RISING DEMAND IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 9

RISING DEMAND IN EGYPT

Immediate Entry Into The War PARLIAMENT ISSUE

(By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) Received August 22, 9.40 p.m.) CAIRO, August 22.

Answering rising demands from a crowded Parliament for immediate entry into the war on Britain's side, the Premier, Hassan Sabry Pasha, said that nothing had developed to change the Government’s policy, which was to keep out ol the war against Italy unless Egypi was directly invaded. Ahmed Maher, amid cheers, immediately demanded a debate on the war policy. Members of the Government demanded' that the debate should be in secret.

CRISIS OF THE WAR

No Easy Task Ahead

LONDON, August 22.

On Jiis return ‘to Cairo from a visit to England to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the Commandcr-in-Chief of the British military forces i» the Middle East, Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Wavell, in a broadcast last night, said: "We are at the crisis of the war; perhaps at the turning-point for victory. We have no easy task. We have a long and hard road still ahead.” BRITISH FIREARMS Changes Made To Increase Output (British Official Wireless.) (Received August 22, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, August 21. Modifications in the design or finish of firearms, from miniature rifles 1“ heavy artillery, have played an important part in the recent increase in British production. The Minister of Supply, Mr. Morrison, emphasizes that the efficiency of the weapons has been in no way diminished, but the result of the alterations has been to reduce the number of man-hours required to produce a weapon or its components by as much as from 10 to 50 per cent, in different cases. One example as a result, of these modifications is in the output of Bren guns, which will be increased by some 20 per cent, for a given number of man-hours. Mr. Morrison said the former vicepresident of tlie Skodda works, who was the first man to make the Bren gun, had said that the new Bren guns now being made in Britain were better than those turned out by his own factory. This man left Czechoslovakia after the German occupation and took with him 100 of his technical experts, who arq now giving the British factories the benefit of their experience. He described the British armament drive as approaching the point when it would be decisive. IMPORT PROHIBITED Bank Of England Notes (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 2.1. In view of the fact that a considerable amount of Bank of England notes were held iu France and other territories occupied by tlie enemy, it lias been decided to prohibit the import of Bank of England notes in the United Kingdom. An Order-in-Council to this effect comes into force immediately. Tlie value of sterling in world imrrkets will not be affected, since commercial and financial transactions are not carried out by means of bank-notes but by, cheques, cable transfers, etc. Nevertheless, special steps have 'been taken to give existing holders in neutral countries ffn opportunity to realize Bank of England notes now held by them. Bank of England notes hold inside the sterling area will continue to be freely negotiable and exchangeable with the currency authorities in the various countries concerned. The prohibition docs not apply to notes brought or sent from Eire into the United Kingdom. Travellers from overseas will be allowed to bring in £lO in Bank <>f England notes with them. BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT FOR LISBON (British Official Wireless.) (Received August. 22, 7.5 p.m.) RUQBY, August 21. One hundred architectural photographs of British schools prepared in response to requests from Portugal will soon be exhibited at Coimbra University, Lisbon.