FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 5

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

DEBATE IN FEDERAL HOUSE COMMON CAUSE WITH BRITAIN (Received 10th May. 10.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. Initiating a debate on foreign affairs in the House of Representatives, the Minister of External Affairs, Sir Henry Gullett, said that if Britain was plunged

Sir Henry Gullett. into war in pursuance of her policy of defence against unprovoked aggresI sion the Commonwealth would make i a common cause with her. < Sir Henry Gullett emphasised, however, that Australia would not automatically follow Britain into war no matter what its cause. WAR HOAX IN HOBART NOTICES POSTED ON BUILDING POLICE MAKING INQUIRIES (Received 10th May, 10.30 a.m. ) HOBART, This Day. Residents were alarmed by war hoax notices stating that Herr Hitler had marched into Poland and that Poland, Britain and France were mobilising 1 hese were posted on newspaper and other buildings in the city during the lunch hour. Authorities quickly announced that the statements were without foundation, but the news spread like wild-fire. The Premier, Mr A. G. Ogilvie. has instructed the police to make every effort to trace the offenders. The Governor, Sir Ernest Clark, speaking at the University commemoration ceremony at the town hall, said that when the perpetrators were found they should be severely punished as enemies of the State if they were not confined in a lunatic asylum. The Chancellor of the University. Mr VV. J. Stops, said later that he resented the “cheerful assumption” that the hoax was perpetrated by undergraduates. ANTI-COMINTERN PACT MUST BE STRENGTHENED ATTITUDE OF JAPAN 'D P A —Hv Electric Telegraph-Copyright] (Received 10th May, 9.0 a.m.) TOKIO, 9th May. The Foreign Minister, M. Arita, ■speaking at a meeting of local governors yesterday, declared that Japan was unable to ignore the British approaches to Russia. He added that the AniiComintern Pact must be strengthened to allow Japan to cope with future international situations. SPECIAL POWERS GRANTED TO PRESIDENT OF POLAND (Received 10th May, 9.25 a.m.) WARSAW, 9th May. Parliament unanimously and demonstratively passed the Bill vesting the President with special powers.