COCOA FAMINE IN GERMANY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 8

COCOA FAMINE IN GERMANY.

SEIZURE OF LARGE SUPPLIES FOR SWEDEN. Rematkabie evidence of Germany’* importation of cocoa through neutral agencies was given in a case before the Prize Court in London on November 4th, when Sir Samuel Evans was asked by the Crown to condemn 187 metric tons of cocoa seized at North Shields on April. Ith last on the Danish steamer, Baron Sternblad, shipped from Lisbon to Gothenberg, and claimed by the Aktie Bolag Forenade, Chokladfabrikerna. The cocoa was of the value of £16,490. For the Crown Mr Ernest Pollock, K.C., 'said that the recently-formed Cocoa War Co;, Ltd., of Hamburg, with its capital of two million marks, was a German Government institution. Counsel went on to explain that Sweden’s imports of cocoa had lately increased from 1692 to 15,800 tons. His Lordship: Tenfold.

The affidavit of Mr W. Fuller' Smith, of the War Trade Intelligence Department, employed on research into the cocoa demand, stated that the effect of the war had been to cut off from Germany 41,336 tons of the normal supply of 62,336 tons, or 85 per cent- The German Government had ordered the strictest economy in the consumption of cocoa and its products. The formation of the War Cocoa Company took place in January last, and all the leading cocoa and chocolate .manufacturers in Germany joined it. There was a serious shortage in Germany at the beginning ,of this year, and in March the price of cocoa was eight or nine times the London prices- In April it was reported that the stocks were nearly exhausted. The * inducements, said the affidavit, to the neutrals to tranship these commodities to Germany were great. From August' Ist, 1914, to July 31st, 1915, 1,255,687 kilos of cocoa beans ■ and 76,711 kilos of cocoa shells were exported from Sw'edeu to Germany. Since the beginning of the year a constant traffic has taken place between Denmark and Sweden of cocoa and its products for immediate transhipment to Germany. This traffic gradually increased until in January, 1916, it became the practice to ship cocoa beans on regular Danish ships to Gothenburg and re-ship from there to Germany. Counsel said the increased import would ration an army of a million and a half. An affidavit was read by claimants asserting that their imports were for their own factories-, and for consumption in Sweden. _ The hearing was adjourned.