To add further proof of the utter futility and hollow sham of the alleged blockade safeguards, namely, the Danish Association Agreement and the Netherlands Overseas Trust, Sir Henry Dalziel informed the House of Commons on August 22nd, 1916, that in June Denmark imported _over ten times as much cotton yarn_ as in June, 1913, and that in the first six months of the present year Holland exported to Germany _over twenty times as much butter_ as in the first six months of 1914, nearly _eight times as much cheese_, and _over seven times as much meat_. The unfortunate Lord Robert Cecil in mid-August gave quite a eulogistic report upon his stewardship as Blockade Minister, which was immediately followed by the arrival from New York of the Custom House returns showing that during the week ending August 5th the value of the exports to Holland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark was _eight times_ as _great_ as in the corresponding week of the preceding year. To Holland the exports had increased in value _a thousandfold_ and to Norway _seventy-fivefold_. On September 1st, 1916, the Government, through the War Trade Statistical Department, issued to the Press an official Memorandum on the question of the efficacy of the British blockade. It barely amounted to the proverbial half-truth, and was pitiably feeble. It was more than unfortunate that the Government should rush into print just before the United States export figures were due for publication--only a week later. These latter reliable statistics showed an extraordinary state of affairs: EXPORTS FROM U.S.A. 1914. 1915. 1916. £ £ £ To Norway 1,813,400 7,815,000 10,735,600 " Sweden 2,928,800 15,654,800 10,387,800 " Denmark 3,134,000 15,964,800 11,132,400 " Holland 22,443,200 28,653,400 19,852,600 " Switzerland 204,000 547,200 1,631,200 The _Telegraaf_, Amsterdam's leading journal, on September 11th, 1916, quoted Governmental statistics to account for the excessive rise in price of her home products, concluding by the statement that "Holland has sold her livelihood for greater war profits"; whilst all the Dutch Press seemed to deplore mildly the vast and unmanageable manner in which the smuggling of goods over the German frontier was permitted to continue. The figures for meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables, and butter showed an average _increased export of seventy-five per cent._ on preceding years. Practically every ounce went to Germany or to territory under her rule. On September 12th, 1916, Reuter's representative at the Hague was able to announce that: "The Dutch Overseas Trust had obtained the release of 420 tons of Kapok, Java cotton, and had also succeeded in removing the difficulties in the way of the importation of cocoa-beans."