FOOD SHIPS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 282, 13 November 1929, Page 7

FOOD SHIPS

PRESIDENT HOOVER’S PROPOSALS

A MIXED RECEPTION,

EXPRESSION OF U.S. CRITICISM.

(United Press Association—By CableCopyright.)

(Received 13, 11.45 a.m.) Washington, Nov. 12.

President Hoover’s proposal to except food ships from contraband in time of war was received with mixed sentiments in the Senate for, while ihe President’s purpose to lessen war time suffering of women and children is universally praised; some Senators have publicly .or privately expressed displeasure that the whole subject of freedom of the seas is being barred from the forthcoming London conference. The general impression is that the President is seeking to appease one of Britain’s vital problems in war time—namely, protection of her food lanes. It is pointed out that she produces only enough food to supply her population for a few days and the conclusion is that Britain would more readily enter into disarmament if assured of open lane for her food ships.

FRENCH DISAGREEMENT.

(United Press Association—By Cable— Copyright.) (Received 13. 9.45 a.m.) Paris, Nov. 12.

French opinion is convinced that President Hoover’s exemption of food ships is impossible of application. It is pointed out that a number of hospital ships were sunk _by the Gelmans in war time despite the agreement for their immunity. Furthermore, it is pointed out that if food is immune it would release for fighting vast numbers of men hitherto engaged behind the lines in operating farms and food factories to feed the soldiers.

NOT SO EASY.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT.

(United Press Association—By CableCopyright.)

London, Nov. 12. President Hoover’s proposal to grant immunity to food ships in war time is featured in many newspapers. The “Daily Telegraph” expresses the opinion that the speech may become historic, but suggests that the proposition may be less simple than it seems —for instance, fats, besides being food, are important in the manufacture of munitions, and grain and other foodstuffs are usable in making industrial alcohol.. As another possibility, objection arises if the case of two combatants is considered, one of whom is depending mainly on seaborne food and is assured of un. interrupted supplies, while the other is depending on overland imports of foot the cutting off of which it is not proposed to make illegal. The “Daily News” doubts whether the attempt to humanise war is anything but a pitiful illusion. President Hoover’s proposal, however, must receive the serious attention of the civilised world. “The Times” says: “It should be borne in mind that the problem is a hypothetical one—namely, what law shall be applied in eventualities which, if the pact of peace is observed by all the signatories, may never arise? In any case the discussion must not be allowed to detract from making a success of the approaching naval conference.”

SERIOUS CONSIDERATION REQUIRED.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 13, 11.10 a.m.) Rugby, Nov. 12. Commenting on President Hoover’s suggestion, the “Daily News” says that while it demands serious consideration, the same consideration should be given to the proposal recently reviewed by General Smuts that in the exercise of international law, a clear distinction should be drawn between “public” war, waged as a police duty, and “private” war, which is banned under the Kellogg Pact. That involves an interpretation of freedom which seems a more simple line of approach to the problem . If war is treated as an outlaw, then the whole question of neutral rights would be revolutionised and the question of the freedom of the seas would cease to have any practicable importance. The “Manchester Guardian” expresses the view that so far as Britain’s own interests are concerned she has two main objects, firstly, that she shall not be entered in war and, secondly, that if war comes, her population shall not lie starved, as, more than the population of almost any other great State, it is liable to be starved. Under modern conditions of warfare, it says that President Hoover’s proposal would bo a notable contribution to the achievement of the second object no less than the first.