FOOD AS CONTRABAND

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20952, 3 November 1939, Page 5

FOOD AS CONTRABAND

BRITAIN’S CLAIMS INCLUSION JUSTIFIED (United Press Assn.--Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, November 1 The Minister of Economic Warfare, in a broadcast, gave what is tantamount to a reply to Russia’s protest against the inclusion of food in the British conditional contraband list. He said: “The blockade was one of our most powerful weapons, particularly to-day, when whole not only armies, were mobilised for war.” In our considered opinion the treatment of food as conditional contraband is an essential element to economic warfare which would be seriously weakened without it. To except certain goods would merely prolong the war. “Of the total seizures, thus far about 14 per cent could normally be classified as foodstuffs, of which 9 per cent contains fats and oils, which could be used by Germany for munitions. The remainder intercepted, namely 86 per cent, could be used for war purposes. “Prolonging the war unnecessarily was incomparably more cruel than exercising economic pressure.”