Neutrals and the Enemy
The endeavours of the Allies to dissuade neutrals from sending war materials to Germany are more open to criticism in some cases than in others. It is unfortunate for us that at a time when we are destroying Germany's ball-bearing factories Sweden should still be supplying her with ball-bearings and materials for making them ; but since by agreement with us Sweden is now delivering only half the amount supplied in 1943, we cannot reasonably insist that she should go further and break her present contract with Germany. But no such argument is applicable in the case of the delivery of chrome to Germany by Turkey or wolfram and certain other materials by Spain and Portugal. Turkey has very greatly increased her deliveries in recent months, and she is an "ally." Portugal also as an ally may reasonably be asked to take into consideration factors which will shorten the war. As for Spain, she has constantly and openly given active help to the enemy, and only refrains from doing more because we are now in a position to apply pressure by withholding materials she needs to import. During this war, and much of the last, the economic blockade required that the utmost possible pressure should be applied to all neutrals to prevent them from trading with the enemy, and it is limited only by our power to make it effective. That inevitable consequence of total wat is now recognised by all countries, even by the neutrals who, of course, dislike it. If we are to desist from applying pressure to Turkey, Spain and Portugal to persuade them to discontinue their supplies to the enemy we must reverse the principles on which the present total war is based.
