NO TIME BEING LOST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 24 August 1939, Page 6

NO TIME BEING LOST

WHITEHALL MEASURES CONTACT BY PARTIES SHORT SESSION LIKELY (British Official Wireless,) Reed. 1.15 p.m. RUGBY, August 23. The announcement that the King was returning to London, which came on the afternoon of a day of great political activity, gave the key to the mood in which tfie British Government and people are confronting the anxieties of the European situation. No time is being lost in putting the nation’s constitutional administrative defence machinery into a state of readiness to meet any emergency and honour the country’s international obligations. The departmental orders issued today ar e the forerunners of legislative provision forecast last night and which it may be anticipated from a conference with Mr. A. Greenwood. representing the Labour Party, to-day will prove to be of an agreed character.

Messages received from London indicate that these precautionary steps are matched in the measures to be taken in other parts of the British commonwealth. The consultations between the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, and Mr. Greenwood and between the latter and the Home Secretary. Sir Samuel Hoarc and the chief Government Whip, who also conferred with Mr. Chamberlain, may be related to the Government’s wish to .see the Emergency Powers Defence Bill pass through all stages of both Houses to-morrow. Sir Samuel Hoare also received a deputation from, the Trade Union Council and the latter saw Mr. Chamberlain.

Political circles consider it likely that Parliament, on the conclusion of to-morrow’s business, will adjourn again. A further meeting might be called next week.

Steps have been taken to place the air raid system in readiness. All telephones which are included iri the air raid warning system, are jo be manned day and night. .By an order issued to-day the Board of Trade suspended the validity of flic licenses for the export Of war .materials. It is 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 licence, of a long list of commodities, including aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, iron and steel, scrap, cotton, flax, rubber and glycerine.