CO129-439 - Others - 1916 — Page 455

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In a opinion the best solution renzins a

prohibition on the imports of sugar into the countries of the Allies and their Colonies, if such sugar is not covered by a Consılar certificate as explained in my letter of

28th Feb. 1916.

Such a measure would be decisive and would

not give offence to neutral sugar manufacturers.

I have now come to what happened a few days ago, viz, that some Dutch fires have been recommended for the Black List without previous warning on account of their having sold sugar of Crop 1917 to German dealers. A storm of indignation has been aroused amongst Dutch sellers and the help of the Sugar Syndicate has been asked to protest the interests of the sugar manufacturers in Java at the British Embassy in The Hague.

Block-Listing large sugar institutions has more far reaching consequences than the simple fact that the Black listed can sell no zore sugar to British firms. The sugar is (apart from a portion of its ecchinery) for mcnuring its grounds and pacing of its produce, absolutely dependant uyan England and British India. I allide to Sulphate of Amonia and

gunny bags, without which the sugar industry cannot

so on.

V

M

The indignation is caused not so much by the fact that neutrals are prohibited in their own country from trading with enemies of the allies, but because this measure "without previous warning" was considered to be 600 drastic & two of the biɛsest sugar manufacturing companies were suddenly threatened as to their very existence by a stle easily to be explained sing the irresolution of the British lovernment regarding the Java sugar trade.

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