13/12/39.. -NO. 1 •. MINES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT. PETROLEUM (PRODQCTION) ACT, 1934. The Secretary for Mines announces the renewal for a further term of twelve months of a Prospecting Licence granted under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1934, and the Petroleum (p:_:·oduction) Regulations, 1935, to the Anglo­American Oil Company Limited of 36, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.Wo 1 " The licensed area concerned consists of about 12 square miles in the County of Midlothian, near the town of Dalkeitho A description of the boundaries of the area was published in the Edinburgh and London Gazettes on Friday, the 2nd October, 1936. A map of the area can be inspected on application to the Petroleum Department, Dean Stanley Street, Millbank, London, S~W.1. Dean Stanley Street, Millbank, 1,ondon, s.VJ .1 o URGENT . 13.12.39 No. 2. R. A.F. over German Air Bases. The Air Ministry announces:­ Royal Air Force s ecurity patrols were continously maintained last night over German minelaying aircraft bases in the Heligoland Bight. _/\IR AFPAIRS. ------oOo-----­ 13/1 2/39 -No 3., FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUN19_UE The following official communique was issued from French GoH. Q. this morning: Patrol activity on the central part of the front. ++++++++++-:-++ The attached article by 'Naval Eyewitness' is issued to the Pre$S ror use as they may desire. ---&Oo---­ ~ 1H~~-Jn: SHJ~Rr.11\l\I by "Naval Eyewit.ne ss11 o The patrol service central depot was a corporation amusement centre b · ..-.f'ore tiw Har_, There were tea rooms in a:.. rather diJiapidated 17th century ''.)1J.Se 9 a lar•ge concert hall and a conservatory~ b.ly ponds and gr•ottoes rou..rid a central ].awne There was a variety pe:eforma.ncc j_n full SYv·ing before a crowded audience on the Thursc1-ay ·before tlle vmr. vvhen the Navy suddenly arrived to take it overq The audience and the artists lent a hand to clear the hall and th:.; stag\j., By midn:Lght the first drafts of fishermen appeared and began to stack their bags on the stage. In the three months following 6, 000 men had joined and b (,.fil kitted up, had received brief -CPaining a:nd been drafted to trawlers and drifters under the 1Nl2itc I;ns:'..gn0 'l'her·e are upwards of 1 ~000 men there to-dayc With local la·bouT the old house was converted into a head­q_uarters 1 the rooms shor•od ·t.r11 ~ refloored~ and made into administrative offices; llght, heating c..nd tolc~ohones installed~ The concert hall became a drill hall~ rooms for medical inspections, transport, new entries and roguls_t1~1g offices built on,, The problem of ac; cornrr..odation was solved by billeting the men in the towno I,ocal la:;.1dladj.c:s arc accustomed. to annual invasions of 3 1 000 fishergirls vI' co; an'.i a close .;.o-,opcration with the police ensured that biJ.l.:'r'cs wor e aP::)ortioned to meet individual suitabiD.i-!iy., CorrrJ)laints aro :'!ractically unknO\m ; the scale of billeting allowance can l eave very little profit fo~ the landladies when their guests' appeti·ces have been satisfied; the attitude of the majority is that in 110usj_ng tho so me:·.1~ 'ivho are themscl ves making a most gallant ansvve:." t o t he challenge of the mine n.nCJ submarine, thGy are doing t._,_11.eir 1) it, -Hs.lf--a-clo:::.en enq_ui Pies at r·andom amongst men ., o" c" -2­ men of all types from trimmer of a trawler to an R.N.VoR. Signalman, who left Cambridge to become a solicitor, elicited the same reply as to their comfort in their billets; "Fine". The solicitor being more articulate added, "Really awfully nice". The landladies come up to the base weekly to be paid, a batch each day according to the alphabetical arrangement of their names. The inunediate problem of meals at the base, refreshments and etc., was solved by converting the conservatory into a dry canteen run by a local firm and open da.y and night. Officers and men mingle freely: this is the key note of the organisation. Only sufficient discipline and restraint are imposed to ensure reason~ble effieiency and the men's contentment. There ar e no bugle-calls, no insistance on salutes, no" gas and gaiters", no hectoring on the parade ground; a minimum of formality0 A brief study of the interior of the canteen during the forenoon stand-easy would convince a.nybody of the absurdity of trying to impose a naval standard of conduct upon this gathering of loyal fishermen. Their speech is a babel of dialects of all the coasts of Britaina A burly Hebridean standing beside his Commander at the counter during "elevens" stretched out his hand, abstracted the spoon from his superior's saucer, stirred his tea thoughtfully and replaced the spoon with a. murmur of thanks.; The rough give and t ake of sea-courtesy has not been made self-conscious or embarrassing by any quarterdeck tradition. The Captain, challenged by a sentry a·t night in an~Y~ery imaginable sea port's accent, is passed with a friendly, almost affection 11 Goodnight , Cap' n! All1 s well. \t A deck-hand t aking over the guard wa s challenged the darkness by the f amiliar voice of an old shi pmate. He replied: I "Why Dick," 3 "Why Dick, lad, is tho.' thee? 0 The answer was i n the affirmative. "Then hand over that bluidy mooske.t." The men make their way to the base from their billets by 9 a.m., when they fall in for divisions• Leave breaking is pr2ctically unknown. The proportion of defaulters is infinitesimal. Prayers are r ead by a Chaplain lent from the missions to seamen. They are very brief and simple~ He stands on an onen air stage piled with shrapnel helmets and life saving waistcoats awaiting issue, and the faces raised to his are of Rll ages: some of the uncovered heads are bald. The impression of the whole is one of sturdy self-reliance and trustfulness. The medal ribbons of the Petty Office!'s and Gunners Mates date some back to the South African war, and after prayers they come into their own. The simplest form of sq_uad or rifle drill is taught to platoons who 48 hours previously had never worn uniform or handled a rifle. The old forgotten arts of the Whale Island parade ground come back to these grizzled instructors, and their pupils -one is almost tempted to write disciples, so intense is their eagerness t o learn -respond like men inspired. They march and counter march; their r anks are a little uneven and some caps are a little awry. But their eyes never leave the Gunner's Mate: they prompt each other .in whispers: their hands grip the unfamiliar weRpons with a terrible determination, and the whole clumsy splendid effort is more moving than a parade of Guards. Kitting up has been evolved almost to a science: a minute and a half suffices to equip the individual. All day and night drafts of new entries a-ppear, traj_ned crews complete with kit, shrapnel helmets and gas masks go trundling off in lorries to their little ships and destinies. The loud speaker shouts ceaselessly: -4 ­ upay attention! Deck-hand so and so, number so nnd so, wanted in mail office for registered letter." "Pay attention! Engine-man so and so is wanted in the Billeting office." The c1'mi~en tones ring out across the parade ground or the lily ponds, through concert hall and conservatory like some insistant voice in a crowded nursery. In the town technical institute a little band of ladies arc training the tpawler cooks to cook the simple meals the crews re~uire. Cooks ages ranged from 16 tu 54. The latter1 bald and pink faced, was told when medically examined that he had the constitution of a man of 35. He ~earned delight6~1y. "That,"· he said in the soft accents of the Isles, "is music in my ears, 11 There wore half half-a-dozen of them in the kitchen whc~e they w0re being taught to cook a dinner. "They've got to have proper meals, haven't they ? 11 said the soft voice4 lady :i». charge. u.1:r they arc going to win this "var for ~ ! " We were suddenly aware of a smell of burning. "Mcleod !11 she CI'ied, and sped to the oven. A rumple-headed young giant swathed in a white apron up to his chin, rolled his eyes in an agony of remorse. She flung open the oven door. "Haven't I told you.... "' ++++++++++++ ~12.~3_9______~____N_o_.'---""5~· Issued by the authority of the India Office who should not be quoted. BUSY INDIAN PORTf3. British and foreign ships continue to enter and clear Indian ports in safety. In August the total number of stea_mers was 607-279 entering Indian ports .and 328 clearing them.. In September, owing to the war, the total nwnber · ­fe 11 to 501, but in October it rose to .659-3U..8 ships entering and 311 clearing. Up to November 25th~ the number of steamers for the month was 594 and the total is expected to be higher than for October. ------oOo----:·-­ ivlJNISTRY OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SER.VICE. PRESS NOTICE. 6/13.:1.2.39. 11The Minister of Ln.bour and National Service announces that under the powers conferred upon him by the National Service (Armed Forces) Act he has appointed the Rt . Hon. Lord Elphinstone, K.T., LL.D., to be Chairman of the Scottish Division of the Appellate Tribunal for conscientious obje~tors in succession to the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Home, K.T., who has resigned his ap:pointment11 • Press Office, Ministry of Labo1Jr and National Service. relephone. Whitehall 6200. 13th December, 1939. H.Q.325-480 L.I. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 13/12/39 -No.]. ST. HEL:CNA GROWS MORE. St. Helena is doing its best to increase production of food stuffs for its own consumption. The clearing of land is proceeding and all available land is being used for cultivating vegetables. At the agricultural station, young vegetable plants and seed potatoes are being raised for sale to the cultivators at cheap rates and hundreds of plants have already been distributedv The St. Helena News Sheet, which has been recently started, has asked the islanders to increase their efforts to grow vegetables and the St. Helena Grmvers J;.ssociation is being urged to increase production. Plans are being prepared to assist their members to dispose of their potatoes during a glut. The main task of the Society has hitherto been to collect vegetables and eggs for victualling ships and this work will continue. An arrangements has just been made to supply fresh vegetables each week to H. M. Forces on the island. UP.GENT. 13.12.39 No. 8. PRE'iS NOTICE. In October last, five of the gunboRts of the Yangtse patrol were withdrawn from service because the officers and men were needed for important servic0 elsewhere. It has now been decided that three more gunboats shall be withdrawn from the Yangtse for similar reasons connected with the prosecution of the war in Europe. ADMIRALTY, WHIT?HALL, 8 .W.1. -------oOo------­ 13/12.L)~9~------'N_o~9~·­ ii.IR I:IINISTRY BULLETIN Not to be quoted as an Air Ministry announcement TRANSPORT OF HUM1\N BLOOD BY AIR ...... Since the last war, development in technique and improved organisation have enhanced the value of blood transfusion. In order to be prepared for all evcrntualities in the present war, the ltrmy Blood Transfusion Service was establised and cent~3s have been provided at which donors can give their blood as and when it is required. ·It is, of course, essential that casualties should be treated as soon as possible, and also that the temperature of the blood should remain const anto The most important factor in the efficiency of the ser~ice is speed, and as air transport provides the most rapid means of communication between centres in this country and base hospitals in France, National Air Communications were.. .. asked1 at the outbreak of hostilities 1 to undertake this duzy,. A fleet of aircraft has been specially fitted to transport the blood to British Army Hospitals in France or to any city in England which may suffer casualties during an air raido The blood is stored in bottles, which are placed in cylindrical wire basket containers, each weighing.104-lbs when loaded. These containers are placed 1.n 11l::apok11 lined boxes, to ensure that the temperature of the blood does not vary more than two degrees in 24 hours. Various types of aJ.rcraft are allocated for this duty. Loading tests have been carried out with satisfactory results and aircraft are standing by to meet the need, if it should arise. The organisation of this rapid transport of blood by air should result in a great s aving of life ·1n the event of major 1 operations., AIR MINISTRY. --·-··---..---..-·­ EMPIRE AFFAI RS J,2L12/39 -No 1 0 • TANGANYIKA..........._______ __WAR.___TITH._ ·'"'"' __ES . ----~ -.,.___..""' "_ The Natives Insist on Contributing .GrOiJSo The Governor of Tanganyika stat es that he has received from the Chief and peopl e of Machame an~ Kibongoto Chiefdom and the Chagga Tribe, Moshi District, an offer of a proportion of this year's harvest as their contribution to the Empire War effort. They havu suggest ed that each person in the Chiefdom planting coffee , maize or elusine should contribute a part of his crop proportionately to each person's r elative wealth~ At a Baraza hold by the District Officer to ascertain whether this offer was made viith the full concurrence of the peopJ!.e, it was expl a ined to him tho.t in olden days when the tribe went to war, it was thG custom f or those remo.ining a t home to contribute food stuffs foT the maintenance of their warriors, and now that the Empire was at Har 9 the people v-vished to revive this custom by making similar contribu~ions to the Government~ The Government have accepted this w-:i.-~.oub.t,edly genuine and spontaneous offer, and have thanked tho people of M&chame and Kibongoto for their generosityo The food stuffs contributed will be devoted to feeding the troops, and the coffee will be sold and the ~proceeds credited to the Tanganyika Red Cross Fund., ++++++++-:-++ \\ The \i/a r Office , London, S. W.1. 13th Decemb er 9 1939. The 11ar Office announces that Eis Majesty The King has been nle~ced to annrove of the an~ointm8nt of Colonel (tcmpoN1r;y Brigadier ) T. :Prostrm, C.B. :t:., M.C., T.D., late Tlle Yorkshire Hussars (Al exandra, .·rincess of ';ial es' s Own), Territorial Ar my, as Aide-dc-Camn to The Ki ng, with ef fect from the :l/1th Novernber 9 1939, in succession to Lieutenant­Colonel ( Br ev";t Colonel) the l'JGr l of Ellesmere, ~.~.v.o., who h2 s o t tc·tin~;d tl1e ar:e l i mi t for h i s no-'.:)ointment. 13/12/39 -NO. 12. STATEMENT GIVEN TO CORRESPONDE:!NTS AT hINISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE ON DECEMBER 13TH AT 3 P. M. , ----------·­ On December 12th there were 61 neutral ships in ~he three Contraband Control bases in the United Kingdom, of which 47 had. been there for 5 days or less. This total included: ­ 18 Dutch ( 12 for five days or less) 14 Norwegian ( 1 -1 " II " " " ) 13 Swedish ( 1 0 II II " II ti ) 5 Belgian (all II It " II " ) 4 Danish ( 3 !I II " ti II ) 2 Finnish (both1 ' II II " ii ) 2 Greek ( 1 It It " II II ) Also there were one Esthonian, one Latvinn, and one .?anamnnian ship; all of which had been detained for five days or less. During the week ending December 9th the Contraband Committee conRinered the cargoes of 121 ships which had arrived since December 2nd; and 48 outstanding cargoes from the previous weel:,, Thr3 combined totnl included ships of the following nntionolities: ­ 35 Italian 26 Norwegio.n 24 Dutch 16 Swedish 12 British 10 United States 9 Danish 8 Belgio.n 8 Japanese 8 Greek In three cases, an entire cargo was seized, whilst in 73 ca ses entirs c~rgoes were released, eithor on first considera­tion or after enquiries. The sys tern urn'ler whi.ch o.dvance ~ sp'l:2s of manifests of cnrgoes are received and conqi~ered before the ships' o.rrival at ports in tI:iis count.t7 resulted, during the week 1l):lder review, in 25 co.ses bei.ng so dEmlt with, and tn 19 cases of the shi.ps concerned being released by the CornmJ. ttee, subject merely to the formr-:t l checking of the original mrinifests on their arrival at the Control Bases. 13/12/39 -No.13. STATEMENT FOR_..fUBLJQA~ION During the week ending December 9th the British Contraband Control intercepted 7,000 tons of contraband goods suspected of being destined f'or Germany. This total included:­ 1,400 tons of cotton 1,200 tons of miscellaneous. f'oodstuf!s 900 tons of fodder 800 tons of oilseeds 700 tons of non-metallic products 550 tons of ores and metals 480 tons of hides and skins 250 tons of rubber and quantities of petroleum products, oils and fatf'S, wool, chemicals, tanning material, and gums and resins. In the first 14 'Neeks of war, the British Contraband Control have now detained a total of 483,500 tons. -------000----~­ Ministry of Economic Warfare. 13/12/39 -1'L9.·-1l1:.~ SITUATION _IN_§_U_KKU;E1_ Cornmtmal tension in Sukkur, a ~own in the Province of Sind, recently culminated in riots involving Hindus and Moslems, and in unrest in adjacent villages and districts. The inYnediate measures taken by the local authorities resulted in a considerable improvement in the situation, there has been no recurrence of rioting and conditions are now normal. Shops have re-opened and the leaders of the communities have given assurances of harmonious relations. In villages in the surrounding districts, the situation is also reported to be quiet except for some stray acts of violence. ----·-oOo·--·---·-­ Issued by the In_~i.8:...9..f~fice o 13.12.39 -Ifoo1 5. trot to be published before 7 p.m. ··tednesday. 13.12.39. BiPORT LICJ lTSING DEPARTMENT IRON tJI:!! Mi'JJGJ-'J·JBS}~ \}2E!8 ; IRO/\.'" ;~JfJ s·.r:cr1. 1. At the request of the Ministry of Supply the Board of Trade have issued an 0rder (the Import of Goods (Prohibition) (No.10) Order, 1939), adding to the list of goods which may not be imported except under licence, those goods set out in the Schedule attached to this Notice. 2. The intention of the Order is to facilitate the purchase and transport of all necessary supplies of Iron and Steel and of Iron and Manganese Ores and other materials used in the manufacture of iron and steel. So far as practicable, importa­tions will pass thr ough the normal trade channels. 3. The Order comes into force on Monday, the 18th December,1939, but any goocls covered by the Order which are proved to the satisfaction of the Customs authorities to have been despatched to the United Kingdom before the Order came into force will not require a licence. 4. Licences will be i s sued by the Import Licensing Department of the Board of Trade on the recommendation of the Iron and Steel Control of the Ministry of Supply. 5. For licensing purposes, the goods set out in the attached Schedule fall into t wo broad classes -(a) Iron and Manganese ures, Concentrates and Residues; (b) all the other goods mentioned in the Schedule. 6. The procedure to be followed by importers will therefore vary as to whether they are interested in class (a) or class (b). Accordingly, the following directions which aim at simplifying procedure as far as possible shoul(l be carefully studied by the importer. 7. DIR:i~CTIONG :eo•,_OETAI~HNG L]_C:',ifCf b 1.-'0 "R I RON ORr: OR MANGANT~s:; ORI". . (i) For Class (a) i. e . Iron Ore or .Manganese Ore an import licence will normally be required in respect of each cargo or pargel wh~_ch it is intended to import. The import licence must be obtainec~ for each consignment before the consignment is shipped. (ii) Applications fo;_ i~J22It licences for Iron Ore and Manganese 0?;:~!!1-~§_t__ be_subrpi t.ted in duplicate, not on the ordinary standard form us ed by the Import Licensing Department but on a ~al form headed Form 0. to the Director of Porei gn Or es . Iron and Gteel Control, 24, Old Broacl Stree't'...i Lon_Q.on 2 f: .C.2. These special forms, which will be used exclusively for licensing applications for Iron and Manganese ores, may be obtaine(1 either from the Director of Foreign Ores or from the Import Licensing Department, J?.9~£d of Trade 225 2._§_outhamnton "P11:i..l dinqs 9 r'_~'"' '1ncery Lane, L9p9:_c;:m 2 W.C.2. 1. (iii) After he has examineu these applications the Director of Poreign (:res will pass them to the Import Licensing Department who, in approved cases, will issue and send the licence direct to the applicant. (iv) In vierr of the i mpracticability of differentiating between Iron and Manganese ores required for Iron and Steel manufacture and such ores required for other purposes, for instance the chemical industry, it will be necessary f or all applications for licences for these ore:.:-. t-o be submj_ t~eu through the Director ' of Foreign 01'es . 8. DIRgCTIONS FOi~ OBTAINING Lic:·rw=s J·10? CLASS (b) • i.e. ALL GOO:JS ON THL SCHLDULJ.. OTff-:R THAiT IROIT OT<' ~ 07: M.i'l,TGANI Stt OR:.~ . (i) An import licence will be required in respect of eac~1 class of iron and steel goods which it is intenc1ed to import. (ii) Applications for these classes of goods must be submitted in duplicate on th_~__or_q_~:g.ary standard form used by the Import Licens ing_ ;Q.~partment to the Iron and Steel Control 2 Steel Hlbether • resulting from an expansion of acreage, or exceptional yields, the Minist!"J of Food 'V'ill make the necessary arrangements for ensuring that • growers will be enabled to obtain a remunerative return on their potato crop as a whole. The assurances I have given 'vill apply in respect of all potatoes of the 1940 crop marketed after September 1. 2. EMPIRE SECTION 13/12/39 -No.21. ULS'l'ER WAR CERTIFICATES A YEAR'S SALES IN 2t WEEKS The sale of Ulster 15s.6d. Saving Certificates (Nntionnl Defence Issue) for the two and c. half weeks from November 22 to December 9 has reGched the remarkable figure of 299,000, which exceeds by several thousands the total number of Saving Certificates sold in the Province during the twelve months ended March 31 last. Sales for the week ended December 9 amounted to 116,000. Seventy five per cent of the proceeds are to be made available to the British Exche~uer for war ~ur~oses. If war SD.vings certificates rrere sold at the same rate throughout the whole of the United Kingdom~ a sum of approaching £175,000,000 would be raised in a twelvemonth. ----·----·--­ --~ BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT. 13/12/39. -No.22. YOUTH CAMPS TO GO ON. The sixth Meeting of the National Youth Committee, whi ch has been made more fully representative by the appointment of Sir Frederick Mander of the National Union of Teachers and Mr. T.A . . warren, Director of Education for Wolverhampton , was held to-day under the Chairmanship of Mr . Kenne th Lindsay in the Offices of the Board of Education. The Committee discussed the abnormal restrictions due to war conditions which had been imposed on camps conducted by youth organisations. They expressed a strong and unanimous o.pinion that facilities for youth camps were doubly important in war-time. They urged that all possible steps should be taken to enable youth organisations to aarry out their camp programmes for the spring and summer of 1940. The Committee were informed that the Circular "The Service of Youth" 9 issued on their. adviee by the Board of Education9 had become a 'best-seller'. There have been three reprints in a fortnight making in all a total of over 11 ,000. The demand has not yet ceased. It was stated that the Government had decided to extend the Special Areas Act until the 31st December 1940. The Committee expressed the view that any subsidies for youth work formerly administered under that Act should be continued and administered through the grant machinery set up at the Board of Education. The Committee urged that in view of the altered incidenc~ of juvenile unemployment due to recent movements of population, the Ministry of Labour should resume their former powers~in regard to Juvenile Instruction Centres under the Unemployment Insurance Act. These would enable them to press Local Authorities to reopen centres or to set up new ones whereever necessary. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 13/12/39 -No.23. SOUTH AFRICAN WOOL CLIP In the absence of the High Commissioner for South Africa at Geneva, ~w. F.J. Dutoit, Secretary of South Africa House, called personally this afternoon on Sir Eric Machtig, Acting Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to convey the thanks and appreciation of the Union Government, the Exeeutive of the National Wool Growers' Association of South Africa, and the wool producers, for the very generous manner in which the Government of the United Kingdom has come to South Africa 's assistance in facilitating the disposal of this season's wool clip. 13/12/39. -No. 24. FOR MORNING NEWSPAPERS OF THE 14TH DECEMBER ONLY. NOT TO BE BROADCAST OR PUBLISHED ON CLUB TAPES OR IN ANY OTHER FORM BEFORE THEN. NOT TO BE CABLED ABROAD BEFORE MIDNIGHT 13/12/39. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wednesday2 13th December2 1939. The following report of the proceedings of the Secret Session was issued under the authority of Mr. Speaker:­ The adjournment of the House was moved by the Prime Minister and a debate took place on the organisation of · supplies for the prosecution of the war . • EMPIRE AFFAIRS 13/12/)9 ~ No.25. THE "CHEERFUL INDIVIDUALIST" PROBLEMS OE HIGHER EDUCATION IN MALAYA The Report of the Commission on Higher Education in Malaya was issued to-day. The Commission, which was appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the members being Sir William McLean (Chairman) and Professor H,J. Channon, arrived in Singapore in the autumn of 1938 to survey existing arrangements for higher education, general and professional, in Malaya; and to consider in the light of local needs and conditions whether they require extension and, if so, in what directions and by what methods ; and to report upon the present work of Raffles College, Singapore, and on any additional developments that m1ght seem desirable, as well as on the question of the possihie development of a University in Malaya. In considering the educational background of Malaya the Commissioners note that although a small country it presents a comP'1ex picture. Because of the great influx of Chinese and Indian immigrants, it is peopled by three races ; its economic position is one of great contrasts; its political composition cannot be regarded as simple; its social background is a conflicting medley because of its mixture of peoP'les. Further, the Commissioners state that since the problem of education cannot be divorced from that of employment, they made every effort to secure as much evidence as possible on the question of the present and possible future employmel'ilt in the different professions, and in this connection they endeavoured to obtain information concerning the social /and and economic backgrc,und of the country,, The Rep_ort deals briefly with these mE:t ters The indigenous people of the o country are Malays wh·) are primarily agriculturists and cheerful individualis· :~s somewhat bewildered by the pace of modern commercial life. They have much leewt3:,y to make up and Great Britain is bound by treaties to assist them in this task. The Chinese in Malaya, the main immigrant race, are industrious and the development of the wealth of the country is largely due to themo The sed.ond immigrant race are the Indians, comparatively small in number, who work mainly on the rubber estates. After a survey of the different t ypes of schools from which pupils proceed to advanced wo rk , the prob-lem of higher education is consiC.ered anc:. an examir:c.; tion is made of existing higher educational instltut~ons. There is Raffles Col.lege at Singapore.J opened in 1928, whose graduates are mainly employed as teacherso Amongst other recommendations for development the necessity is stressed for closer contact betwe.en. -the-Coll.ege and t-he agricultural, commercial and industrial aspects of life in Malaya" The King Edward VII College of Medicine at Singapore 9 founded in 1904, ranks high among the Medical Schools of the F'ar East. Its development was much assisted by a munificent endowment by the Rockefeller Foundation. Various suggestions for further development are made by the Cornrnissione:::'s who, after survey: :ing the unjq_ue opportunities for advance in the field of public health and nutrition, recommend the establishrner~t of a Ohair of Public Health. With regard to the future development of a University of Malaya the Commissioners survey and contrast the College of Medicine and Raffles College in the light • O•••o•••••••• of/ 3 o~ certain conditions the ful~ilment o~ which is essential before a College can assume the status of a University. While the conclusion is reached that the time has not arrived for the establishment of a University, the Commissioners recommend as a preliminary step, the fusion of the two Colleges into a University College of Malaya and the appointment of a joint Principai. It is thought that within ten years the University College might be ready to receive University status. The 6omrnissioners suggest that the teaching of Engineering should be concentrated at a new Technical College at Kuala Lumpur in the Federated States which rnight eventually become associated with the Uni ve: ·sity. The Report concludes with a consideration of Higher Technical Education and Vocational Education and recommendations are made regarding the English Schools including the teaching of Science and the establishment of a School of Domestic Science in Singapore for the training of teachers. ---------000----------­ , 13/12/39 -No 26 MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT POTATOES AND HERRINGS There are abundant supplies of these two e;ccellent foods and everyone can make a valuable contribution to the national effort by consuming more of them, especially as alternatives to imported foods which make heavy demands upon shipping. Both are rich in food value and are cheap to buy. For the general guidance of housewives and for writers in the Press, themselves experts on the a.ub ject, there are available admirable recipe booklets prepared by the Potato Marketing Board and the Herring Industry Board. The Potato Booklet (price 3do) can be obtained from the Potato Marketing Board, Africa House, Kingsway, London, w.c.2, and the Herring Booklet (which is free) from the Herring Industry Board, 182, Strand, London, ·N .0.2. :Please remember that if you ent more potatoes and more: herrings, you arc making a simple and a pleasant nnd at the same time a vnluQble contribution towards winning the war. (Copies of the booklets aro being sent sep8rat0ly to newspaper offices) ,,,,7 The Private Secretary to Cnptain the Rto Hone Euan » ~allace, Minister of Trans:!}ort, presents his cornplirnents to the News Editor, and trRnsmits herewith for his information notes of a speech to be brof'dcast by Captain \·iall nce in the Home Service at 9.15 p.m. on .. iednesday, December 13th, 1939 ,, Ministry of Transport, Metropole Buildin[ s, Northumberland Avenue, London, ":.r. C. 2, 13th December, 1939, Notes of a Si)eech to be broadcast by Capt. the Rt. Hon. Euan Wallace, lC C. ~ Mo P : .• Minister of Tr'ansport,intble Home Service at 9.15 Pe m. on Wednesday, December 13th, 1939. Whether in peace or war transport is the life blood of any civilised country and Rudyard Kipling was not over­stating the case when he said:­ "If you can tie up a nations ,cransport you can take her off your boolcs. :r The first danger vre had to guard against when war broke out was the chance of our transport being tied up by enemy action. There was every likelihood that hostilities would start with a massed attc:.ck from tlle air on our docks, railways, ·bridges and i r:rportant roaa_ junctions; and for many months before the thira_ of' Septe:11ber the i·h nistry of Transport was perfecting plans to meet this tln•eat u Some po11ts were obvLmsly more vu lnerable than others and a s~heme hac1-b '.1an;:is of' a T;or·t "7n1 °·~~(£J'Y'\ c ·tt P--~ -~ -• :.:.J''-"'t. e""<~r omrn1· ,EJB made up of renreseptatJ.VB3 of the Por•t .A.nt.1:'rr.,-i ty, 81 • ~ ·~ ~ ul~.1'8rs, Traders, road, rail and co.nal tr&J".Spor t and the 'I'rade !Jzi..i.ons cor~d. 'l1he cs.no.ls a::-e C3.rr:,c.ing, among other useful comrJodities, la~ge quant:ties of foodstuffs, iron and steel and petroleu.'TI; and i:n this ·w1y tr_ey are already performir.g a valuable war service . I have ap})O:i.nted an Advisory Comrnittee to assist me in making the best use of our canal system. The tlin1str•;y of 1r:::ar_sport is also responsible for allocating the available petrol amOT_gst road trarJ.sport vehicles both for goods Rnd :passengers, Eo as to ensure as far as possible that every bus, coach or lorry is used t o the best advaLtage . The8e emergency measur·es do not mean that the actual management of commercial concerns has been take away from the profeosionul men and handed over to civil servants. On the contrary, we have adopted a deliberate policy of leaving the men who know the business to run their businesses. At the very start of the war our railways were faced with formidable tasks -the evacuation of 1,300,000 women and children from some of our largest cities, the mobilisation of the Pighting Services and. the transportation of the British Expeditionary Force. T~~ cy have , in addition, had to handle a greatly increased volume of goods traffic arising out of our war effcrt; and all this has to be carried out under conditions of black-out which are a seriOD;S ho.ndic:J.J,) to railway work in general, and more particularly to the very im:portant night work i n g0ods yards. The railways are carrying on under conditions of considerable strain and they are entitled to every credit for the admirable way in which they are playing their part in these difficult times . -4 ­ I am glad to sa~r t:1at the hanaicap of black-out conditions has been reduced in recent weeks by the better lightjng aI'rangements which have been found pO$Sible after careful experimente Substantial improvements have also been made in other directions. More and faster trains have been put on; and dining cars and sleepers have been restored on most of the long distance se::.,,ri ees . I realise that cuts in the services and the slowing up of trains made necessar~ by the increased freight traffic which has 'vo be handled du1 ing daylight hour's has meant i::-iconvenience and discomfort to travellers. The ::leed for inrprovernent9 1)aI'ticularly in the suburban services, is very much in my mind and facilities more comparable with peaE.e time are being restored as conditions allow. A welcome relief to Londoners is the reopening of tube stations after completing protective works . But perhaps the most welcome ste1) of all, and welcome just as much to the railways ns to the travelling public, was when the ra111·;a~rs were able to start restoring lighting by vvhich passengers could read. The only condition on which the lighting of railway trains is possible with safety is that in the event of an air-raid warning the lights can at once be put out by the guard. To equip t he rolling stock for this purpose takes some time, but great progress has already been made with the long cistance trains. Suburban trains present a much more difficult problem because their frequent stops mean much more opening of doers; but here t00 we are making progress and no train will remain unlighted a day longer than is necessary to get the materials requiPed for the new equipment and fit them into the ~arriages. ·-5 ­ turn now to road transpurto The war has brought peculair difficulties and hardships to this industry. There was first of all the J :·3s of vehicles ovving tu the requirements of the Fighting Services and of Civil Defence. A good deal has been done t o mitigate this hardship by organisati~n into groups, so that if for example a trader has had one er two of his vans or l orries taken by the Army 9 his Group Organiser will be able to a:r•range for othe:-vehieJ.es in the group to help him ..:mt o More serious f op t he road transport i ndustry than requisitioning has bee:n the rationin~s '~~f fu~l " No one regrets moI'e than I d (: the ditficulties and. 10sses that have in some cases inevj_tably fallen en individual fi1•ms and workers. But petrol raticning is u:navojdable. Tne consumption cf fuel in war time in every b.canch 0f the Fighting E1ervj_ces i.ncr•eases enorrr..ously7 and we must n1.ain-:.,e.:in 1.: .sufficient accumulation of reserves t o meet every c~ll ~hich may ~e made upon them. It is the sain(~ Hi tr~ the i>-::c..d pa.s2 engcr services. Fuel econom1es are eq_·J.all~1 ne~esss.ry nere and that means fewer 'buses and coaches on the road~ We have recognised that those who have to travel daily to and from their w0rk must have the :f:'irst cla:i.mc The Transport Commissic;ners in every regicn are +:e.king particular pains to see that there Js, c..s :far as possiblei no r1eduction in transport at the rush hours; and I have tried to af:'or'cl some further help by relaxing, after consu1tati ·.:n with the Ccmpanies and the Transport Uni0ns, t~e rule against standing in ' buses. What I du want t~ emphasiee 12 that it is n~ part of our policy to impose a s i ngJ.e re L t1"i ~tion on the use .-:_~f r.~)ad transpor"c that is not required by the necessities ,)f the w~r o r-.c. I fully realise the im:-:;i:.:or:tance '-L thi~ gr eat industry, and I take this opportunity of expressing my appr~ciation of the way in which it has met and is mee ting the demands made upon ito -6 ­ One f inal wore~ . The successful operati.on of tmne,pQ~'~ depends ultin:ately on the effici.ency and loyalt..y of the individual worker, and I should lj.ke to pay my tribute to all grades whether on the rl:iilways, the l"oads ~ the canals, or the docks for t he sterling work they are doing, often under most trying conditions . 80 f ar the inland transport industry of this country has stood up well to the great changes and dislocations inseparable from the transition from peace to war; and whatever fresh difficulties or dangers t he future may bring, I feel confident that His Majesty's Government can rely on the continued co-operation of managements and workers to see that our transport system carries on. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 13/12/39 -No.28. ALEXANDRIA'S BLACK-OUT British nationals in Egypt, a land which has its own peculiar problems to overcome in the matter of air attack, have taken very seriously their duties in connee·tion with A.R~ P. In the ''black-out 11 exercise at Alexandria which has just ended, this 11B.A.R.P.", as this British organisation, which co-operates with the official A.R.P. of the country, is called, turned out in full strength. This was by no means the first 11biack..out 11 exercise indulged in Egypt, but it was on an unprecedented scale, the Navy, the Army and the R.A.F. all collaborating. For thre·e nights, ending yesterday, Alexandria has been completely blacked out. The War Offi ce, London, S. W.1. 13th December, 1939 . The Controller of Postal & Telegraph censorship desires t o call attention to the fact that sup~lying any goo~or paying or transmittin~ any money, to, or for the benefit of, any individual resident in enemy territory iS prohibited by the Trading with the Enemy Act . ,my brench of this regulation renders the offender subject to nrosc:,cution o.nd severe penalties. Communication directly or indirectly with any i ndividu2l or body, whether cor~Jorate or incor1)orate , in enemy territory is permitted only through the Board of Trade , Trading with the Snemy Branch, or through an authorised intermediary i n a NeutrLll country. At present there is no authorised intermediary, and any atten~t to send. letters, goods, or money through any channel other than the Trading with the :enemy Branch is pr·ohibit ed ·• 13/12/39. -No. 30. U-BOAT PRISONERS OF WAR. The following officers and men are prisoners of war in this country:­ Name. Rank. LOTT 9 Werner. KapitlinleutnantLUNEBURG 9 Richard Muschinist Friedrich Heinrich DCBELE , Stefan Maschinenmast . SCHUTT, Theodor Maschinenobergefreiter SCHWARZ, Peter MatrosenobergefreiterKALABUCH, Walter MatrosengefreiterERCHEN 9 Heinz Oberleutnant zu~ See LIEBAU ? Paul Bootsmannsmaat WEBER 9 Ernst Maschinenmaat ROLOFF 9 Walter MaschinenobergefreiterSCHNUTE 9 Karl MatrosenobergefreiterVAN DER PUTTEU 9 Johann Matrosengefreiter WAR OFFICE 9 s.w.1. 13/12/39 No. 31. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNin.UE__ The following official communique was issued from French G.H.Q. this evening:­ In the course of the series of encounters which took place yesterday to the West of the Saar one of our small outposts was captured by the enemy who made some ten prisoners. Our line was quickly re­ established as announced in the evenfung communique of the 12th. Today was quiet on the Front as a whole. NOT TO BE QUOTED AS AN AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEivIINT. 13/12/39 -No.32. POLISH AIRMEN WILL PLAY THEIR PART Somewhere in England, as announced by the Secretary of State for Air in the House of Commons on Tuesday, the first detachnient of the Polish Air Force is already training with enthusiasm to form itself into the first of several squadrons that will soon become part and parcel of the R.A.F. Many of the officers and men arrived in this country after alarming experiences with practically no money and very little clothing. By the end of this week this first detachment will be wearing with great pride the uniform of the R.A.F. The only distinguishing marks will be a difference in the cap badge and the Polish eagle on the left pocket of the tunic. Despite the ordeal they have undergone the spirit of these airmen is as strong as ever. They are living for the day when, in British aircraft and with British armament, they can return to the fight. Uppermost in their minds is that they are being given another chance and this time the odds will certainly not be against them. R.A.F. officers who have had the task of getting their Polish "Recruits" housed in an R.A.F. station are full of admiration for their new charges. One officer of great experience said: ''Those who have arrived so far are a magnificent body of men. All have plenty of aetual flying experience and they are full of enthusiasm, yet show a quiet determination to get on with their job as quickly as possible." These Polish squadrons will be entirely self-supporting -that is not only will pilots, observers, gunners and wireless operators be found for air e·rews but also the maintenance of the aircraft wiln be undertaken by Polish personnel. Some of them are already "ace" pilots. One has been a test pilot for a big Polish aircraft firm for several years and has often been to England to. fly "Spitfires" and similar ]ligh powered service planes. Another, a sergeant, has already experienced being shot ~ down by Germans. He managed to escape and then found his way out of Poland in time to join his colleagues. Several of them speak English already but the others are working incessantly to get at least a smattering of our language. They are quite content to get down to their job of learning to fly and tight in British aircraft. Owing to the fact that so few of them can speak English they do not leave the camp for the time being unless accompanied by an English officer, or in the case of the airmen by an R.A.F. N.c.o. When the history of the war comes to be written the Polish squadrons of the R.A.F. will claim their part. That is the overwhelming obsession of these young men. ·-·· --- . ..._--... . . .... . .-...... -­ lj/12/39~ -No. 33. OFFICIAL j'J)MIRj~LTY STATEMENT As far as the 11.dmiralty is aware the report th at H.M.S. ACHILLES has .been sunk -is wi:tho-ut-:r.oundation. ---oOo--­