BECOMING MORE TENSE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21785, 15 October 1940, Page 5

BECOMING MORE TENSE

Situation In Middle East Secret Session Of Federal House United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 14, 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 14. Mr Menzies will take the unprecedented step this week of calling a secret meeting of all members of the Federal Parliament to place before them a confidential report on the progress of the war. The meeting will probably be held in Canberra on Tuesday. Mr Menzies said that the Middle East situation was almost hourly becoming more tense and he added that the recent German moves, which indicated a drive in the Middle East, had great significance for Australia. Labour Party Meets According to a message from Canberra the Federal Labour Party held a meeting to-day, elected officers and transacted routine business. It informally discussed the party’s attitude regarding the National Government and alternatively a national war council similar to New Zealand’s. The meeting adjourned till to-morrow to hear the Prime Minister’s “frank statement on the international situation,” after which a decision will be made on Mr Menzies’s appeal to form an all-party Government for the energetic prosecution of the war. Mr J. Curtin was re-elected leader, Mr Forde deputyleader and Mr Makin whip.