Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1940. BLOCKADE TIGHTENED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 209, 2 August 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1940. BLOCKADE TIGHTENED.

Fbance’s defection as an Ally lias imposed a mucli more severe task upon Britain in maintaining tlie blockade of Germany. The statement made in tlie House of Commons, however, shows that the new situation has been fully appreciated and the relentless economic pressure upon Germany, which Italy also shares with her Axis ally, is being strengthened. Germany now controls a tremendous coastline, reaching from the northernmost point of Norway to the Pyrenees. French Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia must also be regarded as in the enemy’s hands. A glance at the map will immediately show the tremendous nature of the task Britain has in blockading her enemies. She has therefore to take every possible step to make it efficient, for a successfully blockaded enemy means an earlier end to the war. Britain has no desire to harm correct neutral trade, but she does not intend to permit neutrals _to help Germany or Italy to obtain goods that will enable them to prolong their resistance. The Great War was an excellent opportunity for neutral States to import very largely above their requirements and tranship the balance to Germany, while maintaining that they were not purchasing beyond their needs. But Britain and France put a stop to this. Similarly, it has been known that several neutral States hay.e profited in this war, and Dr Dalton pointed to the suspicion that rests upon Spain of having lately substantially increased her imports of'oil to'help Germany. All shipping crossing the Atlantic must now be controlled by Britain to prevent any leakages in the blockade.

It is not Britain’s intention that grave inconvenience shall be imposed on shipping using the ocean’s many lanes to Europe. The exercise of control in the manner already familiar would mean diverting ships from their courses to distant contraband bases. To avoid this the navicert system will be extended to all seaborne goods consigned to any European port, as well as to certain Atlantic islands and neutral ports in North Africa. This system itself will be tightened by applying it to ships as well as to cargoes. It is another name for a clearance certificate which relieves the master of the obligation of entering a contraband base for an examination of his cargo. Ships .which are not covered in this way will be deprived of important facilities controlled by Britain, such as bunkering, repairing, and insurance. More important still is the authority given to patrol vessels to seize either ship or cargo not covered bv the navicert. Belligerent countries have the right to intercept and prevent from reaching the enemy goods which will assist

him in prosecuting a war, even though they may be consigned to a neutral State, if their ultimate destination is proved to be to that enemy country. It is imperative that all such goods should not reach either Germany or Italy so that the economic war shall prosper against the two Dictator States, and Britain’s latest plans to make it completely efficient will not only impress neutral countries of the benefits of honesty in this matter, but at the same time strike heavily, in Dr Dalton’s words, at those who seek to elude our controls and carry supplies either to or from the enemy.