NEWS AND NOTES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4961, 27 February 1937, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES

Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, moving the second reading in the House of Commons on the Defence Loans Bill, welcomed the absence from the Opposition's rejection motion of a suggestion made by Mr. C. R. Atlee, Leader of the Opposition, that the bill was "a war measure." It would be very unfortunate, the Chancellor declared, if any apprehension of im»minent war were created at a time when there was no reason or justificcation for any such fears.

Mr J. M. Keynes, presiding at the National Mutual Assurance Company's annual meeting, emphasised that the rearmament loan was well within the nation's capacity. There was no reason why they should pay more than 3 per cent.

The Chamber of Shipping passed a resolution drawing attention to the vital position of British shipping in any scheme of Imperial defence and the grave dangers to Empire comh munications from foreign subsidies and economic nationalism, especially in the East.

It is officially reported that Ras Desta, Haile Selassie's son-in-law, whom it was stated the Emperor favoured to represent him at the Coronation of King George, and whose capture, dead or alive, was ordered, was rounded up by a flying column and shot. He leaves a widow and seven children, who are at present in England with Haile Selassie.

Dispatch of the director of the 8.8.C.'s Empire radio service, Mr. J. Clark, on a visit to Australia and New Zealand via India in May is regarded, says the "Daily Herald," as the first step in a plan to challenge German radio propaganda to the British Dominions and Germany's former colonies with brighter and more powerful British Imperial broadcasts.

There seems no doubt that the Spanish Government offensive, which is the biggest since the revolt and is costing thousands of lives, is aimed at an outstanding victory to raise the morale of the troops. The Government realises that the war cannot be won if it remains on the defensive. Masses of men, tanks and armoured cars are being thrown into the attack regardless of loss.