MANY VIOLATIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21041, 17 February 1940, Page 7

MANY VIOLATIONS

INTERNATIONAL LAW GERMAN CLAIMS UNFOUNDED EFFECT OF NAZI THREATS lUnited Pr?»s Assn. —-Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 15 The compilation of a list of German violations of international law was described in the House of Commons today as being a very lengthy task, and one which was likely to become j longer if the Nazis’ threats following upon the sinking of the Dutch ship Burgerdijk are put into practice. The claim that all neutral ships which trade with Britain or enter contraband control bases, even under compulsion, commit an unneutral act, which was advanced by a German spokesman as justification for the destruction of the Burgerdijk, cannot be upheld in international law. Under this, a neutral’s right to trade with belligerents has always been recognised. Belligerents, on the other hand, have the right to prevent the carriage of contraband, provided that the methods employed preclude the sinking of merchantmen without warning, or without making proper provision for the safety of crews. However, the German “justification” in connection with the Burgerdijk cannot be advanced for the sinking of the Norwegian vessel Sonja off the Irish coast. To Make Own Laws These methods lend support to a report that the Nazi spokesman stated that henceforth Germany would make her own laws. Further, the German claim that Britain acts illegally in taking ships into port for examination is equally unfounded. Germany now makes constant use of this right in the Baltic, which is the only sea in which she exercises any control on the surface. It is thought the foundation of Germany’s claim to sink vessels where she has no surface control is that she is unable to make any impression on British commerce except by illegal means.