SITUATION IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 23695, 1 October 1940, Page 6

SITUATION IN INDIA

VICEROY AND MR GANDHI CORRESPONDENCE RELEASED SIMLA, September 30. (Received October 1, at 1.40 p.m.) The Viceroy sent a letter to Mr Gandhi declaring that it Vv'as impossible to acquiesce in the interference with India’s war effort which would result from the freedom of speech sought by Congress. Mr Gandhi replied that Congress was anxious not to embarrass the British Government, but could not deny its creed at the present crisis in mankind’s history. The correspondence was released tonight after Mr Gandhi’s second interview with the Viceroy. QUISLING REGIME NOT POPULAR IN NORWAY . ■ LONDON, September 30. (Received October 1, at 1.15 p.m.) The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ states that the establishment of a Quisling regime on September 25 immediately produced determined and spontaneous non-co-operation among Norwegian trade unions, the chief of which has already destroyed its lists of members, burned its books, and wrecked the whole organisation to prevent Germany benefiting from them. PURCHASE OF PLANES SUVA COUPLE'S GIFT SUVA, September 30. Mr Samuel Howard Ellis received the following message from Lord Beaverbrook: —“ From across the world you have sent a message of the highest encouragement* to the Air Force, the men and women in the aircraft industry, and all who to-day stand in Britain in the front line of battle. To you and your wife I send an expression of heartfelt gratitude for the gift you sent me for the purchase of a Hurricane fighter. You strengthen the power of the Empire and stand forth among the Empire’s foremost champions.” The message Mr Ellis telegraphed to Lord Beaverbrook was as follows:- “ My wife and I have cabled you £5,000 to purchase a Hurricane. May the name be Spirit of the Royal Flying Corps? That spirit lives on, vital and ardent, in to-day’s airmen, who accomplish so brilliantly their more arduous and hence more glorious task. You may care to know that Fiji sent (five airmen in 1914, of whom two are now again serving the Empire air scheme. Twenty-two from Fiji have already joined the scheme, and others hope to fallow.” BIG FORCE EMPLOYED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 30. (Received October 1, at 3 p.m.) A comprehensive view of the R.A.F. operations against the enemy on the night of Sunday-Monday may he obtained from the official communique. After extensive operations, in which it was obvious that a very considerable bomber force had been employed, it was stated that three British aircraft are missing. The communique says: “ Last night our aircraft continued to strike at the enemy’s oil refineries, aircraft and munition factories, rail communications, and aerodromes, as well as the Channel ports. The oil refineries at Magdeburg and Hanover, the aluminium works at Batterfeld, the gasworks at Stuttgart, and the goods yards at Osnabruck and Cologne were among the targets attacked in Germany.” FRENCH WARSHIPS PASS GIBRALTAR UNMOLESTED TANGIER, September 30. (Received October 1, at 10.40 a.m.) Three French destroyers and two merchantmen passed Gibraltar unmolested and entered the Atlantic. The Spanish News Agency later stated that British warships were pursuing the French ships near Ceuta (Morocco). MALAYAN AIR FORCE STRENGTHENED BY AUSTRALIAN UNITS SINGAPORE, September 30. It is announced that units of the Royal Australian Air Force, equipped with modern fighter and bomber planes, are now stationed in Malaya to form an important part of the Malayan Air Force. It is stated that as a result of these “ powerful reinforcements ” the defences of Malaya have been greatly strengthened. This is the first time Australian forces have been stationed in Malaya. MR RANDOLPH CHURCHILL INTRODUCTORY CEREMONY IN HOUSE LONDON, Septemtber 30. It is understood that Mr Churchill has decided to take part in the introductory ceremony for his only son, Randolph Churchill, who will take his seat as member for Preston, Lancashire, when the House of Commons resumes.