BRITAIN’S PLEDGES IN EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21325, 20 April 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN’S PLEDGES IN EUROPE

Non-Aggression Pact Developing Discussion In House of Commons Measures to Provide Security British Official Wireless RUGBY, April 18 “The British Government has continued Its close consultation with other interested Governments, including the Soviet, but I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statement which I made on behalf of the Government in the debate last Thursday," said the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) in an answer to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) in the House of Commons. “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,” added the Prime Minister.

To another Member who questioned him regarding Holland, Switzerland, and Denmark, the Prime Minister replied: "The Government has entered into no specific engagements with the three countries named, but it is unnecessary for me to insist upon the interest which the Government has in the preservation of their independence.” Britain’s New Burdens Mr Chamberlain was asked whether he was in a position to announce any new measures designed to increase the country’s ability to discharge its recently extended military commitments. The Prime Minister replied that in addition to a number of detailed measures which could not be set out in a Parliamentary reply, steps were being taken to accelerate and widen the basis of production with a view to providing an increased war potential, bearing in mind the increasing commitments of the resources which it was prudent to anticipate in view of recent developments. Increasing Fighting Services Information of a similarly reassuring character was forthcoming when the Secretary of State for War (Mr I>. Hore-Belisha) 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 the manufacture of these guns.” The Minister added that all regular units, both home and abroad, were equipped with Bren guns completely to war scale. Mr Hore-Belisha said that recruits for the Regular Army and Territorials for the year ended March 31, totalled 38,911 and 87,915 respectively, compared with 29,482 and 47,928 last year. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY ESTABLISHMENT LIKELY IN BRITAIN Onlted Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Oopyrlebt (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 19 The political correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” understands that Mr Chamberlain has decided to establish a Ministry of Supply and Munitions, Cabinet endorsing the decision to-day. The political writer of “The Times” in pointing out that the increase in territorials lent a new urgency to the question of supply, believes it will be found necessary to create an organisation to supervise the supply of equipment, mainly for the benefit of the War Office. It would develop into a Ministry of Supply in the event of war. NATIONAL DEFENCE PLANS REGISTER OF HOMING PIGEONS PLANNED British Official Wireless (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, April 18 A register of homing pigeons for use in wartime is being compiled by the Air Ministry. Pigeons would be carried on Royal Air Force machines and used to convey messages, if the aeroplane’s wireless apparatus were put out of action. Since the war, the Royal Air Force has maintained a pigeon service, and as the result of offers of pigeons from private fanciers it is expected that about half a million of their birds will be available to play a part in national defence.

PLANS FOR CIVIL DEFENCE REGIONAL COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED British Official Wireless (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, April 18 A number of Regional Commissioners under the Civil Defence Scheme, whose appointments were announced to-day include many leading figures in business, poltitics and administration. Sir John Anderson (Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence) has depreciated the description of the Commissioners as “dictators” for ther regions, but he has made it clear that in a national emergency, and particularly in the event of an interruption of communications, due to enemy action, important duties and responsibilities would devolve on them from the central government. The Commissioners include: South-eastern region: Sir Auckland Geddes. North-eastern region: Lord Harlech.

North-western region: Sir Warren Fisher, who is retiring from the Treasury in October. North-Midland region: Lord Trent. Eastern region: Sir Wiliam Spens, former Vice-Chancellor of the Oxford University. Southern region: Mr Harold Butler, until recently director of the International Labour Office at Geneva, and designated as first principal of the Nuffield College, Oxford. ECONOMIC GUARANTEES IN EUROPE SCOPE OF BRITISH GUARANTEE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Bucharest correspondent of “The Times” says: “The economic reinforcement of the Western guarantee, including the question of military supplies is likely to be the main topic at the discussions with M. Gavencu (Rumanian Foreign Minister) in London. Apparently there is an emphatic assurance of Turkish support in the event of a Bulgarian attack on the Dobruja.

ENGLISH PAINTING BANNED MIGHT BE MISUNDERSTOOD Onlted Press Association—By (Slectrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, April 17. The Royal Society of British artists has banned Mr Otway McCannell’s canvas showing the Devil weighing the heads of Hitler and Mussolini in the scales of Justice, before a shocked audience, including the Pope, Mr Chamberlain and President Roosevelt. The society requested its withdrawal because it might be misunderstood in the present state of European affairs.