28/1/40 FRENCH OFFICIAL COl.iiTUNIQUE (MORNING} Paris, Sunday, January 28, 1940. •, No. 1. The following official communique issued this morning from French G.H.Q: was NOTHING TO REPORT. +++++++++++ 28/1/40 -No. 2 PRESS NOTICE . T~s Railway Executive Committee announces that weather conditions in the last few days have interfered with the outer suburban services on the Southern Railway, and the public are warned that they may experience in some cases considerable curtailment in train services 9 and some delay in their journeys to London to-morrowo ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN 28/1/40 -No. 3. THE MANY-TONGUED R.A.F. Not to be quoted as an Ai1 .... Ministry Announcement. 11 The German private was afterward.s picked up in a rubber boat 11 11 Soon afteX' the German bomber had crashed in the sea the survivors were taken off and brought ashore11 • Such statements are frequently read in reports of success·t'ul encounters with enemy aircraft off our coast. They mean that German airmen have been made prisoner. The British are za:;~d to be bad linguists, but someone has to be able to talk to the prisoners, not merely in correct German, but in their own colloquial tongue. The talking is done by one or other of the RoA.F. official interpreters stationed up ann. dovm the country. Some of them ·were school-masters in peace time, some were business men, some lived in Germany for many years. One, a school teacher, escaped from Czechoslovakia two days before War was declared. He made his way home through Switzerland and joined the R.A.F. He speaks German like a native. In Prague where he lived for ten years, he was a Correspona_ent of both German antt English newspa~ers. "There are so many different languages and dialects in Greater Germany now", he says, "that often I, an Englishnian, was asked to interpret for two Germans who could not understand one another" • Here i s the story of another interpreter. As a sohoolboy in Glasgow, before the last War, he had been regarded as a prize duffer at both French and Latin. At Glasgow University he began to take a new interest in Latin. He took the advice of his tutor and studied Italian. On leaving the University he became a Chartered Accountant 9 and as a hobby went on st~dying l anguages. Having/ -2 ­ Having mastered Italian and French he went on to German, Spanish, Swedish and Dutch. Now he is at an R.A.F. Fighter station in the North-East coast areao When he wants to amuse himself he tackles cross-word puzzles in French, Dutch or German. Some R.A.F. stations are able, in an emergency, to call on the services of other linguists besides the official interpreter. One of them would be quite a Babel if its officers put their gifts to simultaneous use. Besides the interpreter, there is a G:;;oup-Captain who is fluent in German and Frencho An Armament Officer who has lived among Arabs for 5 years speaks most of the tribal dialects. A South African Private speaks Dutch and French with a smattering of German, while one of the Intelligence Officers learned his German as a prisoner during the. last waro -------000-----­ 28/1/40. No.bl:. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT •. The Board of Trade have made an Order under which exports of superphosphate of lime and phosphate rock to Eire will be subject to export licence from lst.Februa~y. Applications for licences should be made to the Export Licensing Department, Inveresk House, 346, Strand, w.c.2. Board of Trade, 27th January, 1940. 28 .1. 40 .• No. 6 --------w-­ My.3, IBE£S NO'J:ICE. Control of Mercury and Mercurie)-Compound~. In consequence of advances in the price of mercury, the maximum prices of certain mercury compounds have been revised by the Ministry of Supply under t h e Control 0f .lhercury (.No. 3) Order, 1 940, which comes into f orce on ~onday, the 29th J anuary. Copies of the new Order may be purchased from H.iv[. Stationery Of fice, or through any bookseller. Enquiries should be addressed to the Ministry of Supply (Code HA), Raw Materials Department (Mercury Control), Shell-Mex House, Strond, London, w.c.2. Ministry of Sup~ly, Adelphi, w...0.2. 27th January, 1940. ~40. -No. 6. FRENCH OFFICI~OMMWfJQUE (Evening) The following communique was issued this evening from the French GoH.Qo :­ Today there has been renewed activity on the part of the advanced units at some pm,nte of the Front. -----000----­ • FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 1 28th January,No. 12 ....................................................................., 1940 SWITZERLAND: VVILBELivISTRAS:=iE 1 S YlATCH ON TURKEY. The bcli•o::."' that the German Foreign Office is keeping a very clos~ watch on Turkey has been expressed in the Swiss Press. "German-·Turkish relations have been noticenbly co1ler since Turkey concluded an alliance with the Western Powers, despite a German warning," stated the l\STG zrZB.C1IBR Z:t;ITUNG. nEconomic relations are not unaffected by political changes as can be seen from the decline in German-Turkish trade. The Wilhelmstrasse is likely to watch closely the Turkish role in the Balkan Conference. " The vYest\-ffn Powers are likely to beat Germany in the battle for Roumanian oil_, according to the NATIONAJ.J ZEITUNG, for they can pay in gold but Germany can pay only in goods. The possibility must not, however, be overlooked that Germany may use military threats or "may play the Russian trwnp card against Bessarabia." The Berlin correspondent of the :t-.l'EUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG stated: "Certain Roumanian Oil Companies in British hands give' rise to the suspicion in Germany that British-Rownanian oil interests will unfavourably influence oil exports to Gennany. The importance of Roumanian oil to Germany's conduct of the war cannot be doubted and this accounts for German efforts to place the exchange of goods with Rounla.nia an a firm basis to ensure a continuous oil supply." The possibility of American help for Finland was discussed in the GAZETTE DE LAUS.Al'Jl'IB, whose Berlin correspondent stated: "There are reasons to beli eve that the war will not remain confined to Finland. The lively sympathy uni ting Finland with the United States indicates that .Americans won't r emain eternally inactive. The reasonable inference is that Germany will attempt to defeat t he Allies before the intervention of America." DENMARK: 11BRITAINS NEVv WAR. PLAN'! Berliners are bei.ng told tha.t Britain i s ct1Ld·.rng, on a pnase 01' brutal warfare, ancl~ according to ::.-eports r eaching here, · Berlin evening papers have appeared with large headlines: "Britain Intro­ducing Brutal Warfare n c The Berlin correspondent of the NATIONALTIDENDE stated that the main topic of conver sation in Berlin during the weekend was "Britain's New War P-J.et._J. 11 • Tu'"ir. H.G. Wells 1 exhor tation to bomb Berlin -published in the United States -made a great impression. The advice of the American Mi nister in Stockholm to American citizens that they should leave Sweden was given considerable prominence in the Danish newspapers on Saturd&y. FOREIGN PRESS REVIE\V Page 2. 28/1/40 S·.'~DEN: "PRAISE" FOR NAZI S:..A. METHODS. An ironical article on the Nazi "Sink at Sight" methods has appeared in the ~TEBORGS HANDELS-OCH SJ~FARTSTIDNING. "The Germans kindly sink Swedish boats again as well as other neutral boats," stated this paper. "Their generosity casts a glamour over their exploits" The English jog-trot is different. They take time to examine vessels. Life is short and the Germans, in a compassionate spirit, act quickly. They sink boats, sometimes sending several of the crew to the bottom, and no time is wasted in fussing." German propaganda attempts to spread the belief that the Allies intend to partition Germany into the States that existed before 1800 has failed according to the SOCIAL DEMOKR.!1.'i"'EN which dismissed the Nazi efforts in the words: "This propaganda does not carry conviction. " CRITICISM OF BRITISH TRADB NEGOTIATIONS. The Nor.7egian Press has given some prominence to the trade agreements ~dth England and there has been some adverse criticism. The TID~TS TEGN stated that England by her trading agreements might fetter the export strength of Scandinavian countries and hamper their freedom of trade. "England, for certturies the world's leading conunercial power, ought to be the first country to admit that trade agreements cannot be concluded after one set pattern but must take into consideration the special economic requirements of the various countries," stated the paper. An article in a Danish paper reproaching Svieden for meeting British trade demands without consulting other Scandinavian powers was quoted in the Norwegian Press and in this connection the NORGES HANDELS OG SJBFlillTSTIDENDE added: "The general assumption which has aroused great attention here is that British negotiations are making harder demands to Norway than those which have been made the base of agreement with Sweden despite the fact that Norvmy ddaa not export direct wa:r requirements. Here, considerations of commercial and shipping policy rather than those of mere war policy would seem to be paramount. We fail to understand how friendly neutral countries can receive different treatment and how those who by the very nature of the case have most importance seem sometimes to meet with the le3.st indulgence." In commenting on a German report that the Western Powers were considering sending warships as escorts for cargoes transported in Norwegian t erritorial waters the BER.GENS TIDENDE wrote: "This report from Germany is further confirmation of how great a degree both belligerent parties try to involve the neutrals." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW Page 28/1/46. HUNGARY: REPOR'l:j~D BRITISH DE8IRG TO BOMB NAZIS, Reports stating that there is a growing feeling in England that German military objectives should be bombed have been given some prominence in the Hungarian Press. Mr. H.G.Wells' article in the .America:i Magazine LIB.c;;R'l'Y suggesting that a bombardment of Berlin should be carried out has created ai~ainful impression in Hungary and in this nonnection the papers published reports alleging that there is an j_ncreasing nervousness in London and demands for the immediate bombardment of German military and naval bases. The FUGGET LENSLG-used the headline "Decisive Offensive urged in Britain.P The Hungarian Press also gave some prominence to the question of Roumania and her oil and the PESTI HIRLAP stated that Roum.ania would supply 130,000 tons of oi:+ r110nthly to Germany. The UJ MAGYARSAG, referring to the reported return of the pocket battleship Deutsohland used the headline "Deutschland Breaks Through the Bleckade of the British Navy." BULGARIA: BALY'-.Al.'J STA':r:GS DRAWii'JG NEARER? ---..--._ ---·--­ ---·"""'.....__...,,.,.__ The possibility of the Balkan Sts.t es 1 drawing closer together has been mentioned in the Blllgarian Press. The newspaper ZORA quoting the NATIONAL ZEITUNG stated: "The idea is being discussed between the South Eastern States of extending the obligaii81us · for as:;iistance and a common pact for mutual help between the four countries in the Balkan Entente. It would appear that this idea emanated primarily from Turkey who has been appointed by the Western Pewers to eomrert the Entente to a collective system." YUGOSLAVIA: I NTERPRE'r ArrON OF 1'1R&l'.fC'tl GEi'IBRALI s VISIT. The visit of General Weygand to Ankara vvas seen by the Berlin correspondent of the POLITIKA yesterday as an Allied attempt to secure Turkish intervention i n Bucharest on the oil question. In an earlier message this correspondent described Allied Diplomatic steps in Roumania as "A breach of neutral rights." The VREME in a Budapest message stat ed: "Increased deliveries of Roumanian ~il to Germany will force the Allies t~ make a mass otfensivoe" FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW Page 4 28/1/L~O. .lS MILIT.ARIS11 FOB OF GEPJ:IFJ'J_P~~f!£? The question of uhether the r eal enemy of German people is frussian militarism is discussed in today1 s :::mrr YORK TIMES. 11Hitler has achieved unparalleled authority at home and conquests abroad, but at h~me his authority is the subjugation of discontented minorities amongst his oym people resting on the terror of the secret police, 11 it is affirmed in an a:-ticle in this paper 11His -rrork in 0 Czecho"'"Slovakia and Poland has provided fucl for racial hatreds for centuries to come. Hitler has not obtained either permanent German unity or permanent 1Lebensrm..u'll! The question is a-bout to arise whether the real foe of German nationhood is G-e:rman soldierdom Yrhich can break through, stamp down Bnd crush, but cannot find_ c:. natio:r:.al Tray of life. The SlJNDAY NEVTS} comraent ing o~ ~~he :princi:ples of Communism and Nazism states: 1'Communism is a religion trying -co suppla...1t Christianity and Nazism is much on the same basiso Germany encol12'.'ages a return to the old pagan Druid creeds" The Church is muzzled, the Confessional Churches are sup:pr·cssed, the C2_thoJ..ic Church prvpcr-tics m-c confiscated and monks are sent to prison on trumped up cha.rgcE::' . The vievr tho..t Britain i.s to a sreat extent fighting ,L\mcrica1 s battle was expressed in the INDIANA'.?OLIS STAR -rrhich stated: "'.L'he British a.re battling for the life of their country and cmpi::::-e o.ga.inst a force of Dictatorships., tyranny and ::::iagaDism, The fate of Dcmc'cracy everywhere depends on the out~"'Come ,~f' this struggl•.:. 'l\: su:ne degree B:::-itain is fighting t'ur battle , sine..: the rout o:' Hi-tl.:~rj_sm a.n.d Sttlil;lis:;n nould remove the threat to America' s pe;ace 2nd security, Every P_llicd success brings a thrill to the:; Uni~ed Stc.tes, E-v-c.ory re•1t.::::cs<:} occasions deep anxiety". A similar vieu vr2.s taken by the S'r.. LOUIS STAR-'l'IMES. 11 It makes a substantial difference nhether '.:;he British 2nd French Empires g,, down befcre th0 tota.litari211 onslaught and the mastery of Europe, .Africa and Asfr_ passes into the hands /£ Hitler, Stalin and possibly Mussolini. Ue should :::-ec8gnisc that the complGte triumph of totalitarianism in Europe -rrould affect our seGurity11 • Discussing the I'innish qu0stion2 ·che COLTJ1.IBIA ST.ATE SOUTH C.l\.ROLINA affirmed: ".Agents of the Carnegie Endmvment nri ting from Europe report the Finland, u_n.aided, can hold out for nru_ch more than ten ueeks. It is reported that feeling in Europe is that since America is so far mray and not immediately concerned with the disputu bc-:trreen Britain, France and Germany, she might help Finland more effectively th2n any other nation. If .America decides to do nothing, huue:ver 7 then the expectation is that the Scandinavian countries v1ill go do-,-m one by _,ne11 , Page FOREIGN PRESS REVIE"\V 5. 28/1/40. HOLLAND: DUTCH PRESS SPECULATION. The Dutch Press on Saturday vms mainly concerned ·with praising the recent speech of the Dutch Foreign Minister and in speculating on the outcome of the duel for Rumanian oil. The NIEUWE ROTTERDAMSCHE COURANT described the Foreign Minister's speech as a "manly talk" and referred to inaccuracies which had appeared in the German Press. Under the heading "Portrait of Holland" HET HANDELSBLAD wrote: "We only vdsh we had a better propaganda apparatus so as to make truths penetrate to foreign countries." BELGIUM: BELGIUM'S NEUTRALITY REAFFIRMED. A reaffirmation of Belgium's policy of neutrality was made in the Press yesterday. Commenting on the forthcoming internal loan the NATION BELGE stated: "How can Belgium maintain her present neutrality which saves her from catastrophe if the illwill and blindness of Belgians were to oblige her leaders to appeal for financial assistance to foreigners? " The INDEPENDENCE BELGE, after referring to the speech of the IXltch Foreign Minister stated: "When one dares to speak of peace to come certain circles treat us as Germanophile, as if peace and justice and oonoi.1iation· meant a German peace." FINLAND: "RUSSIAN BREAD UNFIT FOR PIGS". Biting comment on the quality of Russian bread has been made in the SOSIALIDEMOKRAATTI. This paper stated in its edition of F'riday: "The dog dreams of a bone and the hungry Russians probably of loaves raining from Heaven. It might be worth while to collect the Russian loaves found at the front and drop them on Leningrad from airplanes. Here, even the pigs are hardly able to eat them." · The opinion of the newspaper ID~LSINGEN SANO:WJAT in regard to the question of foreign volunteers was given in the words: "Finland did not want this war and does not claim a monopoly in it. Therefore, if anyone has anything against Russia he is welcome to step in. For our part, we have hitherto arranged matters well enough vdth our own forces and we need not be ashamed to invite others to join us." After stating that it was a pleasure to welcome the British Delegation led by Sir Walter Citrine the newspaper UUSI SUOMI added: "It is easy to show them what interests therr4 We can show them much -the terrifying evidences of the war and the cynical brutality of the eneIJ\Y. We are certain that our guests will find it easy to report the details of assistance needed to continue successfully the defence against an eneII\Y 50 times bigger than ourselves. We need help and with God's aid hope to use this assistance on humanity's behalf in the outpost of Western civilisation." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEV\7 Page 28/1/40. I'l'.1-1.LY: BRITAIN7S 11INTER.4'E_._lliHCE 11 IN ROUil/I.ANIA. ---•n•~-..,~,.. ,. ,., _. ..--~--·• --, "''"'•r~1"•A-•·••-•,., -----•-A<--·••--'"'"~--·""•---·~·---·­ Britain's attitude to the Holur.anj :=m d .l questi on has be·::n described in the I talian Press a s "an :Ln~;erf.-;rence in Roumanian affairs." The MES,jA(',.G~RO affirmed yet>terda/ tha'!:. Roumania felt herself menaced and that the aggression ca1ne f rom Lo:1don and P~ris, The paper add.ed: "On account of h()r economic structure, Roumania is most hit by the asgress:Lve policy Vvt1kh B:r:itain is "geginning to adop:f; in this sector of ~uropc: .. For three days a wave 07: indignation has been spreading th:-:-ough·-ou-C R01..m:<:c.i-1ia againGt England1 s attempt to interfere in Rownania ' s "Jconomic and poli tical affairs . The institution of the Petrol Conmtlssion is purely a tecln1ical question and London has misused it in an igr1oble fashion. ii The Balkan situation has ber-:n gi7en considerable prominence in the Italian Press and a Belgr ade rr1ossage in the GIORNALE D1ITALIA stated: "The Balkan Peninsu:!.a feel s itself' ever more tightly gripped in the vast death dealing ganK~ of the belligerents,. New suspicions, new pressures and new veiled mena.ccs are added to the olcl oneson Praise of Britain and denounciation of Germany were contained in an article published in AUvIUAYAD entitled 11England the Guardian of Civilisation." Declaring that Britain f j!_)5ts for the preservation of virtues and the salvation of humanity and world c:i viEsation, the article added: "Hitler will soon taste the bitterness o±' hi s mvn war, which will not ceaae until he is thro'rm out a.ncl Nazism w:~p~d out from Germany. England will rightly be proud of delivering the wor ld :c':r·om constant fear and uncertainty thus adding a new bright page to her book 'of virtues." "The great majority of the South African population is convinced that safety lies v:.rith England," was the comment of HET VOLK the Argan of the SociD.l Democratic Labour P.::,rty referring t o the speech by General Hertzog. HET VADERLAND in its issue y.:::sterday praised Finland!s effort but concluded: "It would not be safe for Hol1911d to send able-bodied men in these days." Referring to the question of 11vhich belligerent should start an attack, HET HANDELSBIJill stated: "Normally L':1e Allies shoula ~;a1:0 1.;he initiat·ive in an attack, but now it is phy2;b ally impossible, Hitler1 s programme of destruction of the British Empire really Flts him under an obligation to attack England; but as regards the position on land, nc is in the same boat as the Allies. 11