GAG NEUTRALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23594, 1 March 1940, Page 7

GAG NEUTRALS

GERMANY'S DESIRE CRITICISM BY PUBLIC (iOEBBELS' LATEST TIRADE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright ("Received March 1, 12.25 a.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 29 Dr. Goebbels, in a speech, said! "It seems necessary to explain to neutrals the idea of neutrality in its actual meaning. Germany cannot put up with a definition of neutrality which only refers to military neutrality, and overlooks political neutrality. "It is not sufficient that a Government should declare its neutrality while public opinion in the same State is tree to abuse as much as it wishes. "Germany has no intention of suppressing freedom among neutrals, but the right of freedom must not be misused systematically to insult belligerents."

GRAVE DIFFICULTIES INTERIOR OF GERMANY NAZIS SEEK TO HIDE LONDON, Feb. 28 A Paris communique says that the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, made a statement to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, in which he described "the diplomatic activity of our Turkish friends" as most pleasing. While disillusioning thosfe who depicted Germany as being on the verge of collapse, he enumerated grave interior difficulties which, he said, the Nazis were endeavouring to hide b^propaganda.

RAW MATERIALS SHORTAGE IN GERMANY closure' of factories AMSTERDAM, Fob. 28 The shortage of raw materials due to the blockade is compelling Germany to begin a systematic closing of all factories the output of which is not necessary for military purposes or unsuitable for export. A decree orders the closure of several thousand factories and workshops, and provides aid for the maintenance of machinery and buildings by the imposition of a tax on factories remaining open.

OIL FROM RUMANIA GERMAN SUPPLIES FALL British Wireless LONDON, Feb. 28 Figures showing that Rumanian oil exports are by no means so favourable to Germany as superficial observers have supposed are given in the semiofficial journal of the Rumanian petroleum industry. The total exports of mindral oil, including hunker sales, amounted in 1939 to 4,178,000 metric tons, against 4,495,000 metric tons in 1938, a decline of 7 per cent. As in previous years, Germany, including Czecho-Slovakia, was the principal buyer last year, taking 1.285,000 tons, compared with 990,000 tons in 1938, bringing the German share to 30 per cent of the total Rumanian oil exports, compared with 22 per cent in 1938.

But the expansion of supplies to Germany took place in the first eight months of the year, and the war months have actually witnessed a decline of 30,000 tons, compared with the corresponding period in 1938. This decline is, o£ course, largely attributable to the Allied blockade.

DAILY AIR LINK BERLIN AND MOSCOW (Received February 29, 6.25 p.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 28 Germany and Russia have confirmed their agreement for a regular daily air service between Berlin and Moscow. FARMS IN GERMANY ITALY SENDING WORKERS (Reoelved February 29, 6.25 p.m.) BERLIN. Fob. 28 Germany and Italy have agreed that 30,000 Italian farm workers shall prooeed to Germany this year.

BELGIANS LEAVING HOMES BRUSSELB. Feb. 28 Thousands of residents of Verviers, near the German frontier, have left their homes, fearing that they would not be able to do so in the event of an emergency.