CURRENT LONDON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 14 (Supplement)

CURRENT LONDON TOPICS

KING’S VISIT TO SCOTLAND FROSTS IN THE HIGHLANDS. J. \ BRITISH POLITICAL TRENDS. (Special' Correspondent).- - London, Sept. 13. The rumour which went about last week that his Majesty was suffering from a chill was, it is to be feared, very largely of London’s making. The tremendous difference in climate between the southern half of the country and the Highlands is. very little realised in London, and consequently the report that the King was not to attend the Braemar gathering was misunderstood—and misinterpreted. Northern Scotsmen are so well aware of dangers of the raw cold which steals into their native air in late summer that they often cannot be persuaded that the same possibilities of chill do not lurk elsewhere. In whatever part of the world the Highlander may be he will always insist that there is a tang of frost in the air on any morning after August 12. I once knew an elderly Scottish resident in China who was so much persuaded in this belief that he invariably donned a “woolly” on this date, despite the fact that the thermometer never dropped below the nineties for a month to come.

Staging an Invasion. It is many years since the military authorities have staged a combined operation such as is taking place on the Yorkshire coast this week. All three arms of the Services—Army, Navy, and Air—are to take part , and troops are to be landed, yet there is no intention to simulate an invasion by a foreign foe, at any rate not the kind of invasion which consists of troops marching on London or any of the big towns. The authorities in this week’s exercise visualise a more subtle type of invasion, namely, one in which an enemy lands trodps not with a view to investing the country, but to secure a base for his aircraft from which to bomb all the Important centres. But the object of the operation is not to see whether or not such a landing can be effected. All the Higher Command want to know is how signal intercommunication between the various arms would work. Actually no one in authority believes that even a landing to capture • an air base is possible. The authorities would know all about it long before the first soldier had been landed.

Absence of Prime Minister. Conservatives who have no great liking for the National combination—and there are many—are trying to discern some political significance in the prolongation of the Premier’s holiday in Canada. Reports have appeared from time to time of Mr. MacDonald’s impending return, but so far they have received no official endorsement.. All that Downing Street will commit .itself to is that he may be expected somewhere about the end of this month. This is being interpreted by those who would so desire to have it that Mr. MacDonald is becoming wearied of Iris office, and the latest gossip about Cabinet reshuffles does not hesitate to include the name of the Premier among the Ministers to be shuffled. The idea is that Mr. MacDonald may find it difficult to associate himself with the changed policy in regard to our national defences that has been necessitated by the collapse of disarmament negotiations. It seems to be overlooked, however, that Mr. MacDonald has already accommodated himself quite easily to ’ much greater changes than this.

Alliance in the Making. French and Italian officials of the political and military alliance reports do

no more than repudiate the suggestion that such a fact is a fait accompli- In well-informed circles here no doubt at all is felt that the diplomats of those two countries are exploring every avenue that may lead to such an agreement. The explorations, moreover, should not be very difficult, for, owing to the blundering tactics of Germany, the two Latin countries have been made to feel a common danger. If, as seems probable, the understanding can be made to extend to the Little Entente nations, the combined power would be so great as to place the Alliance in something almost amounting to a dictatorial position over Europe. The movement will not be watched with too great approval in this country, for it leads directly away from all those disarmament ideals we have so desired to advance. At the same time, if a military pact is to be deprecated it will be generally admitted that blame for it will not rest, with France and Italy, but solely with Hitler.

Conservative Conference. The annual conference of the Conservative party, which is to be held in Bristol next month, is likely to make a record in the matter of attendance. That at least is indicated by the way in which all hotel accommodation, both in Bristol and the surrounding centres of Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, and Portishead is being booked up by. delegates from all over the country. The cause of this unusual zeal to be present is presumed to be the debate which will arise on the Government’s Indian-policy. The Diehards, notwithstanding the decision of the party as a whole to leave this question open for the present, are determined to force a vote upon it They appear to be flattering themselves on the belief that the large attendance shows the rush of supporters who are coining to their aid. The. rally, however,-may be due to quite another cause. At any rate, I know many modern Conservatives who are of the opinion that the old-time Tory not only dies hard; but does not know when he is dead.

Holiday Belligerence. The T.U.C, would not be living up to its reputation were if not to indulge in copious quantities of “hot air” at its annual gathering. This year the president has counselled aggressiveness which, though loudly applauded, is not likely to be adopted by the Congress. Mr. Conley has urged all trade union forces to marshal themselves under one leadership in order to. present equal and simul-’ taneous demands for. higher wages and shorter hours. It is a pity, however, that he did not paint his picture beyond the point of the delivery of this mighty ultimatum. Does he expect employers meekly and individually to accept terms which will bring them to economic ruin, or does he not foresee that industry will also organise itself as a whole to express a unanimous “no” to a preposterous demand ? Fortunately, trade unionists when at work have no appetite for another 1926, whatever they may think about it when on holiday at Weymouth. Inflammable Liners. . Pending the official inquiry,' it now seems unlikely that the world will learn • anything definite as to the cause of the’ “Morro Castle” catastrophe. Sea disasters wherever they occur always make 1 a profound impression in this maritimecountry of ours, and this tragedy, has' come home to us particularly in view of the present popularity here of holiday cruising... The frequency in recent years of fires at sea, and their appalling consequences, are much under comment,and, in view of the ingenuity and'thor--oughness of the devices installed inmodem ships to ward against this danger, it does seem remarkable that they should become so quickly out of hand. Seamen are inclined to put the blame upon an overdose of “luxury.” Their view is that the safety precautions and fire-fighting appliances are largely rendered nugatory by the extremely inflammable nature of the decorative appointments of modem liners. Many sailors would like to see the day when wood panelling and the use of cellulose paints and gilding were entirely prohibited in sea-going vessels. , . :