STOP PRESS NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20918, 25 September 1939, Page 6

STOP PRESS NEWS

BRITAIN AND WAR REPLY TO MUSSOLINI LONDON, Sept. 21 The following comment on Signor Mussolini’s speech is made available by the Ministry of Information: “The full text of Signor Mussolini’s speech has not yet been received through official channels. Official circles, however, understand and appreciate the sincerity of Signor Mussolini’s motives, and the Prime Minister has already expressed appreciation of what Signor Mussolini attempted to do prior to the outbreak of the war to reach a solution. The suggestion that by not spreading the conflict further in view of the Russian au fait accompli, Britain and France have compromised their moral justification for attempting to annul the German au fait accompli is not understood here. The British people’s decision to declare war was indeed a direct consequence of the invasion of Poland, but the invasion of Poland was Itself but a further illustration of the lawlessness in international affairs which it is the principal purpose of this country to resist. As the Prime Minister said last week In Parliament: “ Our general purpose in this struggle is well known. It is to redeem Europe from perpetual and recurring fear of German aggression, and enable the peoples of Europe to preserve their independence and liberties.” Whatever, therefore, may be the results of the Russian action in Poland this purpose remains unaffected and will be prosecuted with unflinching determination.” BRITISH IN FRANCE WELFARE OF THE TROOPS LONDON Sept. 24 From f ‘Eye-witness, ‘now’ somewhere in France” with the British Field Force, describes the vast preparation going steadily forward for the welfare of the British Expeditionary Force. The complicated mechanism of transferring an army as a going conT cern from England to France has got thoroughly into its stride and the admirable co-operation of the French is reducing hitches to a minimum. The ramification of this huge organisation is controlled from a series of modest looking houses. The main headquarters are in a handsome public building, where the local authorities plan to put up a tablet commemorating the fact, but for the moment it must be nameless. ATTITUDE OF SPAIN EMBARGO ON EXPORTS LONDON, Sept. 24. The Vigo correspondent of the New York Times says that Spain is expected to decide at the earliest moment whether to continue the informal embargo on exports of war materials to Britain and France. The Ministry of Commerce has delayed permits for exports of iron, ore, pyrites, and most other exports until the situation is cleared. The question principally interests Britain, since the blockade has cut the German-Spanish communications and Franco-Spanish trade has been non-existent for the past biennium. France and Britain were formerly heavy buyers of iron, ore and pyrites, and both are needed for continuing the war. General Franco’s 6nly public statements were at the beginning of the war, appealing for localisation of the war and enjoining on Spaniards the strictest neutrality. The decision stopping ships from trading with the belligerents, followed by the delaying of shipments of iron ore and pyrites, Spain’s principal exports, is an indication of t*e lengths to which the Government will go to avoid being drawn into the war. NEW ZEALAND’S PART HELP IN FOOD SUPPLY LONDON, Sept. 24. The Times, in a leader extolling the rally of the Dominions, cites the New Zealand spirit, as reflected in every other part of the Empire. It adds: “It is with airmen that the Dominions can immediately be most useful. The Dominions, especially Australia and New Zealand, must make certain that they will not be attacked before denuding themselves of trained defenders, but it is safe to forecast that wherever the decisive conflict is fought Dominion people will play the same distinguished part as a quarter of a century ago. Success depends almost as much on supplies as on man-power, and here the Dominions are well to the fore. Their unanimity is a guarantee of victory.