EASTERN STATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24721, 25 September 1941, Page 8

EASTERN STATES

SUPPLIES FOR FORCES THE DELHI ORGANISATION (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 23. Commenting on the continuation of Lord Linlithgow’s tenure of office as Viceroy, The Times speaks of his outstanding services to India and the British Commonwealth. Stating that Lord Linlithgow has done all in his power to modify the domestic difficulties standing in the way of a final settlement of the constitutional controversy, The Times mentions the expansion of the Executive Council, the creation of a National Defence Council, and his eager assistance to the encouragement of any step towards self-government on which the Indians themselves could agree.

Although the full details of the contribution the' Viceroy has made to the higher section of Imperial strategy cannot be disclosed until after the war The Times adds: “ One conception due to Lord Linlithgow is already known. This is, of course, the organisation centred in Delhi and known as the Supply Council, which supplies the military needs of British territories in the eastern hemisphere.” This project The Times describes as “ a new phase in British political evolution, and gives effect to the policy of collaboration within the Commonwealth in a manner never hitherto attempted. The Times continues: “ The vast resources of our eastern territories have been organised on a total war basis for the purpose of making the participating countries self-support-ing in war supplies, the deficiency of one being made good from the resources of the others. Under the system now established a compact central military office, associated with nine local provision offices throughout the east, co-ordinates all the activities for provisioning the forces in Africa, Palestine, Syria, India, Burma, Malaya, Hongkong, Australia and New Zealand. A comprehensive military organisation has been evolved for estimating the immediate and long term needs for the forces and taking steps to meet, those needs. The scheme associates 16 participating countries with the organisation in Delhi, which in turn is linked with the Army Council and the Imperial General Staff through General Holden, who represents both on the Supply Council and ' brings to his work personal knowledge of totalitarian warfare acquired in France at Dunkirk and during the battle of Britain.”