to a neutral captain with "sir,” and to keep apologizing, come what may. If Neutrals Demur

’•Some countries other than Italy have not played bull so well,” the American writer remarks. "The Dutch and Scandinavian shipowners, particularly, often try tn sneak merclmirii.se —intended for Germany —beyond their quotas. ■ The Ministry is very rough on ships which try to slip by. Once caught by a patrol ami forced into port, limy are made to lie for days before they are even examined. Most of the raptains have also learned I hat il is very difficult Io gel away with anything during a search. 'Those Britishers seem Io have second sight,’ an irate Swedish master said bitterly Io the writer."

Ollier pressure is brought to beir on neutrals who will not fall into line. Britain and France, between them, control the main sources of hunker coal in Europe and Hie Middle Easl, and the principal biinker-coiil depots on almost all of the world's great trade routes. On the main lane from north era Europe to Hie Far East via Hie Suez Canal, (here are 20 principal fuelling slations, from Gibraltar to Hong Kong. All hut five belong to the Allies, on the Easl Allantic lane, the depots are Lisbon. Madeira. the Canaries. SI. Vinceiil Island. Dakar. Freetown. Lagos. Walvis Bay. Cape Town. All of lheni draw llii-ir sup plies from British and French sources. A ship marked for sabotage by the Ministry in Ixmdon linds it very dillicult to get coal at: any of these points.