Conferences of Political Leaders

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 8

Conferences of Political Leaders

AIR RAID WARNING SYSTEM MANNED VARIOUS MEASURES OF CONTROL (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, August 23. The announcement that the King was returning to London, which came in the afternoon of a day of great political activity, gave the key to the mood in which the British Government and people- are confronting the anxieties of the European situation. No time is being lost in putting the nation’s constitutional, administrative and defence machinery into a state of readiness to meet any emergency and to honour the country's international obligations. Departmental orders issued today are the forerunners of the legislative provision forecast last night, and which if may be anticipated from the conference with Sir A. Greenwood (Deputy Labour Leader) today will prove to be of an agreed character. - ■ Messages received in London indicate that these precautionary steps are matched in measures to be taken in other parts of the. British Commonwealth. Consultations between Mr Chamberlain and Mr Greenwood and between the latter and Sir S. Hoare and the Chief Government Whip, who also conferred with the Premier, may be related to the Government’s wish to see the Emergency Powers Defence Bill pass through all its stages in both Houses tomorrow. Sir S. Hoare also received a deputation from the Trade Union Council and later saw Mr Chamberlain. Political circles consider it likely that Parliament, on the conclusion of tomorrow’s business, will adjourn again. A further meeting might be called next week. Steps have been taken to place the air raid system in readiness. All telephones which are included in the air raid warning system are to be manned day and night. By an order issued today, the Board of Trade suspended the validity of licences for the export of war materials. It is made clear that it is not intended to prohibit all exports, but to secure a review of outstanding licences. The Board also announced that in order to conserve stocks, arrangements are being made to prohibit forthwith the export to foreign countries, except under licence, of a long list of commodities, including aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, iron and steel scrap, cotton, flax, rubber, and glycerine. The Board of Trade has simultaneously suspended until October 1 the validity of outstanding export licences for war marerials to foreign countries. Official quarters do not confirm the statement that Air Chamberlain has received a memorandum from Herr Hitler stating that Danzig is no affair of Britain’s. Sir X. Henderson had a brief interview with Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden and returned to Salzburg, whence he departed by air for Berlin. It is reliably stated in Berlin that Herr Hitler told Sir N. Henderson that Germany would not permit the British guarantee to affect her vital rights and claims.