MEN & WEALTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1939, Page 5

MEN & WEALTH

BRITAIN’S PREPARATIONS FOR. EMERGENCY MEASURES AGAINST PROFITEERING PREMIER ON THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. AMENDMENTS ON ISSUE OF CONSCRIPTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 26. In the course of his statement on the introduction of conscription in Britain. Mr Chamberlain said that the Government intended to take steps to limit the profits of firms mainly engaged in the rearmament programme. If war broke out, legislation would be enacted imposing special penalties on profiteering and providing that any increases of profits or individual vzealth should be appropriately ctirtailed to the benefit of the State. In concluding, Mr Chamberlain said: "I would point out that the proposals I have just outlined have arisen, like other steps in the marshalling of our defences, out of a sequence of events. “The acceleration and expansion of our rearmament programme, the increase in the strength of the Territorial Army, the decision to establish a Ministry of Supply with power to secure priority for Government orders, and now a proposal for compulsory training, have all been designed with a single object—-namely, to render this country able to carry out the engagement it has entered into in the belief that in that way the peace of Europe can best be secured.” The following Labour amendment will be moved in the House of Commons: — “While prepared to take all necessary steps to provide for the safety of the nation and the fulfilment of its international obligations, the House regrets that the Government, in breach of its pledges, should abandon the voluntary principle, which has not failed to provide the manpower needed for defence. The House is of the opinion that the measure is ill-conceived and that, so far from adding materially to the effective defence of the country, will promote division and discourage national effort, and is a further evidence that the Government’s conduct of affairs throughout these critical times does not merit the confidence of the country or of the House. The Liberals will introduce the following amendment: — While expressing the firm resolve of the British people to make the greatest contribution of which the country is capable to resistance of aggression and the maintenance of world order, this House cannot approve the proposed departure from the principle of voluntary service at a time when the rate of recruitment is outpacing the supply of war equipment; nor could it at any time approve a partial system which would place the whole burden of compulsory service on young men between 20 and 21 years of age.

JOINT MEETING TRADES AND UNION COUNCIL AND LABOUR. PARTY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 27. The General Council of the Trades Union Congress has decided to hold a joint meeting with the national executive of the Parliamentary Labour Party tomorrow morning when the meeting will be m possession of the Government’s conscription proposals as presented to Parliament. The General Council today endorsed a decision to postpone the proposed meeting of the executive committee of the International Federation of Trades Unions in the United States in May in view of the uncertainties of the international situation. It is proposed that the meeting be held in America next autumn. SUPPORT FOR THE LABOUR AMENDMENT. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, April 27. Executives representing the whole of British Labour, after a three-hour meeting, unanimously endorsed the Labour amendment to be moved in the House of Commons. EVENTS MOVING NEED OF QUICK DECISION. MR CHAMBERLAIN REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. LONDON, April 27. After the conscription announcement in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Aneurin' Bevan (Labour) urged that the debate on the matter should not be limited to one day. Mr Chamberlain replied there were other events which had to take place this week and it was desirable that the decision of the House should be made quickly. . . , _. Replying earlier to an inquiry by Sir Archibald Sinclair, Leader of the Opposition Liberals, as to why he had. not been consulted. Mr Chamberlain said, that Sir Archibald probably did not realise how quickly events were moving. It was important that the Cabinet’s opinion and decision should have been announced immediately. The general opinion is that Mr Chamberlain’s . reference to other events referred to Herr Hitler’s speech in the Reichstag tomorrow. FRENCH APPLAUSE. APPROVAL OF BRITISH POLICY. PARIS. April 27. The Press hails the announcement of conscription in Britain with profound delight, characterising it. as one of the most important moves in Europe since the war. Typical headlines are: “Britain Crosses the Rubicon”; “Bravo England." i GRATITUDE EXPRESSED. (Received This Day. 10.15 a.m.) PARIS. April 27. The Foreign Minister. M. Georges Bonnet expressed to the British Ambassador, Sir Eric Phipps, Frances thanks for Britain : adoption o conscription.

ACTION ESSENTIAL TO AVOID BEING OUTSTRIPPED. WAR MINISTER'S DECLARATION. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON. April 27. “To strengthen the country to defend itself, and its causes, and to secure peace, all else must be subordinated in order to avoid being outstripped and overborne, should European and Asian tendencies reach a climax,” said Major L. Hore-Belisha (Secretary for War) at the Constitutional Club. The proper organisation of man power, he added, was the natural counterpart of the organisation of supply, concerning which he revealed that the War Office’s original five-year plan had been completed in half that time. ATTITUDE OF FRANCE SAID TO HAVE INFLUENCED BRITAIN. (Independent Cable service.) PARIS, April 27. It is believed that Prime Minister M Daladier, was largely responsible for the suddenness of the announcement of conscription in Britain. M Daladier opposed the return to Berlin of the French Ambassador, Mr Coulondres, but finally yielded to pressure from Downing Street, where it was urged that the bad impression caused by the return of the British and French Ambassadors should be offset by the announcement of conscription in Britain before Herr Hitler's speech tomorrow. ALTERNATIVES FACED VITAL CHANGE IN BRITISH VIEWPOINT. COMMENT IN UNITED STATES. NEW YORK, April 27. Comment in the United States, particularly in newspaper leaders, emphasises the vital change in the British viewpoint which has resulted in conscription. The “New York Times.” in a leader, says it. must be evident even in Germany that the temper of the British people has changed since Munich, and that. England continues to hope for peace but means to prepare in all seriousness for the alternative of war. Meanwhile, it is announced that the War Department has placed a recordbreaking order for 571 bombing, pursuit and interceptor planes costing 50,000.000 dollars. This is the first step following the President’s signature today of 549,000.000 dollar War Department Appropriation Bill. OPINION IN ROME ENDING OF BRITISH ISOLATION. ROME. April 27.. The announcement of conscription in Britain was plastered over the front pages of the newspapers. It is described as the ending of British isolation. The “Popolo di Roma" says that, the decision marks the overthrow of the fundamental British idea that England. because of Divine prerogatives, j may fight wars with the soldiers of other nations.