ALLIED BLOCKADE PROBLEM.

Evening Star, Issue 23525, 14 March 1940, Page 10

ALLIED BLOCKADE PROBLEM.

In a joint statement a representative each of Great Britain and France have appealed to the American people ' to understand that the Allies cannot weaken the blockade against Germany and promising to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and loss to neutral countries. This question of the blockade is one of the great economic problems of the war, and as we saw the case of Italy it is a matter that requires very delicate handling. Britain has given repeated assurances of its desire to interfere as little as possible with the trade of neutrals. Thu greatest consideration is being shown to them, but on the major issue it is obvious that the Allies must maintain the stand they have taken. To allow an unimpeded flow of essential materials to Germany would be fatal. The blockade is a potent, legitimate, and indispensable weapon. It will bo remembered that in January there was considerable irritation in the United States over Britain’s blockade methods. The immediate American grievance was the “ delay for searching ” of United States vessels bound for Mediterranean ports. It was complained that at Gibraltar, United States ships were detained four times as long as Italian vessels. A conference between the American Secretary of State and the British Ambassador soon righted the position. It was discovered that money and vital commodities intended for Germany were being despatched to neutral Mediterranean ports. The lure of ranch gain was irresistible. Lord Lothian pointed out that the American ships about which complaint was made contained cargoes of so great a mixture that delay could not he avoided.

Searches of the mails revealed the presence of large amounts of contraband, such as jewellery, contained in small compass. The result of the discussions was that Washington, recognising Britain’s position as a nation fighting for its life, took conciliatory action, and the Post Office Department ruled that American mails must not he used for the shipment of articles or materials to any belligerent. Relations with the United States Government were thus put on a friendly footing in this matter. The appeal now made is to the American people to understand the reasons why the blockade must be maintained, it being pointed out that the future of Western civilisation is at stake. The Allies are interfering drastically with the normal current of the life and practice of neutral countries. That is inevitable, and they accept it. A belligerent State is fully entitled under international law to cut off its enemy’s trade by every means possible, and that necessarily involves stopping all trade channels passing through neutra} countries. What is imperative, on grounds of expediency, is that the inevitable interference with neutral trade shall be conducted with tho maximum of courtesy and the minimum of inconvenience and delay. That is the policy the Allies have adopted.