Hull, reiterating the Government's opposition to the closing of the Burma Road by Britain yesterday, rejected reported German assertions that, for consistency's sake. the United States should also protest against the British blockade against Germany.
'Mr, Hull told the press here that there' is a marked legal distinction between the blockades established by warring nations and Anglo-Japanese negotiations regarding the closure of the Burma Road. particularly since neither China or Japan are technically war.
Under international law. the Seeretary of State declared, blockade by warring nations are recognized, where as a different rule applies to private roads through er serving territories hot at war. When nations are at war and announce their belligerency, he continued. they have rights on' the high seas under the rules of con~ traband and legally may intercept consignments or interfere with any unneutral act, An entirely different rule is applicable to private high-Ways, ho asserted, Meanwhile, the importance to the United States of the new restrictions on Sino-British trade through Hona-Kong and the Burma Koad was me leated by the report of the Depart ment of Commerce that during May Hongkong exported almost 2,000,000 pounds of tung all. of which 1.690.000 pounds went to the United States Only. 249.000 pounds of this oil went to Europe. the report said, Onicials of the Department of Commerce said hho statiaties were available regarding the Burma Road—United Press.
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