LIBERATION OF POLAND

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1939, Page 5

LIBERATION OF POLAND

OBLIGATION OF BRITAIN World’s Sympathy Growing [British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, September 19. “Nothing that has occurred,” says a British Government official statement “can make any difference to the determination of the Government, with the full support of the country, to fulfil its obligations to Poland, and to prosecute the war with all its energy until the objectives have been achieved.” This formal announcement by the Government of its unchanged purpose in the face of the events of the past three days, has met with wholehearted aprpoval from all sections of the public.

“The Times” says that in the pursuit of the cardinal war aims, the foremost place will be given to lhe liberation of Poland, which lies under the heel of her two invaders, having first won immortal glory. The

strategic advantage

represented by the overthrow of Poland by a Power pledged to friendly relations with her. is one of which the aggressor cannot be deprived, but “it is an advantage that withers away as the opposition gathers strength. Geography made it quite impossible for the Governments of Britain and France to prevent the over-running of Poland, just as Germany, by a breach of faith, made it impossible io prevent the over-running of Belgium then, by the same massive process will it come to full circle again. All the incomparable resources of the British Empire, behind an impregnable guard of the sea and air power, are being mobilised to build up an engine of war beyond the power of Nazi might to overthrow. It is a slower process than a smashing onslaght or premeditated aggression, but it will be much quicker than in 1914, when it broke and hurled back a force of aggression no less swift and devastating in its first quick attack. With the same steady resolution

France has steeled herself

for a sustained effort. And behind the armies and navies of Britain and France, something more irresistible than arms is arrayed on the same side. The great tide of the conscience of humanity flows already against the breakers of treaties and the murderers of the unarmed.” saved her soul, and history proclaims that the spirit of Poland is inextinguishable. “When Mr Greenwood yesterday protested that the British Labour movement will not now turn its back on the Polish people,” adds the "Telegraph,” “he spoke not for British Labour alone, but foi’ the whole of the British nation.”

The “Daily Telegraph” says: Poland’s heroism ha* msi hej almost eve’’ythi'i<;, bvd. like Belgium in 19! i she lias

-LTISH WAR El-r-UHlt>

LONDON, September 19

1 is announced that civil aviation is now on a war footing, under the nev. organisation for national air communication whereof aircraft have already conveyed important officials overseas.

New appointments include Lord Cobham as Under-Secretary for War, Lord Denham as Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Sir Edward Griegg as Secretary of the Ministry of Information. The Queen has organised a working party to make bandages and garments for the central hospital supplies service, under the joint board of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John. Her Majesty will take an active part in the work herself, and will be assisted by members of the Royal domestic staff.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, since the outbreak of war, has received many gifts to the nation in the form of cash, gold coins, and rings. He has also accepted, on behalf of the nation, a number of loans free of interest, for the duration of the rationing, which the Government has decided on to ensure the fair sharing of certain foods, will not be introduced for another month oi five weeks at least. Meanwhile, there are ample supplies of f 4 °° ds . t . u^_? £ all kinds, and it is a ? th ° 1 ’ lta£ .X!pl stated that nothing can justify eithe. hoarding or profiteering. Apart from the foods which ” c rationed when the ° f rde . r the prices of most other foods strictly controlled.

History Professor’s Views WELLINGTON, September 19. Reflections on the general l ' situation and the main problems which he feels will confront New Zealand citizens were dealt with by Professor F. T. W. Wood, Professor of History at Victoria University College, at a Rotary Club luncheon today.’ Professor Wood said he thoug that the outstanding thing about the Polish problem was that because of the facts of geography it raised difficulties which could not be solved in the absence of a spirit of goodwill and justice among all concerned. That situation arose from the tact that Poland had no frontiers and that there were no frontiers m Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe could not be put into compartments and each one left to go on its way. One very clear-cut example of that was the State of Danzig which for centuries had been the bottle-neck through which Poland’s trade passed. In the case of a majority ruling a minority no legal machine! y in the world would make the peoples live together in peace unless they began by living together in reasonable friendship. The last peace settlement had broken down not so much because it was a oad settlement but mainly because it was conceived in an atmosphere of nate and lived its life in the atmosphere of hatred produced by the last wai. The passions which were stirred up destroyed whatever chance it might have had to live and develop and become the basis of permanent peace in Europe. “To win the last war we incapacitated ourselves not so much from making a just peace but from administering the peace justly,” he said. The problem now was twofold. The first was the technical and military problem of how to win the war. That

was a matter to be left with the hnical experts. The second concerned the home front. There was the problem of fighting this war so that in the fighting those objectives should not be abandoned which we set out to preserve. Professor Wood said that he was not thinking so much of the problem of civil liberties but rather of that of the state of mind. The objectives of the war, he thought, had been stated with reasonable clarity. We were not fighting in indiscriminate hatred and we were not fighting against the German people. We were in the war to fight a certain set code of ideas which unfortunately, from our point of view, had gained control over a great people. He thought the main work of the people of New Zealand was to show that by being detached from the actual physical disasters of the war they could hold on to their sanity.

N.Z. Price Regulation CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE GROWLING. WELLINGTON, September 19. Many very serious anomalies would result from the price stabilisation emergency regulations, it was stated at a meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce tonight. The council passed this motion:-—

“That the associated Chambers of Commerce be requested to draw the Government’s attention to the fact that the price stabilisation emergency" regulations of September 1 have given rise to many serious anomalies, and to ask that the regulations be amended so as to give effect to the principle of the prevention of profiteering, without creating such anomalies as arise under the existing regulations.” Mr P. E. Pattrick, proposing the motion, said that while every responsible person realised the special conditions under which they were now living, he was sure the implications of the regulations were not contemplated by their- framers. Under the price fixation regulations introduced in June a merchant had to notify" the Price Investigation Tribunal of any increase in price. As long as he had a good case, he could proceed with the increase with confidence. Under the emergency" regulations which became effective on September 1 it was not competent to increase any price without first getting the consent of the Minister.

Supporting the motion, Mr- M. G. C. McCaul said that when a regulation was found impossible it brought the law into disrepute. While the emergency regulations had been framed with the best intentions still, like some other legislation of the present Government these regulations were hasty and ill-considered, and devised by people who did not know much about what they were doing. He had been advised that day that the war risk insurance rate from Antwerp to New Zealand was £7 10s per cent., and freight had risen 25 per cent. From the British West Indies freights were up 100 per cent. Certain goods were always fluctuating in price, and it was absurd that the Minister of a small country like New Zealand should, in these circumstances, say" there must be no increases.