THE WEEK OVER THE WORLD

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WEEK OVER THE WORLD

THE LEAGUE COUNCIL

Mr W. J. Jordan (High Commissioner for New Zealand and President of the League of Nations Council) made the presidential address at;the opening of the League Assembly on Monday. Mr Jordan’s speech was an appeal for peace and a declaration that all the people of the world individually wanted peace .although collective action was contradicting this desire in the existing fear and preparation and actual strife.

“Surely,” he said, “we all need to recognise that national welfare is the sum- total of the welfare of individuals, not only of our own people, but of the stranger within the gates. There is intolerance born of fear and injustice practised by those who yesterday themselves were its victims. Common sense and mutual help are needed, to build a better order.” .

. Mr Jordan spoke of the universal condemnation of aerial bombardment and asked if the nations might be persuaded to agree to its abolition. The presidential speech was greeted with prolonged applause.

New Salvage Tug The new British salvage and towage tug, Neptunia, of 798 tons, is believed to be the most powerful of its kind in Europe. The vessel has a beam of 35ft 7in and her engines develop 1850 horse-power. It is expected that Neptunia will have a range of 9000 miles and will be capable of towing the heaviest vessels for long-distances. First Sea Lord

Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Ernie . Chatfield. has been succeeded as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty and Chief of the Naval Staff in Britain by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Backhouse.

The Liner Queen Elizabeth The hull of the liner, Queen Elizabeth, sister ship to the Queen Mary, was completed 21 months three. days; after the laying, of the keel.

HERR HITLER’S SPEECH Unrest in Europe

At Nuremberg, on Monday evening, Herr Hitler made a speech concluding the Nazi Party Congress. “Germans,” he said, “demand the right of self-determination. Germany is definitely reconciled to a large number of her frontiers and is determined to accept these as unalterable and definite,, thereby giving Europe a feeling of security and peace. Acceptance, however, does not mean that Germany is disinterested in all European problems, and particularly does it not mean that she is indifferent to what is happening to 3,500,000 Germans.” These and other statements in his speech 1 have .caused a- profound disturbance in Eui’ope. In some places the Fuhrer’s speech was accepted as a promise of peaceful times to come; but 1 the statesmen of many countries, including France, Britain, and the United States, regard with misgiving the statements made by Herr Hitler. Hopes were held last week of an early agreement between Germany and Czechoslovakia. On Monday, however, Herr Hitler reminded his audience: “I said ’in February that Germany would no longer tolerate the persecution of the Sudetens. . I ask statesmen to take notice of this. It is no empty phrase. German restraint is taken as a sign of weakness. I want to correct that mistake. We understand if France and Britain safeguard their interests. They must understand that Germany also wants to safeguard her interests.” He continued, saying that Geneva’s methods of solving the problem would not do, in such a way as to suggest that Germany would use force in Czechoslovakia if necessary. At the end of the day Herr Hitler left for Berchtesgaden. his Bavarian alpine resort. Many of the Moscow German Embassy staff left with their families for Berlin. The British Consulate in Paris was besieged on Tuesday by 400 persons seeking visas to enable them to go to England. It is the biggest rush since 1914. Many aged Frenchmen, seeking passports to leave France, have been told to apply again in three days.

Trains from Berlin are crowded with Frenchmen whom the French Embassy had advised to leave Germany. A state of emergency has been proclaimed in five Sudeten departments in Czechoslovakia.

New Oil Process Discovered A new process for juggling carbon and hydrogen molecules-in natural'oil gases has been reported to the American Chemical Society. The process will increase the known resources of crude oil in the United States by 150 per cent., to 45,000,000,000 barrels and reduce the consumption by 625,000,000 annually. Five billion cubic feet of hydrogen will be provided as a by-pro-duct. It is said that better quality petrol will be produced, which will increase engine efficiency.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Count of Covadonga Killed The Count of Covadonga, the eldest son of the former King Alfonso of Spain, died in hospital: in the: United States, six hopes after a motor crash. "When he married Senorita Edelmira San Pedro Ocejo, not of Royal birth, he ‘renounced his Royal rights and had to give up his title. Prince of Asturias. He then adopted the title of Count of Covadonga.

Prince Arthur of Connaught Dead His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught died during his.sleep.in London this week. He was born in 1883 and is the only son of the Duke of Connaught, who is the oldest member of the British Royal Family. Prince Arthur had considerable experience of affairs of state, having acted as represent tative of this King on many occasions, particularly before the war of 1914-18. Presents for an Author

Presents of a silver tankard, a greenstone paper-weight, and a paper-knife, with a letter expressing appreciation of his writings, were given to Mr W. W. Jacobs, the weftknown author, on his seventy-fifth birthday.

The presents were from a committee of New Zealand readers, and were presented through the New Zealand High Commissioner’s Office.

Earnings of Dionne Quintuplets

The Dionne quintuplets have earned 800,000 dollars since their birth. Their guardians 'are planning to spend part of this sum on housing. They will build a lakefront. home which will house the entire Dionne family. Each child will have her own room. Russian Princes Naturalised •

The Princes Alexander and Michael and the Princess Xenia, grandchildren of tb« Grand Duchess Xenia, sister of theformeg Tsar, have been naturalised as British wh* ject*, .