ECONOMIC WARFARE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 31 July 1940, Page 5

ECONOMIC WARFARE

THE NAVICERT SYSTEM IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE ANNOUNCEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS [British Official Wireless] (Received 31st July. 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, 30th July. The House of Commons heard two important statements announcing measi ures which will ensure the continued efficiency and relentless economic pres- ! sure being exerted by Britain upon , Germany. Henceforth any consignment and any ship sailing to or from any European and certain other ports and not covered by a navicert will be liable to seizui'e. Dr Dalton explained the reasons for this decision and how the system would work. He denied that Britain intended to extend the blockade to certain neutral countries. Mr Ronald Cross, Minister of Economic Affairs, intimated that shipping not taking advantage of the navicert system would no longer be given facilities under British control such as bunkering, repairing or insurance. The Minister of Economic Warfare said: “The German occupation of the west European coastline from the j

North Cape to the Pyrenees has greatly ! changed the conditions of the economic i war. The German armies have sue-1 | ceeded in overrunning large parts of' ; western Europe but the overseas im- j i ports which they require are still | j barred from the seas commanded by | j the Royal Navy. Fewer ships are now | , engaged in legitimate neutral trade be-! i tween Europe and the Americas. More- |

, over, we must now control not only j ! shipping approaching the Mediterranean or the North Sea, but all shipping crossing the Atlantic. To apply this i control in the old way would mean | diverting many ships far out of their ' course to contraband bases in British i waters, either in this island or West Africa. To avoid imposing such grave ! inconvenience upon shippers, ship- , owners and crews His Majesty’s Government has decided to extend the navicert system to all seaborne goods consigned to any European port as well as to certain Atlantic islands and cer-

j tain neutral ports in North Africa. In ! future ships sailing from a neutral port to any such destination must obtain navicerts for all items of cargo and in addition a ship navicert at the last port loading. Any consignment not navicerted and any ship without a ship navicert will henceforth be liable to seizure by our patrols.” Mr Cross added: “Ships sailing from European ports or from certain Atlantic, islands or from certain neutral ports in North Africa must have certificates of non-enemy origin for all items of their cargoes, and any ship whose cargo is not fully certificated will be liable to be seized together with all uncertificated

j items of cargo. An Order-in-Council I giving effect to these changes will be | issued forthwith. It has been suggested !in some quarters that we intend to extend the blockade to certain neutral countries; this is not so. Where supplies can reach such neutrals without

the risk of falling into the hands of the enemy we shall grant navicerts on such a scale as to allow imports adequate for domestic consumption but not for re-export to other countries. Moreover, it will be Britain’s policy not

merely to allow such adequate supplies to pass through our controls but to assist neutral countries to obtain them. These measures will greatly benefit those engaged in honest neutral trade. “Delays in such trade due to the exercise of our controls will be much reduced. At the same time a heavy blow will be struck at those who seek to elude our controls and carry supplies either to or from the enemy.” FRENCH TERRITORY

Recalling a statement earlier this month concerning the application of contraband control to French territory under enemy control, Dr Dalton said: i “After a most careful review of all j the circumstances Britain has now decided with regret that : n the present conditions it must treat all metropolitan France as well as Algeria, Tunisia and French Morocco in the same manner for the purposes of contraband enemy export control as enemy conI trolled terrritory. Goods destined for j these territories are therefore liable I to be seized as contraband and goods

originating in or owned by persons in such territories are liable to be placed in prize. These steps, which I now announce, are designed to smooth the path of genuine neutral trade while increasing the strength of our blockade and avoiding all unnecessary calls upon the Royal Navy.” SHIPPING FACILITIES Mr Cross said the course of the war

made necessary the new measures for control of shipping "Hitherto widespread and important shipping facilities under the British control have been freely available to all vessels. Such facilities include dry docking, repairing. insurance, stores, and many minor services. It is not reasonable *nat thes? facilities should continue to be freely available to shipowners who do not render commensurate servic in return, or to those who fail to satisfy Britain that they will refrain from carrying on t ode which would be injurious to the Allied war effort. Possession of ship’s navicert for every voyage to which the navicert system applies will be essential.” Those giving acceptable undertakings would receive a ship’s warrant which would secure them continuation of British shipping facilities, while ships unable to produce this! document would hr subject to inciuiriesi

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