OUR LONDON LETTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 7

OUR LONDON LETTER

A Diplomatic Lull

Sidelights on A.R.P. (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON. June 2. In these days of political uncertainty it is never safe to prophesy the march of events for more than a day or two ahead. In fact , the situation may change in an hour. But there seems to be general agreement among those “in the know” that the dictators are unlikely to spring any more surprises before the autumn. The present diplomatic lull will probably continue for a little longer. But there is ceaseless activity “behind the scenes” directed, in the Totalitarian states, to the search for a face-saving excuse for opening negotiations with the democracies on the important issues which sooner or later must be decided. These include Colonies, trade, Danzig, L> ibuti and Tunis. Meanwhile the Germans are busy sounding public opinion in Britain, to ascertain how far it coincides with the majority views published in the press and expounded by the politicians. Their agents travel the country, talking to people in all walks of life, and innumerable individual reports are sent back to headquarters. It is a form of secret to which the British public can hardly take exception. The Next Haig. The expansion of Britain's armed forces by conscription, and by the doubling of the Territorials, has created problems of organisation which alone are sufficient justification for the new series of military appointments. The choice of General Sir Edmund Ironside to be Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces is generally commended. The man will be the Commanderir Chief of any future British Expeditionary Force is perhaps the best known British soldier, both at home and abroad. He has a gift for languages, having passed interpretership examinations in seven and possessing a working knowledge of half a dozen more. Since the war, in addition to his service in India and Gibraltar, General Ironside has had much experience in training officers for the higher commands. He has defended the “stupid generals” who invariably get blamed when things go wrong in time of war. "Remember," he has said, “that soldiers cannot learn their trade in peace time.” Premier’s “Struggle” Puts Nazis in Quandary. Since the annexation of Czechoslovakia the indefatigible Dr Goebbels, German Minister of Propaganda, has done his best to destroy in Germany the feeling akin to veneration with which Mr Neville Chamberlain was regarded after his flights to confer with Herr Hitler. The picture postcard of the Prime Minister and the Fuhrer together at Godesberg, which had a big sale all over Germany, was suppressed and the Doctor has repeatedly declared that Mr Chamberlain’s real policy was not appeasement but encirclement. Now the Minister of Propaganda is in a quandary. The Prime Minister’s collection of speeches, recently published under the title of “The Struggle for Peace,” is due for publication in Germany. The rights were bought by a Cerman firm with permission of the Nazis before their latest Czech coup; translation is completed. Will Dr Goebbels allow the German people to be reminded once again of how far the British Prime Minister went in the cause of peace? Lord Nuffield, How Much Left? Many people are wondering how much money Lord Nuffield, Britain’s most prolific giver of wealth, still has left, now that his latest gift of £1.500,000 to provide recreational facilities for the Militia and Territorials brings his total of published benefactions up to £14,000,000. Three years ago his wealth was estimated at £20,000,000. Since then he has disposed of a large portion of his shares in Morris Motors and it is understood that he now retains approximately 6 million, instead of the original 10.600.000. At the current market price these shares are worth £9,600,000, and it is thought that his fortune today does not greatly exceed this figure. Lord Nuffield's annual income is probably in the region of a million pounds, but nearly threequarters of that sum is taken in taxation. Profiteering in Sandbags? Protests have been forwarded to the Government from more than one source regarding alleged profiteering in material needed for air raid protection. It is said that prices have risen

rapidly within the last few months, with little or no justification. One London Legation complains that they were charged sixpence each for 5,000 sandbags, required to strengthen their shelter, though similar articles were se’liny at half that price a month before. Another instance of soaring prices is provided by quotations for large air shelters for th? use of works. fn March manufacturers offered them for sale at £44 each, delivered anywhere; to-day they want £62/10/- delivered in Londc.i only. In neither case have wages up. though increased cost of production is given as the reason for the advance. Those who complain doubt Whether the costs of raw material have risen to anything like the extent indicated. A.R.P. Blamed for Crime Increase. Disconcerted by the increase of crime reported in several English towns, certa’’ authorities "re inclined to blame the diversion of police activity from patrol work to A.R.P. duties. The Chief Constable of Manchester, commenth g on tire rise in the number of crimes in his city, made such a suggestion recently and declared that more police were necessary, to cope with the criminal. While there had been a decrease in Manchester of petty thefts the number of convictions for burglary, housebreaking and shopbreaking had risen. A Nation of Shopkeepers. It was Napoleon’s jibe that the English were a nation of shopkeepers. How far wou’d such a suggestion be true today? According to recent estimates there are 780,000 independent traders tn Britain, as against 50.000 multiple and chain shops, 20.000 co-operative shops and 500 departmental stores. This means tlf approximately one family in twenty depends for its living on keeping a privately owned shop. The sales of these independent shops, most of -hich are small and without branches, amour 1 to £1,500 million a year, out of a grand total of £2.500 million The average family does threefifths of its shopping with the “little man,” which suggests that he has not nuch to fear from the bigger units.