THE BRITISH SPIRIT

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 12

THE BRITISH SPIRIT

RT. HON. P. FRASER'S TRIBUTE NEW ZEALAND'S SYMPATHY WITH BOMBED PEOPLE [Pek United Piusss Association.] WELLINGTON, September 13. Admiration for the spirit of the British people and their indomitable courage during the present bombing raids on London and other English towns and cities was expressed by the Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. P. Fraser) in an interview to-night. He expressed the sympathy of the New Zealand Government and that of the citizens of the Dominion with the relatives of he • killed and injured and homeless. New Zealand shared' the world-wide sorrow and regret • at the fate that had overtaken so many thousands of people of London, particularly in the workingclass area of that great city. “ One must feel the highest admiration for the spirit of the people of London and of the United Kingdom as a whole,” said Mr Fraser. “ 1 have personally received cables from friends in the areas bombed, and in them the predominant note was expressed in such terms as ‘ Thumbs up ’ and ‘ Smiling through.’ Similar evidence is available from all parts of Great Britain. The British spirit found eloquent expression in the forcible and moving address of Mr Churchill, which was broadcast in Now Zealand yesterday morning. Every glowing word breathed the spirit and indomitable courage of the British people and the fixed determination of the British Commonwealth. “ The lit. Hon. Arthur Greenwood, m a broadcast from the British Broadcasting Corporation to-day, also expressed in striking and graphic fashion, the soul of Great Britain. They both spoke for millions of people in the British Isles. Dorothy Thompson also today, in a most impressive way, has voiced the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of the American people. “While New Zealand’s sympathy with the victims of these bombing outrages is deep and sincere, the barbarous attacks on them strengthens the resolve of the people of this Dominion to jput forward even greater efforts, if possible, side by side with the Mother Country and the other members of the British Commonwealth in the fight against the evil thins: called Nazism and to carry on that struggle to final victory.” Mr Fraser said that members of the Government and all the former colleagues in Parliament of the High Commissioner for Now Zealand in London (Mr .1 Jordan) were relieved to learn that there were no casualties at New Zealand House mid that the conduct of the members of the staff through the trying* ti'"e bad been most praiseworthy Temnorarv arrangements bad been made elsewhere for urgent business affairs.

UNOCCUPIED FRANCE AXIS DEMANDS ON GOVERNMENT ——— % REJECTION LIKELY TO MEAN TROUBLE (British Official Wireless.) DAYENTRY, September 13. An unconfirmed report from New York states that the Vichy Government has rejected heavy demands by the Axis Powers. It is stated that Germany demanded that 58 per cent, of the livestock in unoccupied France should be handed over, and that Italy demanded the demobilisation of all French troops in North Africa. The failure of the Vichy Government to accede to the demands might mean that its future will be vitally affected. It is possible that it will be forced out of office and that German and Italian troops will occupy the whole of France. General Weygand’s trip to West Africa has been postponed. The Germanisation of Alsace-Lorraine is also proceeding. The inhabitants have been ordered to give a German form to their French surnames, or, where this is impossible, to take new German names. All French names and inscriptions on tombstones, memorials, and public buildings are to be changed to German, as well as the names of streets and towns.

SPLENDID WORK TRIBUTE TO FIRE SERVICES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 13. (Received September 14, at 2 p.m.) The Home Secretary (Sir John Anderson) has sent the following message to the fire authorities in England and Wales: “All sections of the civil defence services have responded so magnificently to the calls made upon them that it might seem invidious to draw distinctions, but I am sure no one would begrudge the word of special commendation that I feel moved to send to the members of the fire services, both regular and auxiliary. Their work is fraught with great danger in itself, and has been often rendered hazardous in the extreme by sustained and repeated enemy attacks by bomb and machine gun. Nowhere has there been any flinching. Again and again, with dauntless courage and at the price of many casualties, a fire that might well have engulfed the whole district has been brought under control. Further and greater trials may be ahead, but I am confident that in meeting them the fire services will only add lustre to their already brilliant achievements.”