The strong disapproval of the Hongkong evacuation scheme which was shown in the [Colony right from the first moment it was Jannounced, flared up into open opposition at the Legislative Council meeting on Thursday afternoon, when unofficial members of the Council took the opportunity to voice their opinions. Whatever may have led the authorities at Whitehall to decide upon the evacua-ion, there can be. little doubt that. the matier was handled in_a way likely to cause the most resentment, The unofficial members who spoke in opposition to the scheme were very downright in their criticism, and while they do not question the Cabinet's decision they, appear to oppose evacuation because of the manner in which it was dealt with. The Hongkong newspapers have contained much [correspondence and other expressions of opin-fon. definitely condemning the evacuation scheme, and the alleged discrimination which was being shown as to. what women should and who should not be sent out of the Colony. Undoubtedly large numbers of people of comparatively small means will find con Siderable hardship in. being sent off to distant places ike Australia, and the decision to evacuate appears to have been reached without Proper consideration of the may difleulties which would arise from any such scheme. Mr. A. L, Shields made that quite clear in his speech when he expressed astonishment that no reference had been made to the question of expense looming largely before the families were evacuated, and made it clear that he thought the Government should make a statement as to what it intended to do with those families. there can indeed he little ground for differing: at the time it was made it seemed the only wise thing to do in view of all the circumstances, but there is very little doubt that the manner in which the Hongkong Government handled the whole matter way productive of much resentment. Tt is Legislative Council will be able to do much more than make their protests heard, but the that they have done so shou ahong authorities food for reflection American Embargo lof the world call for counter-action by the United States. A quietening of agitation in the Far East may be expected to follow, since the country which will be most vitally affected is Japan. Germany and Italy may be only in= fdircetiy affected. The British blockade has already cut them off from supplies coming across the Atlantic, except such as can filter through Portugal and Spain. There has been ground for suspicion that some suppliey have been reaching the Nazis through these countries, and it significant that one of the first refusals to license the shipment of oil in the United States [concerns Spain. The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Henry Morgenthau, has announced that it was suspected that these shipments were des-stoppage of them, therefore, can be considered, of valuable assistance to Great Britain, So. far 83 supplies through Portugal and Spain are concerned, Britain is taking her own st probable that the blockade will shortly be fended to take in these two countries, the blow being softened by the British assistance in arranging for Spanish purchases of Portuguese commodities. By this means Spain will be assured that she will not suffer unduly from a Blockade, since normal supplies of essentials will "not "be held up. Only "commodities [which are over and above the requirements of the people, and which might be shipped on to he enemy' will be stopped. To such a blockade is obvious that the American licensing tem will be of great assistance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.