THE WEEK OVER THE WORLD

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22661, 16 March 1939, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WEEK OVER THE WORLD

BLOCKADE IN SPAIN

A message from Burgos at the beginning of last week stated:

“The Admiralty forbids ships 'of any nationality to enter harbours between Adra and , Sagunto, comprising the whole Republican coast. “Submarines have been ordered to sink any attempting to enter ports.” '

Lord Halifax ■ Britain was not notified officially of the blockade; but official quarters express the opinion -that, recognition of General Franco does not bestow belligerent rights or the right-of blockade. The sinking of ships on sight without warning would be an act of piracy.. On Thursday in the House of Lords the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), speaking of the blockade order, said: “I wish to make it plain that if action outside territorial waters is taken, Britain should be obliged to' resist such action in the same manner as Britain has done in the past.” ' Since this message was given by the British Charge d’Affaires to the Government at Burgos there have been no casualties among British ships, and no British lives or property have been lost.

BYRD TO REVISIT ANTARCTIC

Rear-Admiral Byrd has announced that his next trip to the Antarctic, the date of which is not yet set, will have far greater results than any other venture since the settlement of America.

, “I am going to see what is on tlio other side of the Pole,” he said. “I expect to take possession of about 1,000,000 square miles. - “What is more significant for America is that I know there are mountains there with sufficient coal to take care of the needs of the world for some time. I looked into this area on my last trip.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Inventor of Duplicator Dead The Hungarian-born Jew, David Gestetnef, died week at the age of 84. As an office boy he so hated letter copying that he invented .the duplicator machine.

King: George’s Tomb The tomb cf King George V was dedicated privately in'St. George’s Chapel,, at Windsor Castle, in the presence of ■ the King and Queen, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret Rose, the Princess Royal, the Duke' and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke and Duchess of itent. Atlantic Air Mail Service •

Britain will probably begin air mail* services across the Atlantic to America on June 1, and carry on till the late autumn, when the weather is expected to prevent the continuance of the services. •

Potato Glut in Sydney The wholesale price of best potatoes was reduced by £ 6 10s a ton to £l6 in Sydney at the beginning of the week. ’ The representative ,of the Tasmanian Potato Board in Sydney denied a statement that the Tasmanian growers had flooded the market with the object of choking out the New Zealand growers. He said the chief cause of the large shipment had been the heavy rains, which forced the growers to dig their crops so as to avoid losing them. Shipments of potatoes from Tasmania to the mainland last week amounted to 50,000 sacks, an all-time record. Jews From Italy The alpine passes on the Italian border are crowded with Jews who are making an effort to escape before Signor Mussolini.*® anti-Jewish laws are enforced. Peace for Spain

General Casado, Minister for Defence in General Miaja’s new Republican Cabinet, has announced that- he is trying to arrange a peace that will bring Spain independence. He also hopes to arrange for a peace without adverse conditions for the Republicans. The World Fair

A message from Rugby states that Mr R. S. Hudson, Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade, will leave, for New York on April 22, to represent Great Britain at the New York World Fair, which will open on April 30. / ; The Pope’s Duties In spite, of the arduous, mature: of the Coronation ceremonies, the*. Popehas taken up his duties. On Monday, he gave'an audience to 12 people, including the Duke of Norfolk and the United States Ambassador to Britain (Mr Joseph Kennedy).

Colonel Beck’s Vlsiit The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) stated in the House of Commons that the Polish .Foreign Minister (Colonel Beck) would Shortly visit Britain, probably during the first week in April. He added that Britain welcomed the opportunity which the visit would afford of discussing with Colonel Beck matters of common interest to the two countries.

METEOROLOGY IN, / ANTARCTIC-

The Australian explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, placed before the Federal Government proposals for the establishment of . two meteorological stations in the Antarctic^

Sir Hubert Wilkins Sir Hubert suggests that New Zealand should be-asked to bear part of the cost, which he estimates at £ 10,000 a year for two years and after that at not more than £7OOO a year.

THE , CROWNING OF POPE PIUS

Pope Pius XII was crowned on Sunday last, March 12. The crowd which the Pope blessed is estimated at 750,000. With hand upraised in blessing, and smiling benignly on the cheering crowd, the Pope passed up the church and sat on the White Throne, Cardinals, Archbishops, 'and Bishops paying homage. : Then High “Mass was celebrated, the Pope taking the ,Holy Eucharist standing and-not kneeling as ; is customary. Silver trumpets rang out as the Pope performed the Act of Corisecratibri, using, the golden chalice that his predecessor used daily and which he had bequeathed to him. . At the end of the Mass the Archpriest of St. Peter’s presented the Pontiff with a white purse containing 25 gold coins, “the usual offering for this well-sung Mass.”

Mr Chamberlain's Umbrella Lady Elibank, speaking at Peebles, Scotland. said that Mr Chamberlain's unabrella was 40 years old, and that it was a present from his wife. In photographs and films; the Prime Minister of Great .Britain is usually shown carrying his umbrella. . This, umbrella has been lost and recovered four tiines.