The Press Bureau, in a detailed statement refuting the allegations that the ineffectiveness of the British blockade allows enormous quantities of goods to reach Ger many through neutrals, give figures showing that the statistics of such leakage have been greatly inflated.
Tt points out that in many cases the increases in the imports of neutral countries are due to the fact that their supplies under normal conditions were drawn from Germany. It instances the excess of the imports of rice into Denmark which amounted to 3,000 tons. Even if the whole excess had been exported to Germany this would represent barely one per cent. of Germany's yearly requirements.
'A considerable quantity of tea imported by Denmark has probably gone to Russia, since Copenhagen has largely succeeded Hamburg as the entrepot for trade.
Large quantities of cotton were imported by neutrals during the early months of the war, but these imports have been restricted to normal quantities since April.
The Press Bureau mentions thr interesting fact that, in order to obviate inconvenience and delay in removing cargoes from neutral ships, large quantities of contraband were allowed to proceed to the ship's destination on condition that the contraband was returned to England or detained during the war. "The statement points out that neutral countries should be allowed to import quantities normally imported with perhaps " small addition to allow for the natural growth of trade.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.