Paris, Oct. 29.
An important statement of his policy and aims as head of the French Blockade Ministry was made to the press by M. Georges Perrot when he declared that it was not France's aim, to inconvenience neutrals, but only to prevent Germany from securing the raw materials which she needed to pursue the war. Economic warfare was going on at the same time as the Allied and German military forces were engaging in battle, M. Pernot said.
His Ministry's tasks were chiefly threefold, to keep a close watch on sea traffic, to prevent neutral coun-neighbours of Germany from rüng to Germany their own and to buy from neighbour-goods that the Allies must purchase abroad.
Last ye sed, 20 per cent. of Germany's imports came from countries with whom she is; now A third of her imports last year were transported over sca routes were now cut by Germany, the Blockad continued, could not impress world opinion with her claim that she was the champion of the neutrals against the Allies, "who place the burden contraband control on their noulde "Britain and Franco," M. Perrot asserted, "are anxious to facilitate the transport of supplies for neutral pogulations and for the maintenance of their industrial activity rightly want to el their ce-operation with the nei does rot go so far as to help, even partly, their ruthless enemy to continue the war. This is the principle on which France works in her present negotiations with neutral couniries who know "that she conducts these negcuations in the friendliest spirit, with a d to spare their legitimate interests.'—Havas, lo only by intimate ce-operation meng the succession States of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austrian Legitimists declared today in a letter io "IIntransigéant," moderate conservative newspaper.
This was not only their own opinion, they said, but' also that of Archduke Otto von Habsburg, pre-fender to the dual crowns of Austro-Hungary, who lives with his mother in Belgium.
It was with a view to free the succession States, and Austria, from Berlin and Moscow, the Legitimists declared, that Archduke Otto was working in Paris, while his brothers, the Archdukes Robert and Felix worked in Britain and the United States respectivel; The letter denied knowledge of: any "memorandum said to have ben handed to the French Government ard the Vatican," but said that Prince Rudiger von Stahremberg, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor, already had liz. conversations with Dr. Eduard nes, former President of Czechoslovakia, They discussed plans for close ce-operation between a revived free Austria, a Republic of Czecho-Jovakia and Hungary.
Exchanges of views were continuing both in Paris and London, the Legitimists' letter to l'Intransigeant" concluded.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.