BRITISH BLOCKADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 218, 13 August 1940, Page 7

BRITISH BLOCKADE

LIFTING SUGGESTED. NAZI SOMERS AULT. (United Pres# Association —By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received August 13, 9.45 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 12. Although there is no news of receipt by the British Government of a request which has been fully reported in British newspapers from the European Pood Distributing Commission to raise the blockade in order to supply food to the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and Norway, where, according to New York reports, the Commission says “eighteen million persons are facing . starvation,” it is expected that such a request will be forthcoming and will be given a considered reply.

Meanwhile, it is pointed out in wellinformed quarters that the German Government is continually reiterating, firstly, that Germany has instituted an efficient blockade against Britain; secondly, that the British blockade against Germany ia ineffective; and, thirdly, that the food situation in Germany is excellent. Indeed, in relation to the last point the German Minister of Economies (Dr. W. Funk), in the latest of many official pronouncements on this subject, is reported to liave 6aid at the opening of the ICoenigsberg Fair, “a food scarcity in Germany is now impossible’.” . ... In view of these allegations, insisted upon as facts by the Nazi leaders, informed quarters in London express the opinion that the problem would seem really to be one of the fair distribution of existing and future supplies. In these circumstances it is difficult to see what help could be given by raising the blockade, which tlie German Government declares to be virtually inoperative.