significant, therefore, that the coal export, which from the nature of the case exhibits only slight fluctuations from month to month, falls again in February, 1917, to 2.9 million tons (as against 3.4 million tons in February of the year before), thus almost reaching once more to the lowest point hitherto recorded—­that of December, 1916.  And it should be remembered that here, as in the case of all other exports, sunk transports are included in the English statistics.

“Details as to the destination of exported coal have since the beginning of this year been withheld.  England is presumably desirous of saving the French and Italians the further distress of reading for the future in black and white the calamitous decline in their coal supply.  The serious nature of this decline, even up to the end of 1916, may be seen from the following figures: 

“England’s coal export to France amounted in December, 1916, to only 1,128,000 tons, as against 1,269,000 tons in January of the same year; the exports to Italy in December, 1916, amounted only to 278,000 tons, as against 431,000 tons in January, and roughly 800,000 tons monthly average for the peace year 1913.

“As to the further development since the end of February, I am able to give some interesting details.  Scotland’s coal export in the first week of April was 103,000 tons, as against 194,000 tons the previous year; from the beginning of the year 1,783,000 tons, as against 2,486,000 tons the previous year.  From this it is easy to see how the operations of the U-boats are striking at the root of railway and war industries in the countries allied with England.

“Lloyd George, in a great speech made on January 22 of this year, showed the English how they could protect themselves against the effects of submarine warfare by increased production in their own country.  The practicability and effectiveness of his counsels are more than doubtful.  He makes no attempt, however, to instruct his Allies how they are to protect themselves against the throttling of the coal supply.

“I come now to the most important point:  the position of England with regard to its food supply.

“First of all I would give a few brief figures by way of calling to mind the degree to which England is dependent upon supplies of foodstuffs from overseas.

“The proportion of imports in total British consumption averaged during the last years of peace as follows: 

“Bread-corn, close on 80 per cent.

“Fodder-grain (barley, oats, maize), which can be utilised as substitutes for, and to supplement, the bread-corn, 50 per cent.; meat, over 40 per cent.; butter, 60-65 per cent.  The sugar consumption, failing any home production at all, must be entirely covered by imports from abroad.