Lord Robert Cecil, replying for the Government, said that there
had been no exportation of linseed oil to Holland since June, except forty tons for some special reason. The Govern- ment admitted that the exportation of oil and other food substances was a matter of the utmost gravity, and it was complicated by our own need of margarine. Holland, however, was receiving only as many commodities as were justified by the average rate of imports from 1911 to 1913. The books of the Dutch margarine factories were regularly examined by British representatives. The British Government had to secure three things : the withholding of oils and fats from Germany, the maintenance of our own supply of margarine, and respect for neutral rights. He asserted that this triple object was being achieved, and he had no reason to suspeeli the bona fides of the Overseas Trust, The British blockade had been very successful indeed in stopping exports from Germany. If exports were stopped, imports would also be stopped. There was no chance of starving Germany, but we could deprive her of supplies necessary for her main purpose.
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