"STATE OF WAR."

Auckland Star, 4 September 1939, Page 7

"STATE OF WAR."

AUSTRALIAN STAND, i c Proclamation Issued In £ \ Commonwealth. j RESTRICTIONS ON SHIPPING. > t ( United Press Association.—Copyright. ] (Received 10.30 a.m.) ' SYDXKY, this day. , A proclamation of the existence : of a state uf war was issued last night after the broadcast by the Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies. Special clearances must in future be obtained by ships leaving Australian ports. Fishing trawlers, however, are exempted. The declaration of war caused a sensation throughout the Commonwealth. Special editions of newspapers were issued as soon as confirmation had been received from the Prime Minister's broadcast at 9.15 p.m., which became the subject of solemn comment in all homes. - t Local radio stations appealed to ratings of two warships to go aboard last night. "Australia Is At War." * An earlier cablegram from Sydney stated that Mr. Menzies, in a broadcast address from Melbourne last night following Mr. Chamberlain's broadcast from London, said.- — "It is my melancholy duty to inform you that in consequence of the persistence of the invasion by Germany of Poland and her refusal,to withdraw her troops Great Britain has declared war upon her; and as a result Australia is at war."

Mr. Menzies reviewed the events leading "up to tlio present, recalling Germany's acts of agression and the repeated but futile efforts made by Britain and France to keep the door open for negotiation and peaceful settlement of tlie Polish dispute. He concluded:— "We, as a member of a great familv of nations, are now involved in a struggle which we must, at all costs, win; which we believe we will win. "Truth is our companion on this journey, which may be long and arduous, and truth must win. In the bitter months to come, I appeal to you to observe calmness, resolution and confidence, which more than ever are required.'' Mr. Menzips has invited the Leaders of the Opposition and the Country party to meet him at Canberra to-day" to discuss the international crisis, "and the forming of a National War Ministry. Mr. Menzies reiterated: "We stand | steadfastly by Britain in any decision she makes over the week-end "or after." A Proclamation issued yesterday declared the existence of the "danger of war," whereby the Commonwealth is empowered to take all necessary wartime precautionary measures by* executive action. All Australian warships are fullv manned and provisioned, and additional ratings and reserves have been called up, and are now standing by. The same applies to the coastal defences and other vital points. An adequate cargo 1 fleet is being retained for the Australian trade and also for the New Zealand » trade. L The Prime Minister announced that an official censorship is now applying to communications within and without Australia, following the similar action * which was taken in London, t _