SLENDER HOPE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20030, 31 August 1939, Page 5

SLENDER HOPE

AIR IN PARIS NOT TAKING CHANCES MOBILISATION READY ‘BLACKMAIL INTOLERABLE 1 ’ OPERATION OF CENSORSHIP (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 31, 10 a.m.) PARIS, Aug. 30.

Declaring “we will know to-day where we stand,” the French Premier. M. Daladier, summoned an emergency combined meeting for this afternoon of the air, army and finance committees of the Chamber of Deputies.

It was expected that the contents of Herr Hitler’s second note to Britain would then be known.

The lone of the German press revives a slender hope in Paris that Germany will continue to negotiate, but France is not taking chances. Everything is ready for a general mobilisation if the terms of the note are unfavourable.

The French Ambassador, M. Naggiar, arrived from Moscow and is reporting to M. Daladier to-day. France sees in the fact that Russia has not ratified the German pact the reason for Herr Hitler’s delaying tactics. It is also believed that reactions in Burgos and Tokio have held up Germany’s blow against Poland.

The French press contains no new comment to-day, but unitedly affirms that peace by blackmail would be intolerable at this stage.

Evidence of Censorship

Large wnite spaces in the various newspapers where type has been removed at the last minute provide the first evidence of the operation of the strict censorship of the French newspapers.

Paris assumes a more warlike appearance daily. The evacuation of 50,000 children began this morning. The military authorities to-day assumed control of all radio stations from which a single national news bulletin is being issued. Three private stations decided to close down. The Government is taking over the entire French railway system to-mor-row tor military purposes. Traffic may be suspended entirely if the military authorities decide. The Government for the fourth time requested the population to evacuate Paris.

The oommunique tartly declares that civilians- do not seem *to understand -the necessity of making plans to conform with the restricted traffic. So far less than one-third of the population has complied with the Government’s request.

The newspapers continue to stress the uncertainties of the situation. The. Government is still rounding up Communists.