STARVATION WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9717, 20 July 1917, Page 5

STARVATION WAR

GERMANY AND NEUTRALS. ■LONDON, July 9, In the House of Lords to-day Lord Milner (a member of the War Cabinet) made an interesting statement on the much-discussed question of supplies to neutrals. He said that for many months there had not been any export of foodstuffs or fertilisers from tlie United Kingdom, to .Holland or Donmark. Since the middle of 1916 the imports into the United Kingdom from , Holland had greatly improved, and, despite difficulties, continued satisfactorily to expand. The, difficulties iu tho case of Denmark had been oven •greater, and for six weeks we had ro ceived no imports from that country at all, but now imports had largely increased, especially -butter- ami--bacon. The Government was doing it: best to suppress German imports of foodstuffs from neutrals. The entry of America would greatly assist in that direction, but Germany could put pressure on adjacent neutrals by withholding coal supplies, on which they were almost entirely dependent. , < j. It was a matter for grave consideration, Lord Milner said, how far wo could go with neutral countries without creating difficulties for, qurselvcs. He affirmed that re-exports to Germany from neutral countries bad ahso. lutely ended. There were still considerable exports from such countries to Germany, hut tho trade was entirely in (he agricultural products of those countries. We might never bo able entirely to suppress such a traffic, but oven if it stopped wholly to-morrow it would not make so groat a difference to Germany as was commonly supposed. It would not have anything liko tho same effect as the stop)ping of imports through neutral countries, of goods originally brought in from oversea.

MESOPOTAMIA REPORT NO FURTHER INQUIRY BY ‘ GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 19, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. In the House of Commons, Mr Bouar Law said the Government was not proceeding further with the ’inquiry into the Mesopotamia report.. The Army Council would deal with soldiers in, the ordinary way. Lord Hardinge had thrico offered to resign, but his offer s had been refused. EXPLANATION OF GOVERNMENT’S DECISION. , Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.'’ (Received July 19, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. Iu tho House of Commons, Mi' Bonar Law said the Government was influenced -in its decision regarding Mesopotamia by the undesirability of distracting the attention of the Legislature at this critical time from tho prosecution of the war. On tho Foreign Secretary’s representations, the Government decided that in would be detrimental to deprive tho Foreign Office of Lord Hardmgc’s services. Mr John Dillon (Nationalist, Mayo,, obtained leave to move the adjournment to discuss the Government’s refusal to accept Lord Hardingo’s resignation. He said the refusal to accept Lord Hardinge’s resignation involved < groat principle in Ministerial responsibility, and the only means which the House of Commons had of exercising influence over the Government. Mr Austen Chamberlain had resigned, although not censured, yet Lord Hardinge, who was responsible to an infinitely greater degree, was allowed to remain in office. All should be equally treated. Lord Hardinge, because he stood well in society and was supported by powertul influence, was allowed to ride off in honour. -Jr Dillon added that something had yet to be learned of the Gaza operations. Air A. J. Balfour, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, heatedly defended Lord Hardinge, and hinted that be would resign if the House disagreed with his advice to the Government.- ■ The motion for adjoumement - wae defeated by 176 votes to 81.