“STEADFAST BY BRITAIN”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 9

“STEADFAST BY BRITAIN”

AUSTRALIAN DECISION . ■ WAR MINISTRY PROPOSAL FORCES ALL MANNED / (Reed. SeDt. 4, 9 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 3. i The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. < R. G. Menzies, has invited leaders of * the Opposition and Country Parties to meet him at Canberra on Monday to discuss the international crisis and to form a War Ministry. Mr Menzitjg reiterated his statement: “We stand steadfastly by Britain in any decision that she makes over the week-end or after.” A proclamation issued at Canberra to-day declares the existence of a "danger of war,” toy which the Commonwealth Government is empowered to .take all the necessary wartime precautionary measures by executive action. All Australian warships are fully manned and provisioned and additional ratings and reserves have been called up and are now standing by. The same applies to coastal defences and other vital points. An adequate cargo fleet • is being retained for the Australian trade and also for New Zealand, but the fewer ships for the regular services is cflusihg considerable re-arrangements of loadings at various inter-state-ports. It is reported that the GovernorGeneral, (Lard i Cowrie, who had booked his passage to return to England, will remain in Australia indefinitely. The visit to Australia of the Duke and~Duchess of Kent also is likely to be postponed indefinitely. ARABS AS VOLUNTEERS (Reed. Sept. 4, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2. The Colonial Office has received advice from Palestine that influential Arab organisations in various districts ! are offering their services for air raid precautions and other duties.