BRITAIN ACTIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20891, 24 August 1939, Page 9

BRITAIN ACTIVE

STATE OF READINESS , I LEADERS’ CONSULTATIONS, MOOD OF THE PEOPLE (Ofllclal Wireless) (Received August 24, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, August 23 The announcement that the King is returning to London, which came on the afternoon of a day of great politi- i cal activity, gave the key to the mood | in which the British Government and j people are confronting the anxieties j of the European situation. No time is being lost in putting the ■ nation's constitutional, administrative ! and defence machinery into a state of readiness to meet any emergency and honour the country’s international obligations. The departmental orders issued today are the forerunners of the legislative provision forecast last flight, and which it may be anticipated from a conference with Mr A. Greenwood, leader of the Labour Party, today will prove to be of an agreed character. j Messages received in London indicate that these precautionary steps , are matched in the measures to be ; taken in other parts of the British | Commonwealth. Consultations between Mr Cham- ; berlain and Mr A. Greenwood and be- 1 I ween lhe latter and Sir Samuel ' lloarc and the Chief Government j Whip, who also conferred with the I Prime Minister, may be related to the S Government’s wish to see the Einerg- j pney Powers Defence Bill pass i through all its stages in both Houses j tomorrow. Sir Samuel Iloare also received a deputation from the Trade Union Council, and later saw Mr Chamberlain. Meeting of Parliament Political circles consider it likely that Parliament on the conclusion erf tomorrow's business will adjourn again. A further meeting might be called for next week. Steps have been taken to place the air raid system in readiness. All telephones which are included in the air raid warning system are manned day and night. Labour Against Aggression The National Council of Labour passed a resolution expressing determination not to weaken in collective resistance to German aggression. Export of Materials Prohibited By an order issued to-day the Board of Trade suspended validity licenses for the export of war materials. It made clear that it is not the intention to prohibit all exports, but to secure a review of outstanding licenses. The board also announced that in order to conserve stocks arrangements are being made to prohibit forthwith the export to foreign countries, except under license, of a long list of commodities, including aluminium, co-pper, lead, nickel, iron, steel, cotton, flax, rubber and glycerine. GENERAL SURPRISE OPTIMISM IN GERMANY ALL EVENTUALITIES FORESEEN BLOW TO "ENCIRCLEMENT” United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 22 Amid the general surpr.sj created by the announcement of the proposed I Russo-German non-aggression pact it emerges from German semi-official circles that the prospect of its speedy conclusion has already removed longexisting tension between Germany and Russia, says a message from Berlin. The impending pact no doubt will help to clear the International political atmosphere to the extent of making the "encirclement” Powers more cautious in their policy toward Germany. Preliminary negotiations between Berlin and Moscow ran concurrently with the British and French negotia- , tions there. German circles are most optimistic regarding the European reaction to the pact. They regard the pact as a double blow to Britain’s attempt to enlist Russia in the BritishFrench encirclement policy. Effect on Anti-Comintern Pact The Berlin correspondent of the : Associated Press of Great Britain says j well-informed circles are unable to i say how the Russo-German pact will ! affect the anti-Communist pact, under ; which Germany, Italy and Japan are j pledged to oppose international 80l- ; shevism. However, it is emphasised ; that all eventualities have been fore- j seen. The relations between Germany stui Japan have been taken into eon- i sideration. Basically Poland's posi- j lion appears to have been greatly ! weakened, l’or no matter what the Western democracies may now ar- ' range, Poland cannot expect help from i the East. The Berlin correspondent of (he Associated Press of Great Britain points j out that Germany has non-aggression J Pacts with all Poland's neighbours, meaning that none can oppose her if she decides to strike at Poland. PLANES FIRED ON ALLEGATIONS BY GERMANY ACT BY POLISH PIRATES United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 24. t p.m. BERLIN, August 23 The official agency alleges that ! Polish anti-aircraft units tired on ; three German passenger planes in the | vicinity of the Corridor near the ! Baltic Sea. It described the act as lawlessness by Polish pirates. WARSAW. August 23 The Government denies that Tier- ! man airliners were fired on. and de- ! scribes the German report as pure ' fabrication.