The War on Neutrals
The opinion attributed to " political circles " in Berlin that neutral States like Norway, Sweden and Denmark may decide that it serves their interests to send the whole of their exports to Germany and none to Great Britain is a particu- larly crude admission of the obvious purpose of the savage warfare Germany is waging on neutral shipping. The sub- marine campaign, less and less successful against Ge rnany's enemies—not a single sinking of a British ship by a U-boat has been reported between September 24th and the date of writing, October 5th—has been directed with ruthless barbarism against undefended neutrals, with whose legitimate trade Germany had undertaken not to interfere. The Russian agreement with the Eal.:c States will no doubt have the effect, and is meant to Lave it, of reducing exports from those countries to Britain, and if the Scandinavians were to yield to Getman threats the economic consequences to us might be serious. But the Scandinavians are not of that temper. Sweden is arranging to convoy her outward-bound vessels through her own territorial waters, but she must act in co-operation with Norway if the system is to be effective. It is incumbent on us to support the neutrals in every way. In his broadcast on Sunday Mr. Churchill expressed the hope that the time would come when the Admiralty would be able to invite the ships of all nations to join the British convoys. In the case of the Scandinavians it should come quickly.
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