BRITISH PLAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 19 April 1939, Page 7

BRITISH PLAN

PACT AGAINST AGGRESSORS CONVERSATIONS CONTINUING NOTHING FURTHER TO REPORT MR CHAMBERLAIN’S REPLY TO QUESTION I British Official Wireless! (Received 19th April, 10.23 a.m.) RUGBY. 18th April. The Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons answering Mr C. R. Attlee, leader of the Labour Opposition, said: “The Government continues its close consultation with other interested Governments, including the Soviet, but I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statement made on behalf of the Government in the debate last Thursday. I should, however, like to take this opportunity to inform the House of the great satisfaction with which the Government welcomed the recent initiative of President Roosevelt.” DEFENCE MEASURES To another member, who questioned 1 j him regarding Holland, Switzerland and Denmark, the Prime Minister replied.— j “The Government has entered into | no specific engagements with the three countries named, but it is unnecessary 1 for me to insist upon the interest which the Government has in the preservation of their independence.” Mr Chamberlain was asked whether !he was in a position to announce any | new measures designed to increase the I country's ability to discharge its recently extended commitments? ! The Prime Minister replied that in ; addition to a number of detailed measures which could not be set out in a j Parliamentary reply, steps were being i taken to accelerate and widen the basis of production with a view to providing increased war potential, bearing in mind the increasing commitments of lesources which it was prudent to anticipate in view of recent develop- j ments. BREN MACHINE-GUNS Information of a similarly reassuring character was forthcoming when Mi Hore-Belisha, Secretary of State for War, was asked whether the Bren light machine-gun was being manufactured in sufficient numbers to meet army requirements. Mr Hore Belisha answered: “Yes; and the output is being enlarged.” In addition, capacity is being created in Canada, and I am glad to know that Australia. South Africa, and India also contemplate setting up factories for j the manufacture of these guns.” He I added that all regular units both at l home and abroad were equipped with Bren guns completely to war scale.