“Show Of Force” In Bermuda Mail Search

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 8

“Show Of Force” In Bermuda Mail Search

NEW YORK, February 24; A message from Hamilton, Bermuda, says the chief censor has made a statement explaining that British officials produced “a show of force” purely to enable Captain Lorder, of Pan-American Airways, to give up the mail without failing in his duty as a United States mail carrier. Special constables, without arms or truncheons, produced the “show of force” as a necessary legal technicality. The British Ambassador, the Marquess of Lothian, described the “fixed bayonet” story as “complete eyewash.” He said the difficulties between the United States and Britain were small in comparison with the fact that the Germans had sunk 150 neutral ships since the war, with the loss of 450 neutral lives. Lord Lothian added: “The right to censor mails is not questioned. Whether it is wise is another matter.” This statement followed a conference with the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull. Little Aid for Nazis. Referring to “the latest outburst of Senatorial indignation” over British interference with United States mails, the “New York Times” remarks:. “It is certainly of no advantage to Britain to risk alienating American sympathy unless contraband going to Germany is of great bulk or dangerous in character, and there is good reason to believe neither is true. “Supplies of food are negligible, and supplies of negotiable securities are useless unless they can be used to purchase foreign commodities, which the British blockade effectively stops. “The only mail of possible interest to the Allies would be military information which can be better sent in code by wireless, uncontrollable by the British. “As for American opinion of Hitler and his regime, so cordially is he detested and regarded as so overwhelmingly guilty of the war, the British should wish to expedite mails to Germany instead of delaying them.”