FRANCE PREPARES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1939, Page 6

FRANCE PREPARES

MILLION & HALF MEN ON WAR FOOTING PARLIAMENT NOT CALLED. REAFFIRMATION OF PLEDGES TO POLAND. (Received This Day 12.20 p.m.) PARIS, August 22. It has not been decided to summon Parliament. There will be no mobilisation, but units may be recalled to the colours, thus bringing the army to a strength of 1,500,000 on a war footing. Ministers will reassemble on Thursday. Cabinet has decided to reaffirm, in common with Britain. France’s military pledges to Poland and also to discover Russia’s intentions regarding the pact, and to take all appropriate military measures. COMMUNIST CLAIM VICTORY FOR SOCIALISM AND PEACE. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. The Communist Party, in a statement, said the Russo-German pact represents a victory for peace and Socialism against Fascistic war plans and the pro-Fascist policy of Mr Naville Chamberlain, because it is the keynote of a peace front. BRITISH LABOUR MEETINGS OF GOVERNING BODIES. (Received This Dav, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. The National Council of Labour will meet tomorrow and the Parliamentary Labour Party on Thursday. STOCKS IN NEW YORK GENERAL PRICE RISE. ANTICIPATION OF PEACE IN EUROPE. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 22. The stock market envisaging the Russo-German pact as an indication that the European crisis will be resolved peacefully, reacted favourably and general list stocks gained two points, while higher-priced shares rose by up to five points. Steel, motors, rubbers and oils were among the largest gainers. Polish bonds lost one to nine points. German bonds rose 1:; points and Italian bonds by 31 points. ITALY NOT INFORMED OF PROJECTED PACT. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON. August 22. The “Evening Standard’s" diplomatic correspondent states on the highest authority that German did not inform Italy of the proposed pact. SWEDISH MINISTERS ORDERED TO TERMINATE HOLIDAYS. (Received This Dav, 11.10 a.m.) STOCKHOLM. August 22. Swedish Ministers abroad have been ordered to abandon their holidays and return to their posts.

ATTITUDE OF POLAND

IN NO WAY ALTERED. NOT RELYING ON RUSSIA OR GERMANY. (Received This Day. 1.20 p.m.) WARSAW. August 22. The pact does not modify the attitude of the Government one iota and docs not change its strategic plans in .the event of war. the presence of a Russian or German army in Poland being regarded as equally menacing. Poland merely relies on raw materials from Russia, which the pact, it is believed, docs not affect. FRENCH RESIDENTS REQUESTED TO LEAVE GERMANY. ACTION BY AMBASSADOR. (Received This Dav. 1.20 p.m.) LONDON. August 23. Reuters Berlin correspondent says the French Ambassador has requested French residents to leave Germany.