CONTRABAND CONTROL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1939, Page 8

CONTRABAND CONTROL

LESSONS OF LAST WAR. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, December 7. Experience gained in the last war in working the system of contraband control, is enabling the authorities to anticipate and prevent evasions. There is a rising tide of German threats to encourage it, and this is a measure of its effectiveness. Germany herself is unable to interfere with it. It is officially pointed out that the British control through a system of certificates of origin is so devised as to ensure that genuine neutral exports shall not be impeded, whereas? any goods suspected of German origin are carefully scrutinised. The authorities are fully prepared to meet cases which will doubtless arise of unscrupulous shippers abusing certificates of orgiin, and attempting to pass enemy goods as of neutral provenance. The British Ministry of Economic War has taken steps to ensure such abuses will be detected. Neutral vessels shall not find. it easy when proceeding outwards from Europe through the contraband control to avoid a search. A most-stringent supervision is being exercised by British ships. In the last war neutrals found it not to their advantage to attempt evasion. TEXT OF AMERICAN NOTE. (Received December 9, noon). WASHINGTON, December 8. The export blockade note to Britain has been published. It tersely but courteously requests that the “British Government shall not cause interference with the legitimate trade” of American nationals, and reserves “all rights and the rights of its nationals, whenever and to whatever extent they may be infringed.” The note expresses regret at the issuance of the Order-in-Council. It points out that, if applied literally, it would subject American vessels to diversion to British ports. It insists that a breach of the blockade cannot arise, since American vessels are prohibited from the war area; nor does the question of contraband occur. GERMANY WARNS NEUTRALS LONDON, December 7. According to a Berlin message, the Propaganda. Ministry told the foreign Press that Germany was fighting for existence and did not hesitate l to regard the passive neutrality of certain countries as deliberate assistance to the enemy. The Ministry warned neutrals, especially Holland, about their attitude to the British blockade of German exports. Neutrals were advised to take active steps against Britain’s new measures.