CANADA WARNED OF NEW SEA THREAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 6

CANADA WARNED OF NEW SEA THREAT.

GERMAN POWER. If French Fleet Were In Nazi Hands: RECRUITING ACCELERATED. (Received 0.30 a.m.) OTTAWA, June 19. The Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, warned Parliament that if the French Fleet were in Nazi hands it might presently cross the Atlantic" and conquer new lands. He recalled that the St. Pierre and Miqnelon Islands, off the coast of Newfoundland, were French. ' "Shall the hands of the Government be tied under these circumstances?" he asked. His supporters shouted "No," on which Mr. Mackenzie King proceeded that it was essential to let the country know that conditions of the gravest character existed. • The Prime Minister introduced a bill "to mobilise all human and material resources," with provision' for a national register of manpower for the defence of Canada. Compulsory service will be limited to home defence. A new Ministry of National War Services is being established to control voluntary services, war loans and refugees and to co.-ordinate and mobilise the efforts of those wanting to serve. The recruitment of 40,000 men, in addition to the 30,000 at present being mobilised, has been authorised. Mr. Mackenzie King also stated in the House of Commons that Canadian troops were at present stationed in Newfoundland. The Minister of Finance, Mr. J. L. Ralston, and the Minister of Justice, Mr. E. Lapointe, K.C., in radio broadcasts, warned the people not to become "jittery" regarding the general mobilisation measures, and asserted that the Emergency Powers Act was "common sense" to ensure security. Canada and the United States have made an agreement for the exemption of United States residents in Canada from several clauses of the foreign exchange order. This includes waiving the requirement to declare the sale and registration of foreign currency securities obtained prior to the control order, which was made on September 16 last.