WAR LEGISLATION

Grey River Argus, 5 September 1939, Page 8

WAR LEGISLATION

Public Feeling LONDON, September 3. A perfect summer day, after a midnight rainstorm of tropical intensity, accompanied by fierce flashes of lightning, marked England’s emrv into the war. Mr Chamberlain’s faith in the calm and courage of the British public has been amply justified by their behaviour, to-day. ‘ Quiet confidence is universal. 'l'here are no great crowds in the streets. Most people followed the example of the King and Queen in waiting quietly for Mr Chamberlain’s message in their own homes. This morning’s air-raid warning, reinforced by occasional police whistles, brought everyone to attention, and afforded valuable practice in donning gas-masks, seeking shelters expeditiously, but there was no sign of panic. Residents emerged into the streets immediately the all-clear signal was sounded, and subsequently sunned themselves in parks and gardens, or watched the world’s greatest city steadily preparing for eventualities under its corona of silvery balloons. War police and air raid* units everywhere are calmly ready for what might befall. The steadiness of the instructional broadcasts which followed Mr Chamberlain’s addresses tended to reassure everybody. All telephones are working normally. The Treasury, in conjunction with the Bank of England, has taken all steps needed to ensure that the banks, including the Post Office Savings Bank and other savings banks, will be amplysupplied with currency. The arrangements made will render unnecessary any general moratorium, such as was adopted in August 1914, but the Courts Emergency Powers Act has 1 een passed to give further protection t. . :?y institution or person who is unable to meet his liabilities, solely by reason of the emergency. Monday has been declared a limited bank holiday, affe’cting banks only. The day will pe used by the banks to complete their measures for adapting themselves to the emergency. On Tusday morning, the banks will open for business. The stock exchange 'will remain closed, but will reopen as soon as possible. No money or gold securities may be sent abroad, without treasury permission. The Royal Assent was given to all the emergency legislation passed through both Houses, yesterday and to-day. Mr Churchill resumes the post which he held in 1914. Sir Archibald Sinclair and other Liberal leaders, in both Houses, declined to join the Government, but assured Mr Chamberlain that they will support all necessarv war measures. The Commons passed several military measures, including the Prolongation of Services Bill and the National Service Bill empowering the conscription of men between 18 and 41 years. In the House of Commons, the War Minister, Mr Hore-Belisha, replying to a Labour amendment to the National Service Bill, aimed at increasing the age liability from 18 to 20 years, assured the House that this lower age group would be one of the last called up. “Let us hope that we get through the whole of this war without having to call upon them,” he added. “I think there is no good purpose to be served by carrving an amendment of this kind, when boys of 17 are defending Poland at this very moment. We are taking from the active forces prepared for overseas all men under 19, and we do not intend to send them to France, although they have enlisted as regular soldiers. He said that the country now had all the men required, except certain classes of tradesmen. It would, therefore, be some, time before they called on any other age group. The Bill was passed. Mr Winston Churchill said: “This is not a question of Danzig or Poland. We are fighting to save the whole world from the pestilence of Nazism This is no war of domination or of Imperialism, or to shut any country out of the sunlight and the means of progress, but a war to establish upon immovable rocks the rights of individual liberty—to establish and revive the stature of man.” Mr Lloyd George said that, *if the Government had left unchallenged the latest ann not the least, of a series of acts of brigandage by a very formidable military nower, the whole foundations of civilisation would have been undermined. The Commons passed all stages of the Prize Bi'l enabling the Prize' Courts to deal with aircraft and cargoes, and the Government of India 1 , Bill, giving the Government of Indial similar power as the British Govern-1 ment under the Emergency Power Bill. The House also passed the Courts Emergency Powers Bill, similar to that in force in the Great War, when a special Court decided whether nonsatisfaction of payment due was directly or indirectly caused by war. Meanwhile, evacuation measuresproceeded in an orderly fashion, and are nearing completion. I The King has graciously consented that a copy of the message, which he broadcast ' this evening, should be sent to every household in the country, so that all may be able t 0 keep it as a permanent record. Each copy wi’l bear His Majesty’s own signature, in facsimile. After hearing the message, Their Maiesties attendee a short service of praver at Buckingham Palace. The Minister of Agriculture has ap- ( pointed a War Agricultural Executive I /'■ommittee in each counts of England and Wales, who will be given as free a hand as possible to increase the pro- : duction of foodstuffs. Their, immediate task is to see that additional land is brought under the plough with all sneed. The aim is to obtain for the 1940 harvest an increase of about 1.500.000 acres in the tillage area of, England ana Wales. I Captain Maroesson announced that the seat, of government is remainiugl in London as long as possible.

FORMAL WAR DECLARATION. RUGBY, September 3. The Ministrv of Information has made the following announcement. A state of war now exists between Brita'n and Germany. At 11.15 o’clock this morning, Mr Dunbar head of the treaty department of the Foreign Office, went to the German Embassy, where he was received by Herr Kordt, Charge tf’ Affaires. Mr Dounbar handed Herr Kordt a notification that a state of war existed between Britain and

iGermany, as from 11 o’clock this morning. This notification constituted the formal declaration of war. Lord Halifax announced in the Lords that passports had been handed to the German Charge D’Affaires. In accordance with customary dipt lomatic usage, full facilities are being extended to Herr Kordt to enable him an f ] the staff of the German Embassy to leave the country. Their departure will take place very shortly. Facilities are als 0 being extended equally to German Consular officers fo enable them to leave England.