EUROPEAN CRISIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1939, Page 5

EUROPEAN CRISIS

STATEMENT BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WAR INDUSTRIES SPEEDED UP. IN VIEW OF EXTENDED COMMITMENTS. (British Official Wireless.! (Received This Day, 10.23 a.m.) RUGBY, April 18. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in the House of Commons, answering the Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee)- said: “The Government has continued its close consultation with other interested Governments, including the Soviet, but I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statement I made on behalf of the Government in the debate last Thursday. I should, however, like to take this opportunity to inform the House, of the great satisfaction with which the Government has welcomed the recent initiative of President. Roosevelt.”

To another member, who questioned him regarding Holland, Switzerland and Denmark, ' the Premier replied: “The Government has entered into no specific engagements with the three countries named, but it is unnecessary for me to insist upon the interest which the Government has in the preservation of their independence.” Mr Chamberlain was asked whether he was in a position to announce any new measures designed to increase the country’s ability to discharge its recently extended commitments. The Premier replied that in addition to a number of detailed measures which could not be set out in a Parliamentary reply, steps were being taken to accelerate and widen the basis of production, with a view to providing an increased war potential, bearing in mind increasing commitments, of the resources which it was prudent to anticipate in view of recent developments.

Information of a similarly reassuring character was forthcoming when Mr L.. Hore-Belisha (War Secretary) was asked whether the Bren light machinegun was being manufactured in sufficient numbers to meet Army requirements.

Mr Belisha answered: “Yes, and the output is being enlarged. In addition capacity is being created in Canada, and I am glad to know that Australia. South Africa and India also contemplate setting up factories for the manufacture of these guns.” The Minister added that all regular units both at Home apd abroad were equipped with Bren guns completely to the war scale.