READY FOR IT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 8

READY FOR IT.

IF PEACK DELAYED. British l'cnplc Determined On Victory. PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS. llrilixli Ullii-liil Wireless. ( KccPiveil 1 p.m.) IJLtiIJV, .laiiimry lii. Tho I'riino Minister, Mr. t'lianihorIniu. in his war review, referred to mimed anxiety during the week-end nhoiil (ionium Ui-1-jriuiu and the Nolliorlniids, and tlio "iintiiriil wi.-li for |iro«-aiitioiis hy the two (Jovorninonts," and .said: "Wo oannot hut admire tho culm mid courageous nttilnde of the two (Sovcrninoiits hii<l the llolgian and Dutch people*." He n!-ii stated that under agreements MjiiioU in I'm i> mi .Inunary !S the IJritish | and Kreiicli (iovernineiits undertook to lon.l liul.cv C2.*>.oo((.iNKi for armaments purchased in the lliited Kingdom and Frnnoe. i! ir>.(»K).nO() in j-ukl and £;!..")(io.it(Kl to liquidate arrears in Anglo-; Turkish and I'Yunco-Turkish elearings. Intercut aid sinking; fund would l>e ]iai<l in Turkish totiiieeo. The ltriti~li ami Freinli ItovcriimentH had al.-o undertaken to purehaxe annually a;2,<10U,000 of Turkish dried fruits. The Crime .Minister concluded liis I'ominotis uta'.cineiit hy saying: "We in this country hope, a.-> do I lie people of c> cry nation, that the jiiitt ami lasting peace we are seeking will not lie loll}* delayed. On the other hand, it may well be the war is about to enter upon a more acute phase. If that sliouUl prove to lie the case we are ready for it. Mid in common with our allies we will spare no effort and m> sacrifice, that may lie necosHjiry to secure the victory on which we are determined." Supplies for Finland. 11l the course of his review of the war Mr. t.'hamherluin referred to the heroic and successful resistance by Finland and intimated that arrangements had been made for the supply of certain war material from Britain, adding "I can ii.-surc tho House the amounts involved are substantial." The Mtuntion in the Far East continued to be dominated by the Sino.Tapanefe hostilities, and there was no warrant for optimism regarding an early settlement. However, the British Government had veleomed tho reeent action by tho Japanese. Oovernbent in tho direction of relaxing Home of tne restrictions which from time to time caused difficulty and tension.

He hoped the Mediterranean area would long continue to be spared the suffering and horror of war. Certain dislocations of normal life had been and would remain inevitable, but it was the British aim, while pursuing the war with all determination, to avoid, as far as was consistent with that object injury to the interests of neutral powers. Speaking of the Franco-British cooperation, Mr. Chamberlain said that in the field of supply the closest co-opera-tion was existing between the departments concerned in this country and those *f France. As a result the financial agreement and unity of action of the two countries had been made complete. "Indeed it is our hope, as I have stated elsewhere, that the system of collaboration which has been thus evolved may, in time, lay the trail for closer relations in the economic and financial sphere between the nations of Europe and of the world, and so facilitate the work of peaceful reconstruction to which we look forward after the successful termination of the war." Tiking Full Share. Turning to the several theatres of war, the Prime Minister said patrolling and artillery fire hnd continued on tlie Western Front, and tlie Jtritisli troops in the Maginot Line sector luul taken tlwir full share of the activities. During the l»nt month air activity had been hampered by the short daylight, and by fog and snow-covered landing ground*. The British air forces, none the less, were continuously in action, in j>lll tirular over the whole battle area of the North Sen. Kvery week considerable British forces had flown over Heligoland Bight and approached to the Baltic in search of the German fleet as it might venture out to eea. Paying a tribute to the Dominions' efforts, Mr. Chamberlain said special Australian and Xβw Zealand contingents would ehortly take their place where their services were in most immediate demand.