Dominion Was Ready When “War Telegram” Arrived

Northern Advocate, 7 September 1939, Page 6

Dominion Was Ready When “War Telegram” Arrived

. WELLINGTON, This Day. \EW ZEALAND WAS FULLY PREPARED WHEN THE CALL X TO ARMS GAME ON SUNDAY. Complete organisation for national security was put into operation without flurry and with smooth efficiency within a lew hours of the formal declaration of hostilities. Coastal defences were manned within six hours, the-Navy and Air Force were at action stations, and every step had been taken to conserve national resources.

4 - These measures had to be enforced with the authorities ol over 30 'regulations, which had been prepared beforehand and became operative at once.

Inside Story,

It is now possible to tell the public of New Zealand the exclusive inside story of the method by which this efficient security organisation was set in motion.

This book summarised all measures involved in passing from a state of peace to a state of war In addition to tris, all Government departments had their own detailed instructions as to the part they would be obliged to play during any crisis. The war book co-ordinates the .activities of all these departments. Every page was operative when New Zealand went to war against Germany on September 3. New Zealand’s security organisation was brought to the alert on August 24 when all heads of services and departments were instructed to “stand by” in accordance with the provisions of the war book.

The proclamation of a state of emergency on the Friday preceding the outbreak of war had given “the right of the road” to all of the preparations that had been made. The culmination was an historic meeting of Cabinet, commencing at 9 o’clock on Sunday night, and prolonged until the early hours of Monday morning. This meeting was called with the realisation that war could not be avoided. Therefore, the heads of the fighting services were caleld to Parliament Building, together with all the heads of departments responsible for the carrying out of the organisation of national security.

Fateful Telegram. At 2.20 a.m. on Saturday, ,a fateful telegram arrived from London stating that precautionary measures were being taken .against Germany, and 40 minutes later Cabinet was sitting in consultation with the chiefs of the three defence services and the officers of the organisations of the national security. Preliminary measures were then approved, a number of men being called out for coastal defnce and to. guard vital points. The ships’ examination service was also commenced at this stage. All Sunday, with the country under severe strain in expectation of war, Cabinet sat almost continuously. It had fallen to the lost of the acting Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), to carry out the plans inaugurated by his chief (Mr Savage). .The acting - Prime Minister, with a capable lieutenant in the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones), showed those cool and tireless qualities that combines to make a national leader.

Regulations Ready.

The necessary regulations and authorities were ready for signature. They had been prepared during the preceding months, reviewed carefully by the Ministers responsible for the departments specifically concerned, and overhauled by the Attorney-General. This, however, was not the final process. Cabinet had to satisfy itself as to how they would operate. Therefore, each departmental head concerned with the particular set of regulations under review was called into the Cabinet Room and Ministers made searching inquiry into the reasons: for every attitude proposed, and the method which was to be followed in putting it into operation. In this way 30 regulations were approved and two sets were held up for further examination. “War Telegram” The “war telegram” from the British Government did not arrive until 11.45 p.m. on Sunday. Although the country had been apprised by Mr Chamberlain’s dramatic broadcast announcement from Downing Street, owing to congestion of cables, the officsial hand of the New Zealand Government had to be stayed until nearly midnight, although action was not postponed.

No Hesitancy,

There was no hesitancy in any decisions that had to be made and the whole organisation which had been so well planned was put into operation in full force without the slightest delay.

It was a graphic demonstration of the efficiency of the defence machines that the manning of the coastal defences was accomplished in six hours when an undei - taking had been previously given by the Chief of the General Staff. Major-General J. E. Duigan, that this could be done in 12 hours.

Actually his own part of the plan worked so effectively that it was done in half that time. The navy and air force carried out their plans with equal expedition and when the Council of Defence met on Monday the chiefs of the services were able to report that everything to meet the emergency had been done. The enemy did not catch New Zealand napping on September 3, 1939.

The Governor-General (Viscount Galway) was at that time waiting in his office in Government Buildings. Soon after midnight, Cabinet adjourned and there was a meeting of the executive Council, over which the Governor-General presided.

At this meeting all necessary Orders-in-CiOimcil were passed, then signed by His Excellency. A momentous moment in New Zealand’s history had been reached.

At 1.55 a.m. on Monday, Viscount Galway, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, despatched a telegram to the British Government, announcing New Zealand’s decision to participate in the conflict.

National Security

The organisation for national security, which is now operating, became vigorous in 1937 and it was galvanised into intense activity by the Munich crisis in September, 1938. Gradually the organisation was expanded to cover not only the activity ofi the fighting forces, but the whole civil administration. Over 40 departments became concerned. There were 50 separate committees which have to date held over 400 meetings

Activity was intensified towards the end of last April, when the Prime Minister issued an urgent instruction that all preparations for a state of war must be ccmby July 31

The War Book

When that date was reached, the New Zealand Government war book, a volume, three inches thick, was in existence