TRADE WITH THE ENEMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1915, Page 8

TRADE WITH THE ENEMY.

DEBATE IN THE LORDS. THE ARRANGEMENT WITH DENMARK. By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright London, December 17. The Enemy Companies Bill passed •through committee of tha Lords. ■ Lord Lansdowne intimated that the Government would not participate in the discussion, believing that it did not go so far as the existing law. He had been assured that Germany and Austria had not taken steps to prevent British companies registered there from carrying on business. Lord Strachie asked whether the trading agreement permitted Denmark to import food and other goods and re-export theni to neutral or belligerent countries. He urged tha Government to produce the secret agreement. ' Lord Portsmouth said a suspicion, amounting to indignation, had been aroused in the country that something was being done to temper the effective force of our sea-power. He had seen a draft of an agreement which allowed Denmark to re-export .a long list of goods to Norway and Sweden. : The agents in these countries probably were Germans or traders interested in Germany. The agreement gave Denmark pretercntial treatment against America. If the agreement weakaned the Navy's pressure it was treachery to the country.

■Lord Devonport the Government, by a series of indulgence's, had prevented the enemy feeling the full consequences of the blockade. Lord f.ansdowne said the Government still adhered to the belief that it was not desirable to reveal the agreement, which would not interfere with carrying out the war to a successful Conclusion. The object of the agreement was to make the blockade work as and smoothly as possible. The Government was prepared to enter into corresponding agreements with other neutrals. It would be unfortunate for the country to be confronted with the resentment and ill-will of those neutrals.

Speaking seriously and with unusual emphasis, Lord Lansdowne said the agreement had advantages for us in carrying on the war. It was similar to tiie agreement with the associations in Switzerland and- the Netherlands and contained nothing touching jur belligerent rights. The search and capture -procedure was infinitely better than trying to limit exports to neutrals to their normal consumption. Denmark was peculiarly exposed geographically to pressure from Germany, and Danish traders were exposed to the temptation to make vast profits. If a neutral was importing, excessively we were helpless if the ship'? papers were, in order and there was no proof of enemy destination. Corruption on every hand was working, and arrangements with neutrals were therefore indispensable. The debate was adjourned.