NO MODIFICATION OF BLOCKADE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 281, 22 August 1940, Page 9

NO MODIFICATION OF BLOCKADE

Decision Of Britain REICH RESPONSIBLE TO VASSAL STATES World Stores To Be Built (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 20. Britain’s decision to refuse all requests that the blockade should be lifted in order to relieve the peoples of Europe who had been subjugated by the Nazis was announced by Mr. Churchill during his speech in the House of Commons. The enslaved areas, he said, would be speedily supplied with food when they had been cleared of German forces and had genuinely regained their freedom. Mr. Churchill said: “It is our intention to maintain and enforce a strict blockade, not only of Germany, but of Italy, France, and all other countries that have fallen into German power. I have read that Hitler has also proclaimed a strict blockade of the British Isles. No one can complain of that. What, indeed, would be a matter of general complaint would be if we were to prolong the agony of all Europe by allowing food to go in to nourish the Nazis and their war effort, or allow food to go into subjugated peoples which certainly would be pillaged by their Nazi conquerors.

“There have been many proposals, founded on the highest motives, that food should be allowed to pass the blockade for the relief of these populations. I regret that we must refuse these requests. The Nazis are boasting that they have created a new, unified economy in Europe. They have repeatedly stated that they possess ample food reserves and can feed the captive peoples. Agency Of Famine.

“In a German broadcast on June 27 it was said that while Mr. Hoovers plan for relieving France, Belgium, and Holland deserved commendation, the German forces had already taken the necessary steps. We know that in Norway, when the German troops went in, there were food supplies to last for years. We know tliat Poland, though not a rich country, usually produced sufficient food for her people. Moreover, other countries which Hitler invaded all held considerable stocks when the Germans entered and are themselves very substantial food producers.

“If all this food is not available now, it can only be because it has been removed to feed the people of Germany and to give them increased rations during the last few months. “The only agencies which can create a famine in any part of Europe during the coming winter will’ be German exactions or German failure to distribute the supplies they command. Many of the most valuable foods are essential to the manufacture of vital war materials. If the Germans use these commodities to help them bomb our women and children, rather than feed the populations who produce them, we may be sure that any imported food would go the same way or bo employed to relieve the enemy of the responsibilities lie has assumed.

“Let Hitler bear his responsibilities to the full. Let the people of Europe who groan beneath his yoke aid in every way the coming of the day when it will be broken. Meanwhile, we can arrange in advance for the speedy entry of food into the enslaved areas when they have been cleared of the German forces and have genuinely regained their freedom. We shall encourage the building up of food reserves all over the world, so that there will always be held out before the eyes of the peoples of Europe, including the German and Austrian peoples, the certainty that the shattering of Nazi power will bring them immediate food, freedom, and peace.” GERMANY’S STOCKS Statement By Dr. Dalton (British OiHcial Wireless.) (Received August 21, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, August 20. The Minister of Economic Warfare, Dr. Dalton, in the House of Commons said it was estimated 'that there was 7,000,000 tons of bread grain in Germans’ at Hie end of June, to which must be added at least 2,000,000 tons in German-occupied territories. The Germans, he reminded the House, declared recently tliat their stocks had not been diminished. Large parts of a nlne-months’ supply of sugar, substantial stocks of oilier foodstuffs and a year's cereals which had been accumulated by Norway bad been removed by the Germans since their invasion. Dr. Dalton said he had received a report, that Polish flour bad been offered by the Germans to neutral purchasers in south-eastern Europe.