GREAT POLITICAL ACTIVITY

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 11

GREAT POLITICAL ACTIVITY

BRITISH DEFENCE MACHINERY IN READINESS AIR RAID TELEPHONES TO BE MANNED DAY AND NIGHT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 23. (Received August 24, at noon.) The announcement that the King is returning to London, which came in the afternoon of a day of great political activity, gave the key to the mood in which the British Government and people are confronting the anxieties of the European situation. No time is being lost in putting the nation’s constitutional administrative defence machinery into a state of readiness to meet any emergency and honour the country’s international obligations. Departmental orders issued to-day are forerunners of the legislative provision forecast last night, which, it may bo anticipated from the conference with Mr Greenwood to-day, will prove to be of an agreed character. Messages received in London indicate that these precautionary steps are matched in the measures to be taken in other parts of the British Commnowealth. The consultations between Mr Chamberlain and Mr Greenwood and between the latter and Sir Samuel Hoare and the Chief Government Whip, who also conferred with the Premier, may be related to the Government’s wish to see the Emergency Powers Defence Bill pass through all stags of both Houses to-morrow. Sir Samuel Hoare also received a deputation from the Trade Union Council and later saw Mr Chamberlain. Political circles consider it likely that Parliament, on the conclusion of to-morrow’s business, will adjourn again. A further meeting might be called next week. Steps have been taken to place the air raid system in readiness. All telephones which are included in the air raid warning system are to be manned day and night. BRITISH LABOUR AGAINST AGGRESSION LONDON, August 23. (Received August 24, at 11 a.m.) The National Council of Labour passedl a resolution expressing determination not to weaken collective resistance to German aggression ‘ GERMANY'S GREAT VICTORY" ITALIAN PRESS JUBILANT ROME, August 23. The Press is entirely dedicated to the Germans’ great diplomatic victory over encirclers, “ which is the greatest blow in the face that British diplomacy has ever received.” It is predicted that the Anglo-Turkish and! the FrancoRussian pacts will be reduced to scraps of paper. ITALY ANXIOUS TO AVOID WAR FEW SIGNS OF MILITARY ACTIVITY ROME, August 23. (Received August 24, at 10 a.m.) There are few signs of military activity. A fervent desire to avoid war is expressed in the newspapers, which continue to urge Poland not to commit suicide. ■ GIBRALTAR PREPARED ALL DEFENCES MANNED GIBRALTAR, August 23. (Received August 24, at 10 a.m.) All the defences are manned, the harbour is boomed, and troops are standing by. SHIP SAILINGS CANCELLED ACTION BY TYNESIDE FIRMS LONDON, August 23. (Received August 24, at 10.30 a.m.) Tyneside shipping firms have jointly cancelled the sailing of all vessels leaving for Germany and Baltic ports. Vessels en route to Hamburg have been recalled. DANZIG PREPARATIONS TRENCHES AND BARBED WIRE DANZIG, August 23. (Received August 24, at 10 a.m.) Military preparations have been accelerated. New trenches and barbed wire entanglements have been established on the western border. NOT BEING BROKEN OFF ANGLO’FRENCH-SOVIET CONVERSATIONS PARIS, August 23. (Received August 24, at 11 a.m.) It is stated that the Three-Power negotiations are not being broken off, but the military conversations might be suspended for a lew days. M. Daladier met the chiefs of the armed forces.