NEWS AND NOTES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4820, 7 August 1939, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES

In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, replying to Mr. Noel-Baker (Lab., Derby), said: “I do not seek to minimise the Government’s strong objection to incidents in which Japanese have been concerned in the last few months in the Far East, but I wont the House to bear in mind that the situation for this “Sometimes I hear members say, ‘Why don’t you do the same as America?’ It is hardly necessary for me to point to the fundamental difference between the position of America in it sisolation from Europe, and that of Britain.”

“The Times” Rome correspondent states that the Italian Press almost ignores the conference of the Japanese Ambassadors to Rome and Berlin, indicating' that alliance is no longer desired. While it was in the interest of Italy and Germany for Japan to become embroiled with Britain and France, they have no desire to run the risk of becoming embroiled in war as Japan’s allies at a moment which would not suit them.

The nominal movements on the London stock market became irregular, renewed international anxiety outweighing inflationary sentiment. There has been good buying of com-modity-based shares. The continued fall of unemployment, the new record note issue, the contra-seasonal improvement of provincial bankclearings, and a sharp increase in beer consumption are among the latest additions to the constantly accumulating' evidence of the rising trend of industrial activity.

“The Times” Berlin correspondent says that Germany is now reaching her maximum military preparedness. The standing army comprises 39 divisions, between four and five light tank divisions, three mounted divisions, and one cavalry brigade, totalling 850,000 men. Moreover, 400,000 called up in April have not been released.

General Franco has issued a decree that the Phalange will be Spain’s only political party, absorbing the Monai’chists, with himself as nominal head and delegating his power* to an unnamed leader responsible to him. *

The Secretary for War, Mr. HoreBelisha, in the House of Commons, said that the Army and Air Force on home stations consume 29,000 cwt. of Empire meat and 22cwt of homekilled meat every month. The Navy in home waters consumes 4500 cwt. of Empire and lOOcwt. of homekilled meat, while the Fleet abroad consumed 2600 cwt., nearly all Empire production.

“However our feelings may be exasperated, by things happening in the Far East—and I can assure members that I fully share the most violent feelings that anybody can have —it makes my blood boil to read some of the things that have been happening there,” said Mr. Chamberlain in his speech on the Far East in the House of Commons. “But, however much our emotions may be roused, let us not forget the liabilities we have already assumed, nor the position of our fellow countrymen and women already on the spot,” he added.