BRITISH BLOCKADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 7

BRITISH BLOCKADE

EXPORT CONTROL AGAINST GERMANY ANGLO-FRENCH MINISTERS CONFER EXPLANATION OF CAMPAIGN ! GIVEN (By Telegraph—Frees Association—Copy tight) PARIS, Dec. 5. A delegation headed by the British Minister of Economic Warfare, Mr. Ronald Cross, and the Director-Gen-eral of the Ministry, Sir Frederic Leith-Ross, arrived by plane and had a conference with the French Minister of Blockade, M. Pernot, regarding the application of export control against Germany. It was later announced that a full agreement had been reached. An explanation of the Allied campaign against German exports as a reprisal for the unrestricted mine warfare was given by Daventry. All ships believed to be carrying produce of German origin would be intercepted. If the goods were found to be more than 25 per cent. German the ships would be sent to a control base and the goods removed. The ship would then be allowed to depart with the rest of its cargo. Not Confiscation. The procedure is described as one of detention and not confiscation. If the goods are non-perishable they will probably be stored for the duration of the war. If perishable they will be sold and the proceedings retained for the duration of the war. It is pointed out that in recent years the Germans have used, without scruple, every possible method of keeping their exports going to get the badly-needed foreign exchange. The financial position of Germany, before the war was precarious and the Allied reprisals against German sports are considered likely to make it more so. Moreover, the markets from which Germany will now be excluded will become open to those countries which had previously been prevented by the Nazi trade methods. Germany’s Reply? Concerning the British blockade the Berlin correspondent of a Swedish newspaper reports rumours that the Germans will declare a certain area around Britain to be blockaded area and will sink all vessels in that area without warning, no matter what their nationality.