THE BRITISH BLOCKADE

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13997, 29 January 1916, Page 5

THE BRITISH BLOCKADE

GERMAN IMPORTS THROUGH

NEUTRALS'

SIB EDWARD GREY'S STATEMENT,

FURTHER CRITICISM OF THE

GOVERNMENT.

London, Jan. 27

Ii; the House of Lords, Lord Devonport said that from the commencement of the war to the end of 1915, 300 cargoes of iroi? or«. amounting to 1,500,000 tons, arrived at Rotterdam. The inference was that they were intended for Germany.

The Duke of Devonshire, replying, said the average imports annually from 1911. to 1913 were 5,500,000 tons, nearly the whole proceeding to Germany. The imports to Holland in 1915 were 650,000 tons.

Lord Lansdowne resented the suggestion that the Foreign Office, the War Office and the Admiralty required wak-

ing up

In the House of Commons, Sir R. B. Finlay proposed that food be absolute contraband.

Lord Robert Cecil, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, replying in the debate, admitted that the blockade was imperfect, but the complications were great. The Government had not lost sight of the possibility of a blockade in the Baltic. We were trying what no nation had ever tried before, trying to blockade Germany through neutral countries. It was not a case for highhandedness, but for great caution and circumspection. It was easy to make mistakes which might turn out so seriously as to prevent the winning of the

The motion was talked out,

The "Daiiy Mail" opines that Sir Edward Grey's attack on the scaremongering Press was an impudent invention based on grotesque figures.

The "Daily Chronicle" attacks the Foreign Office, saying that it represents the policy of fouling our own nest.

The "Daily Telegraph" expects that Sir Edward Grey's statement will silence impertinent and ignorant critic-

"The Times" maintains its belief that the Government should establish a regular blockade. If the public misunderstand the Foreign Office it is because the public are kept in mischievous ignorance. •

The "Daily Mail" and "Morning Post" remain convinced that a large quantity of goods is going to Germany; despite Sir Edward Grey's arguments.

The "Morning Post" comments that the silence of Mr. Balfour is very remarkable. The country holds Mr..Balfour responsible for the failure to use his full powers.

A German wireless message states that the Dutch-American line is opening a service from "Rotterdam to Germany via the Rhine, in order to carry goods to Germany from America.