BLOCKADE OF GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 28, 1 February 1917, Page 7

BLOCKADE OF GERMANY

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

LORD ROBERT CECIL'S STATE

MENT.

LONDON, 31st January. Lord Robert Cecil (Minister of Blockades), speaking at Nottingham, said that the Allies did not desire to crush Germany, but wished to inspire in Germany real ideals of nationhood. He did not deride the League to Enforce Peace, but the first business of tho Allies was to carry the war to a successful issue. Some people thought they could beat Germany by the blockade, but the victory must be won in the field. Nevertheless, tho blockade had absolutely destroyed Austria's and Germany's overseas ' exports, and had largely diminished their trade with neighbouring neutrals. We had heard from many sources of food riots in the enemy's countries, and we had established beyond question the fact that the enemy had little wool and Jess cotton. They were making clothes and boots from paper. Some people demanded a blockade of neutral countries. That would not come well from a people who went to war in defence o! the rights of the small nations. The problem before the Foreign Office was to carry on the blockade effectively, while preserving the 1 goodwill of neutrals.