MEETING OF WAR COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 5

MEETING OF WAR COUNCIL

MR CHAMBERLAIN IN FRANCE ALL POSSIBLE HELP FOR POLAND (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, September 12. It is offically stated that the Allied Supreme War Council met somewhere in France today. The British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) and the French Prime Minister (M. Edouard Daladier) attended. The French Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement that it was decided to concentrate all the resources of the allied Powers on the war and to give Poland all possible assistance.

The British Ministry of Information says that the purpose of the meeting was “to make possible a direct and personal exchange of views on the present situation and on the measures to be taken in the immediate future.”

Giving No. 10 Downing Street, _ the official residence of the Prime Minister, as the source of its advice, the Ministry of Information adds that the British

and French representatives at the meeting were “completely unanimous” on their war plans and that “Britain and France have now got . down to brass tacks and have made it plain for the world to see that they are tackling the job in deadly earnest.” The meeting was not known until M. Daladier returned to Paris. It was said that Mr Chamberlain requested the meeting so that the Allies should take a final attitude to the question of a separate peace with the Germans, It is reported that the question of Italy’s position as a neutral was also discussed.

Marshal Gamelin, Supreme Commander of the French Armed Forces and Vice-President of the French War Council, was present and the meeting was attended also by Admiral-of-the-Fleet Lord Chatfield, the British Minister for.the Co-ordination of Defence. Mr Chamberlain travelled with Lord Chatfield to France for the meeting in a Royal Air Force aeroplane and returned safely late in the afternoon. The fact that the first meeting of the Supreme War Council of Britain and France has been held within 10 days of the outbreak of war is a remarkable testimony to the close relations so long maintained between the Governments of France and Britain and to the absolute confidence which has grown up between them. By thus early establishing personal contact the leaders of the two countries have demonstrated the intention of their two Governments to co-operate energetically in plans which are seen to have been concerted efficiently and without loss or unnecessary delay. . The impression created in London by the news of the. Supreme War Council meeting and the fact that it was allowed to become public today that British troops are already in France is regarded as striking evidence of the will and readiness of the Allies to prosecute their common aim with vigour. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) in a message to the French Minister of Finance (Dr Paul Reynaud) said: “We share a resolution to preserve entirely intimate and efficacious collaboration between our two Treasuries until the end of the war,”