Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-03-28 | Page 2 | U.S. Lightens Difficulty of Blockade Task

U. S. LIGHTENS j DIFFICULTY OF BLOCKADE TASK Unionist Member of House of Commons Declares Action of This Country Coun-try Is Effective. LONDON', Mann 27, 5:35 p. m. William A. S. Ilewins and Carlton W. Bcllairs, Unionist members of the house of commons, this afternoon raised the question of the effectiveness of the British Brit-ish blockade and the difficulties of enforcing en-forcing it during a debate in the house. Mr. Bcllairs said the difficulties had been largely removed when the United States, "the most powerful and most critical neutral," came in on the side of the entente allies. Lord Robert, in reviewing all the tops that had beon adopted in connection connec-tion with the blockado, emphasized tho value of rationing by an agreement with Bome body in a neutral country u more smooth and effoctive than compulsory rationing. He said tho system of letters of assurance as-surance that had been arranged with the United Statos had been enormously important in smoothing over difficulties difficul-ties with that countrj', enabling the government to know exactly what was going on concerning exports from the United States to neutrals and permitting permit-ting tho United States without injustice injus-tice to regulate supplies to these neu-rals. neu-rals. In his judgment, the measures adopted had succeeded completely in topping overseas importations into enemy en-emy countries. Produced Data. Lord Robort then produced a number num-ber of figures which, ho contended. F roved there was no leakage. Ho still elt, however, that everything necessary had not been done to complete the blockade block-ade of Germany. There was the question ques-tion of the home produce of border neutrals, neu-trals, which was a most difficult subject. sub-ject. He said he had arrived at the conclusion that the only way to deal with this matter was by securing agreements agree-ments with neutrals to stop or diminish - such trade. The blockade minister went at great length into the difficulties surrounding any attempt to compel neutral countries coun-tries to sever all trade relations with Germany. The technical and military positions of those countries had to be considered, he said. Concerning Denmark, Den-mark, Lord Robert said the government believed the agreements with Denmark had been honestly carried out and that there was no roason to modify the present pres-ent blockade policy as affecting Denmark. Den-mark. Lord Robert concluded by saying that it would not be practicable to transfer the administration of the blockade to the admiralty. He had never claimed, he said, that miracles could be achieved with the blockade, but he believed there was a very great shortage of food in Germany and a considerable shortage of other things as a result of the blockade. block-ade. Discontent in Germany. "T cannot disregard or disbelieve repeated re-peated well-authenticated statements of food riots," said the blockade minister, "as indicating profound discontent on the part of the German population with the prevailing conditions. I believe the war will only be won on the battlefield, but when we come to the final battle the effect of the blockade will count grea'lv." Sir Kdward f'arfon, first lord of the admiralty, characterized as absurd the demand that the blockade should be j left to the navy. Sir Kdward added that j the adoption of a do'-trine for the seiz- ure of every neutral ship and its rario ; would mean that Great Britain should go to war with everybody. The first soa lord had told him, Sir Edward snid, that he was aware of no other system than the existing one of blockading Germany through neutral countries.