BLOCKADE WEAPON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 262, 3 October 1940, Page 7

BLOCKADE WEAPON

SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (Rco. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 2. The Minister of Economic Warfare (Dr Hugh Dalton) spoke of. the successful work of his department, to-day. when addressing’ the National Defence Public Interests Committee. ; The blockade, Dr. Dalton said, had achieved remarkable success in the first year of war. Both Germany and Italy were seriously deficient in such Ley commodities as oil, ferro-alloys, rubber, lead, copper, and textiles, without which it is impossible to carry on a modern war. Although Germany had benefited from the loot, s'he had obtained from conquered territory, the advantage was only temporary and was offset by the loss ox substantial imports formerly received from the occupied countries which were now subject to the blockade. The stocks thus seized, though larger than he liked, were not large enough to add more than some months supply to the enemy’s resources. _ Speaking of surpluses, the Minister said he was sure certain neutral countries would understand it was contrary to both their own interests and the policy of the British Government that they should ’ accumulate large stocks of goods needed by the enemy. He added that a committee of Ministers had completed an exhaustive survey of the principal areas affected, also of the principal commodities or which large surpluses exist. “The lines of policy to be pursued are clear,” said Dr. Dalton. “To succeed fully they require the effective of a number or countries, notably the British Commonwealth, the United (States, and the Latin American republics.. I see it as a development in the beginning of economic planning on a worldwide scale. Bow much more hopeful such a prospect seems than all the futile fantasies of Dr, Funk!

Speaking of famous oil supplies, which he described as a key commodity. Dr. Dalton reminded his audience that the German war effort in 1918 had dfed out when the supplies had fallen to’ one million tons. To-day’s powerful and. highlyintegrated, hut brittle, Nazi economy would have a m'ucfli higher die-out figure Dr. Dalton added that his ex-, perts had told him the- Germans had now nearlv exhausted the oil stocks they had "captured in the occupied territories. THE FOOD PROBLEM.

Outlining the food situation, the Minister said that in Europe there would be no famine this winter. There was enough food to go round if properly shared out. Although he had given much thought to the subject and had had the benefit of much expert advice, he had been unable to discover a satisfactory, water-tight scheme of guarantees against food imports into any part of enslaved Europe finding their way into Nazi stomachs. Proposals to relax the blockade seemed to him exceedingly untimely. Dr. Dalton added: “Night/after night German airmen, scatter bombs, many indiscriminately, over London and other parts of our country.. The} return after killing many of our women and children to enjoy excellent breakfasts in the German air force messes just across the Channel in occupied France, Belgium, and Holland. They feed on food stolen from the Belgians and Dutch. Why should we put more food into the occupied countries for them to steal? Why should we, fighting for our lives and still exercising command of the sea routes, be expected to provide better meals for these Nazi fly-by-nights?”