"CUTTING EDGE BLUNTED"

Evening Star, Issue 25171, 10 May 1944, Page 3

"CUTTING EDGE BLUNTED"

GERM WAR MACHINE

EFFECT OF ECONOMIC BLOCKADE AND BOMBING

<Re.c. 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, May 9.

The efficiency and effect of the blockade and other activities of the Ministry of Economic Warfare were discussed b w \ the House of Lords to-day. Lord Nathan, who introduced the subject, saul the blockade had given Britain valuable time to prepare for the final blow against the enemy. Economic warfare had taken the " cutting edge off the German war machine." Lord Selborne. replying for the Government, said the Navy had a much more difficult task this war than the last, but blockade running had practically ceased except for a few submarines. The cargoes sunk between Germany and Japan included 45.0QU ' tons of rubber. 15.000 tons or tungsten, 17,000 tons ot tin, 25,000 tons of oils, and other items of great importance such as quinine. lie said that during the whole war not more than 5 per cent, of neutral imports had been " cloaked " enemy goods, and at the present time it was less than half of one per cent. The blacklist had proved a powerful weapon against that form of trading. It had meant bankruptcy of firms who persisted. -Lord Selborne said he was sorry to see the recent agreement with Spain referred to in some quarters as the defeat of Spain. The agreement was satisfactory to Spain and meant the defeat of Germany. Although Germany had set out to organise the whole resources of Europe these resources were not inexhaustible if they were not replenished from the outside. He did not suggest that Germany would collapse because of a shortage of this or that, but enemy stocks, once so plentiful, were seriously depleted, and suomarine blockade running could do little to replenish them. Neutrals were becoming increasingly aloof and the air bombardment of Germany was accentuating Germany's supply problem. " For these reasons the difficulties of Hitler's generals are being increased every day by the growing scarcity ot essential commodities, therefore any neutral who now sends Germany war materials is simply prolonging the war and we shall certainly continue to do our best to prevent that happening, he said.