FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC ·REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 14th 1'ebruary, 2.7 ....................................................................., 1940 No. NORWAY~ "PIRACY IN LEG.ALL5ED FORJ.W'. Some of the strongest comment that has yet been made in the Nonvegian Press during the present war has appeared in the influential Right Wing newspaper AFTENPOSTEN, This paper yesterday q1.loted at length from an article in the FRANKFURTER ZEITUN~ defending, by means of precedents, the Hamburg Prize Court proceedings in ~hich the cargo from the Norwegian ship Korsnes was confiscated because the ship was forced into a belligerent harbour through stress of weather. "Never have such weak and artificial argwnents for a court verdict appeared in print, " declared the AFTENPOSTEN. . "There is not a shadow of evidence for the enemy destination in the case mentioned, They do not even trouble to give the verdict a veneer of logical reasoning. "One is tempted to use the words 'This is piracy in a more or less legalised form'. The Gennans need the cargo but they let the ship free because in prevailing conditions it cannot be used in German interests." The NORGES HAI'IDELS OG SJOFARTSTIDENDE printed an interview with a Norwegian Consul in vvhich he said: "If I were a seaman; I would say to you at home, 1I won't bring a cargo into Norway until you stop the traffic in iron ore from Narvik. 1 " The ARBERDERBLADET, the Labour Party organ,commenting on the se:i.zure of Dr.Rausebning1 s book in Sweden, vvrote: 11It is perhaps the direct references to Scandinavia's position, which have led the Swedish Govern­ment to seize the book. If, however, it happened as a result of pressure from abroad, we are faced -with a drastic interference in the freedom of expression in neutral countries. If it happened quite voluntarily, the Swedes have taken a course which may lead to dangerous consequences. ' TURKEY: NAZI PROPAGANDA WANING. The success of Nazi wireless propaganda has been declining ever since Germany marched into Czechoslovakia. This belief was expressed by the ULUS, the organ of the People 1 s Party, which stated: "The star of German propaganda has paled since the invasion of Czechoslovak!la and has had an unproductive effect during the present hostilities, The Nazis underestimate the intelligence and comprehension of listeners," Referring to the anniversary of Dr. Schuschnigs's meeting with Herr Hitler in 1938, this paper declared: "Schuschnigg viras the first victim of a technique which was later exh2::idt:d to Czechoslovakia and Poland. If the Polish foreign minister had proceeded to Berlin, he would have experienced the f ate of Schuschnigg and Dr. Hacha. It is st:r2.ngc that Germany holds responsible for the present hostiliti<·s those who opposed a ma.nouvre against Poland, ,,~-hich had already proved tragic for Austria and Czechoslovakia." .An ironical vein is adopfod by the J\TEW YORK ID.;RALD TRIBilllJE today, in commenting on the scuttling of the Germ.sn freig..hter Wakarr\ac ".Another Hitler sea triumph has been scored i n the destruction ,.., f the Nazi vessel ·wakama by her cre>Y; 11 states this pape:::·o "This is the latest in a series of similar incidents ;,-hawing a settled g:_.vernment policy, When it is recalled that the Graf Spee flight and scuttling we:r:e hailed in Berlin as a victory, it would seem as if a strange cha11ge had come over Germany's naval tradition. We doubt j_f the officers and men approve and are likely t i) continue indefinitely without emphatic pr0test.a A review of internal conditions in Germany was given by the Berlin correspondent of the ST. LOUIS POST DI~3P.ATG'rlo This correspondent declared yesterday: 01'he severest weather in 11 years and the constant tightening of the Allied blockade have wrousht perceptible changes in everyday ~i.vilian life in Germany in the last three months. The visitor finds, on returning to the Reich after being away since last N0 vernber;, that food and other shortages a.re \Vorse than they were la.st autumno Hundreds of thou::iands of pe8ple in Berl i n alone a.re without adequate heat in t heir homes and places of businessc 11 The ST. LOUIS GLOBE DEM:OCRAT wrote : "'rhe entire Nazi Press has opened up a prcipaganda campaign against Capitalism, Hori can the German peJple forget the battle against Corrununism? With r apt attention they J.istened t~ the speeches of the World War corporal who :!'leaped condenmation upon Russia. The Nazi Press has again demonntrated its versa.tility ·~ no-t to mention its inconsistency -by perrnitti:ig itself to be Sovietisedo i; The INDIANAPOLIS ST.AR declared: rnI'he announcements from Engla.11d that the third contingent of Canadians had been landed, more than offset propaganda sent from Berlin c;:mcerning raids on Allied an.d neutral shipping, Hitler's agents would have the world b:cl eive that U-boats, mines and bombing planes are making short work of traffic on the high seas. If Hitler were accomplishin[; anything like the success he cJ.ajms, he would be able to stop troops from reaching Englandv Hitler han no excuse fur boasting of his prowess at sea. The Fuehrer contents himself: as Mr. Chamberlain said, with attacking fishing craft and defenceless mierchantmen," In an article in the DETROIT PREE PRESS it was stated: "Despite the spectacular character of German winter operations against m.ercl'lant shipping in British waters, it has 'been something of a lcsing game for German sailors and airmen. " FINLAND: SCEPI'ICISM ON RUSSO-GERMAN AGREE .ENT. A sceptical view of the Russo-German Trade Agreement was taken in yesterday's HEL8INGIN S.AN01U~, the National Progressive organ. This paper wrote: "At least theoretically, Germany has avoided war on two fronts and secured a supply of raw materials. On paper, relations have been adjusted in Germany's favour and unanirnity reached. But the question of an active and lively trade exchange is quite a different matter. The average German merchant will state that 25 years is a mini­mum time before goods can be delivered from Russia to Germany." In a reference to Italian interests in the Balkans, the Agrarian newspaper ILKK.A pointed out that the annexation of Albania meant the establishment of an Italian outpost in the Balkans and "if the European conflict increases, Italy may consider necessary the realisation of her anti-Bolshevik aims in the way of suiting her expansionist efforts." The SOSIALI DEMOKRAATTI expressed pleasure with the new system of paying Finnish soldiers, under which the ranks are paid a daily rate together with a mohthly salary in the same manner as officers. This pa~, however, regarded the necessity for the slight reduction in the pay ef officers and N.C.O's, and pointed out that officers in the past often kept only their daily pay and gave their monthly salary for national defence purposes. FRANCE: HELP FOR FINLAND URGED. The view of the French "man in the street" is that every possible help should be given to Finland in her fight against Russia, according to M.Leon Blum. Writing in the POPULAIRE yesterday; M.Blum affirmed: "I do not think I am mistaken in saying that public opinion in France is firmly eonvinced that Finland must be saved at all costs, No effort that is humanly possible IIUlst be spared in order to save her, it is not yet realised hbw strong this feeling is because up to the present we have got used to the idea that Finland is resisting victoriously without outside help. But if this miracle were to cease, if it ·were to be felt that Finland was abandoned to extreme peril through insufficient aid or aid that dame to6 late, then I. am comri.nced that a wave of passion artd anger would sweep through the whole country." A similar line was taken by M.Jean Fabry in the MATIN. "A faveurable happening should always be exploited to the full and what is happening in Finland can and must have tremendous consequences," he stated. "We must do everything to accentuate the Soviet failure. We must help Finland. We must sh:.re directly in her effort. "~7e cannot say to What this failure will lead. No-one can claim to measure its effects on Germany," 4 14. 2. 40. HUNGARY: ROUMANIA 1S ATTITUDE A U;NGZR? The Balkan question and the attitude of Roumania to the present situation were referred to prominently in yesterday 1s Hungarian Press. Some comments were to the effect that Roumania 1 s attitude endi:ngered peace in South-Eastern Europe and several newspapers cited Italian Press comments that Hungary would shortly begin intensive diplomatic activity. Rumours of Roumanian concessions to Bulgaria were not confirmed but there was some talk of a trans­formation of the Balkan Unimn into a military alliance. Some prominence was given to the conclusion of the German-Russian economic agreement and a section of the Press stressed the exchange of Russian raw materials for Nazi industrio.l products. Kr. Sumner Yfelles's European visit created considerable interest and the view of the Liberal organ PESTI HIRLAP was that the American diplorna:itt s mis.ion would be concerned primarily with preventing an expansion of the vro..r and an extension of the wa:r area. This paper also stressed the determination of Britain and France to insist on the fulfilment of their war aims. BE!n.IlJM: DmITNlDN FORC~S1 Ai.CffiIV-~L FEA.TURED. Considerable prominence has been given in the Belgian Pr8ss to the arrival of Australian and New Zealand troops. In this connection the STA:N-:OA:Jill, the Jnemish Catholic newspaper, wrote yesterday: "This is the greatest force of troops hitherto transported over­seas. This force, constituting the spearhead of Britain's strategic reserves, shov;s the determination of the Empire to continue the struggle." Commenting on Mr. Sumner Welles 1 s visit the GAZET'IE DE ClURLEROI, the Liberal organ; stated: "There are two ways of conceiving peace. The first would demand from Britain and France recognition of a fait accompli and the second would demand from Germany her consent to a reconstruction of Europe on the basis of a status quo. Ther1; is no reason to imagine the belligerents will explain their vrar aims before arms have spoken. If one of them can make a pacific gesture it is of course Germany who must do so since it is she ~ho has broken the European equilibriUm." ;:;\iJ:TZ:_;RI.AND: :i·:II.J) ~C.e:Pl'ION FOR O. S. Jl:IT3 jION. 'l'he forthcoming visit to burope of Mr. Sumner ~:elles has been welcomed cautiously by the Swiss Press although one journal thought Mr. Roosevelt's reasons for the m:Esion were "obscure". DER Bul\1D, the Radical Democratic -Qrg~~n, wrote yesterday: "We have no desire to under-estimate the action. It is in some degree a re-assurance when a powerful authority standing above Parties desires to promote peQce through mediation. 11 "The American Government, like all good neutrals, has no intention of interfering in regard to the belligerents 1 war aitns," stated the 'l'RIBlilift: Dl~ GENbV.rl:. "There is no doubt on whose side the U.:::;. A1 s sympathies lie, but the belligerents have made it clear that they do not :.Lntend to tolerate any attempt at mediation on this ground." 14. 2. 40. The Basle nc·;:sp:,pcr r.:~TIOK.•L Z:L:ITUPG af.O:'irued: "The rc;o.sons for President Roosevelt's diploE12.tic offensive are obscure o.nd it has ce:tt~'.inly made a bad start. Yihy it has be"n unCiertt'.ken can only be explained by int{;rnc.:l political re.~.sons, nru;,ely the Presidential Election. It is evidently intended to deEionstrate plainly to RepublicD.ns and Isolationists that Roosev.:olt has done his utnost to re-est::blish Buroper' n peac...: and keep Ar;1erica outside the war." Referring to the question of neutr..inst whom is an unanswerable question. Perhaps the idea is only to exert pressure on States which might be engulfed by the German tentacles." 1~ 2. 40. The GOTEBORGS i'::ORG~NPOST stat ed: "Certain old Corrununist friends ll'Wf say that the r~ids on Communists should. be extended to the Swedish Nazi Party. The Party changed its name six months ago to avoid the suspicion of German influence. .\Rhe tine has come t6 finish it." IT_l.LY: HERR HITIBR' S ASCETISM. The POPOLO DI RO~IA, in a message from Berlin yesterday~ gave a long account of of Dr. Goebbels' description of Herr Hitler's ascetism, and the advantages in war-time of a Totalitarian r egime. The same newspaper also f eatured a Berlin report that Germans had been massacred in Poland, and a Belgrade dispatch to this journal, citing the VREME, emphasised the cordiality of Hungaro-Yugoslav relations and the hopes of a Rouina.lhian-Hungarian settlement through Yugoslav influence. This newspaper also cited the POLITIKA report from Berlin of possible German proposals for the improvement of Russo-Roumanian relations Dispatches from Cairo r eporting the arrival of Australian and New Zealand troops were printed in several Italian papers, which took the view that the Dominion Forces would swell General Weygans's contingents~ BULGARIA:. "SOVIET NOT PL/1UDJ:ri-FINLAND 1S DESTRUCTION". "The convi ction is growing · · . that the Soviet is not planning the destruction of Finland, but wishes to make her completely independent in the interests of the defence of Leningrad. " This statement vvas made in a Kau::;.as message to the Bulgarian nevrspap,;r ZARIA, and it was added: "The Soviet wishes to vvin over the Finnish nation to the ~ommon cause. " All the Bulgarian newspapers yesterday reported the arrival of "\ustralian and New Zealand troops in Egypt and the entire Press gave prominence t o Moscow and Berlin messages vvith r egard to the signing of the Russo-German Trade Agreement. ROUllfJ.ANIA: INT~K~ST I N U.S. MI SSION. Keen inter est in Mr. Sumner Welles ' visit t o Europe is shown in to-day's Roumanian Press, and the UNIV_;.:;RSUL under the signature of its Editor-in-Chief, M. Lugosanu, writes: u-.Jelles' inquiry Yiill be made only in the neutr.e.l countries ~nd Euro~can bell igerents, but not in Soviet Russia. This enquiry has an informative character as to the present condition of Zuropean neutrality, and the probable future economic organisation at the end of the war. "Sumner 'rfelles will try to find out how peace can be guaranteed in the fut':1:e an~ ~o~v e':entually r estoration could be made within a".~;.ilable vital space. ~erican initiative seems t o run par allel t o the option t Qken by the Pope. It is more worthy to pay attention to the initiative taken by President Roosevelt than to look upon it in a casual way." T~MPUL sta~es: ."Sumner Welles' visit has an unusual char .'.l.cter. ProbD.bly no bel~iger~nt vall give a precise answer and if the American envoy attempts to mediate in the cessation of hostilities, the chances are that he vvill not succeed. But Mr. Sumner Welles' visit vvill strengthen the neutrality of the neutral countries," '.• 7 OURBNTUL affirms: ".American interests require strong solidarity with h'urope in the interest of peace. The United States needs to be uell inform~d. . Mr. Sumner Welles' visit means that the United States is coming out of her isoJ a tion." .ARGLNTINE: U. S. '.!.G_'-tG't: IITITIATHE WELCOMED. A number of Argentine ne-;·,-spapers have ap;1roved the principle of Mr.. Sumner Welles' mission to Europe and LA PREN& thought that the wc..r might be brought to an end ii the neutrals supported President Roosevelt's pcac~ effort. ACCION and EL DIA considered that Hitlerism was an insuperable obstacle to peace, . and other papers, including the influential LA N.A.OION,thought that there was no prospect of peace owing to the incompatible positions of the belligerents. EL MU1'-.1DO stress~d the purely informative nature of the U.S Wd.ssion. •· Referring to the execution of members of the I. R. A. LA. PiLNS..· -~ psychological error, but Britain could not have _acted other­wise. Lt.. NACION said that the bomb plot was "one of the cru~:J~1~t11• and considered that the illegal activities of the I. R•...".,... embarrassed the Irish Government who were desirous of a peaceful settlement. LA l'RENSA reported incr0asing sympathy for the ~llies among the Italian people, due to the r ecognition of the justice of the Allied cause and f1>rccai3t_. the possibility of '"It:a;Jy. : eventually joining Britain and France. BRAZIL: RE.ACTION TO U. S. MISSION. The announcement of Kr. Sumner Welles' visit to Europe has not so far met vrith a very favourable reception in the Brazilian Press. 0 JORNAL affirmed yesterday that the only hope of success for the :i·:lission was Germany's acceptance of the t erms of the September ultimatum. l'my other peace would stultify the moral reasons for which the Franco-British Governments finally declared war -to establish a new European order based on the principles of justuce and respect for weaker nations. Air M;ni_~try Bulletin. 14/2/40 No. 1. Jfoi]__ to be g,_uoyed as .. an Air Mj nistry Announcement. R.A.F. MAP THE ROU'r.E TO GERMANY. The nerial photographs of Germany now being published are a vivid reminder that since war was declared aircraft of the Bomber Oor.11-rw.nd have visited key point.s in G.11 parts of the Reich as well .:<.s the German Islands. They have surveyed the whole of the Siegfried Line, much of it closely. On these flights every man in the crew uses his eyes to aid in the selection of potential objectives for our bombers. The pilots become familiar with the lie of the land in every sort of wenthci.... Sunlight and moonlight throw different shadows. Rain and snow may change the appeo.ro.nce of a place almost out of recognition. But Royal Air Force airmen have made their visits in all these vnrying circmnstances and are now unlikely to go astrQy. They knovr the position of enerny aerodromes, and where to be\7are of anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights. All this information will be of great value when the time comes for our aircraft to make their way to their allotted obj ectivos. Besides man, there is another enemy to be reckoned with on these flights, This is the weather. On a single flight one aircraft encountered first lightning and then a snowstorm.. At 20,000 feet ice formed on the airscrews. The pilot took off his glove for a moment to adjust his controls and was f'rost-b"itten. 11.s the winter progressed., the threat from cold increased. There have been instances of ice forming vri thin an aircraft at 8,ooo feet. At relatively low altitudes it is not uncommon for ice to form in masses on the wings. One aircraft, while on the way to Munich, had such nn experience in cloud at 1,000 feet. Ice completely covered the /front -2 ­ f'ront windmvs of the cabin, and there was e.xtensive ice formation on the main wings. Ice could be heard coming of'f the blades of the airscrews and striking the sides of the nose of the aircraft. Continuous movement of the controls was advisable to prevent them from freezing up. Some members of the crew were in such pain !rom frostbite that th;ey butted their hands on the floor and navigation table. Electrical storms are no less disconcerting. An aircraft flying through such a storm sets up what is known as the 11b!'ushing discharge." It is outlined in a weird violet light. Every movement of the crew gives off sparks and a noise of crackling. It is in such conditions that our airmen collect information, photograph tovms, fortresses, transport routes, and naval and other har'bours and record landma!lkS for those who oome after them. At night the enemy opposition to the Royal Air Foroe over Germany has been in some ways ineffective. Their fighter air­craft for instance, have repeatedly failed to intercept our night reconnaissance aircraft. But on occasion, fire from enemy anti-aircraft g~ms, working in close co-operation with many searchlights, has forced us to take evasive action. Anti-aircraft gunfire 9 however, varies in accuracy. The pilot of an aircraft that flew over Berlin reported that the defence organisation there must have been badly shaken. Not a shot reached home, although it was obvious that every available gun had been brought to bear on the visitor. For the most part the projectiles used in this case seemed to be experimental. .Arnong the familiar ones generally used by the enemy are the 11 flaming onions", a string of balls of fire shot into the air in the presumed course of the aircraft, in the hope of setting it on fire. There are also ·what a pilot described as "incendi/i!.rY shells. 11 Wh@/ . 3 When th0y eA'"]?lode, these shells discharge large red balls of fire that cz:~n be seen the whole w2y up. They eventually c1ise.ppear without bursting. Da.y reconnaissance is o. very different matter. Though it is less handicapped by adverse weather, it is eXposed to an enemy thRt oJ.n see. The f act that our aircraft have been able to take photographs at low altitudes over enemy territory is proof of the crews' courage and enterprise and of their ability to make the most of the prevailing clouds to hide in. T'.aough nearly all our aircraft have come under heavy fire over Germany, there have been remarkable exceptions. Instances are recorded where Royal Air Force airc:-aft photographing an enemy aeroc1ror,1e have apparently gone unnoticed by German fighters just about to l and. One British aircraft, flying alone over Germany, encountered three Ge~man fighters, all of which kept their distance and did not offer b~ttle. Another RQyal Air Force aircraft drove off three attacking enemy fighters at nbout 200 yards. These l ast were exceptional cases. At times, the German fighters may have seemed reluctant to meddle with intrudex•sp but generally our bombers have to face deternined resistance by enemy aircraft. Every photograph that appears and every piece of informe,tion brought back is a witness to many feats of enc1urcnce, patience and skill. ++++++-:-++++++++ AIR MTL~TSTRY, WHITEH12Ji~, s.W.1$ 14/2/40. -No. 2. FRENCH .OEJi'ICIAL COMMUNI QUE. (MORNING) The following official communique was issuea. this morning from French G.H. C:1' ­LOCAL ARTILLERY ACTIONS. 14/2/40 No. 3. Summary of a speech to be delivered by Sir Edward Grigg, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information, to the Altrincham Lunch Club on February 140· "A second phase of the war will soon begin," said Sir Edward Grigg, MoP., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information, in a speech at Altrincham, to-day. Hitler might launch a great offensive, or he might hold his handc If he took the former course, the British people would rise to the occasion, as they always had done in the past. Germany had the advantage of much longer preparation in time of peace and her stock of munitions was certainly very large. rt would be significant indeed, if she failed to deliver a carefully prepared and massive blow. Paying a cordial tribute to France, Sir ~dward declared that the British people could not show too warm a recognition of all that the French nation had done and suffered in the last five months, not could they be too grateful for the foresight of France's soldiers when, more than ten years ago, they started the M~ginot Lineo Alluding to the Prine Minister's distinction between war aims and peace aims, Sir Edward observed that the latter will of necessity remain but dreams until the war ai:ni& are realised. There could be no future but degradation and darkness for Eurppe and for this country, if the military power of Germany were not destroyedo Four things~ he added, were needed for victory. They were a rapid expansion of our fighting services, already formidable though they be; a vastly increased output of munitions; strong national finances and a buoyant export trade. "We can all play our part," declared Sir Edward, "in one or other of these four branches of the national effort that has to be madeo -2 ­ "In particular, we can save, and we can bear a shortage of many things we normally enjoy, because vrn do not 'Nish our ships and our seamen's lives or our financial strength in foreign exchange to be wasted on the import of a single article which will not help us to win the waro" While the Government was doing all it could by rationing, by pegging food prices and in other ways to lessen hardships, it was necessary to stress that hard times lay ahead. "But let us face them proudly for no generation of men has ever marched beneath a cleaner banner for a nobler goal." ------000-----­ 14/2/40 -No. 4. STATEMENT GIV'.J!N TO CORRESPONDENTS AT Ii,UNISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE ON 14th FEBRUARY at 3.0. p.m. On 13th February there were 20 neutral ships in the three Contraband Control bases in the United Kingdom, of which 14 had been there for 5 days or less. This total included:­ 10 Dutch (7 for 5 days or lessl II ti 3 Belgian ~2 " " " ll II II II 3 Swedish 1 " II II 2 Danish Both II II There were also 1 Italian ship and 1 Norwegian ship which had been detained under 5 days. During the week ending 10th February the Contraband Committee considered the cargoes of 123 ships which had arrived since 3rd February and 32 outstanding cargoes from the previous week. The combined total included ships of the following nationalities:­ 34 Dutch 32 Italian 30 Norwegian 13 Swedish 9 Greek 7 United States 6 Belgian In 97 cases entire cargoes were released, either on first consideration or after enquiries. The system under which advance copies of manifests of cargoes are received and considered before the ships' arrival at ports in this country resulted, during the week under review, in 74 cases being so dealt with, and in 60 cases of the ships concerned being released by the Committee, subject merely to the formal clrncking of the original manifests on their arrival at the Control Bases. MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE. (Not to be quoted as an Air Ministry announcement.) The three R.A.F. Fighter Command pilots who dived 149 000 feet in pursuit of a Heinlrnl r ai der off the Thames Estuary last night believe that their enemy was brought down. They 1-cnow that their machine-gun bullets hit the Heinkel and, in spite of r apidly failing light 9 they saw signs that he was disabled. "The Heinkel was definitely hit" 9 said one of them today. 11His undercarriage was lowered ha1f way down 9 and. he was attempting to fly eastwards at cloud l evel. The rear gunner was probably hit , as no more fire was encountered. It is improbab1e that the enemy aircraft got home\f. AIR AFFAIRS. 14/2/LJ.O -No. 6. DEVELOPMENT OF BlWADCASTING IN MALAYA. Malaya is developing on a wide scale the installation of radio receivers and public address systems at centres throughout the country, for the distribution of war news, food and commodity prices, etc. These are supplemented by public address vans in the country districts. Bulletins are broadcast in Malay, Tamil, Chinese and :Gnglish. There has been a marked rise since the beginning of the war in the number of broadcast listening station licences issued; and a steady supply of receiving sets is now available. There was an increase of nearly 2,500 licences issued during the second half of 1939, -17.722 compared with 15.309 at the end of June EMPIRE AFFAIRS, 14/2/40 No. 7. COMFORTS FOJl_THE NAVY The following is issued to the Press, by Naval Affairs, for such use as they may like to make of ito In spite of increasing difficulty and delay in obtaining . supplies of knitting vrnol, the "Depot for Iffiitted Garments for the Royal Navy", llA, West Halldn Street, s.W.. 1., has just completed a record week of worko 95 bales containing 34,000 garments were dispatched to HoM .. ships in 5 day$. Since the Depot opened on October 26th, 1939, 209,658 garments have been received and distributed to 763 ships of all typos, from battleships to destroyers, submarines, trawlers and mine-sweeperso This great effort is the result of the excellent work which is being d~1e by the 1,6000 Registered Sub-Depots, and the many hundreds of gifts of knitted goods and of money which have been sent to the Depot by members of the public all over the countryu The Admiralty has stated that still more seamen will be required for the Navy. It will therefore be necessary to provide still more garments, and the work cannot be C).llowed to lapse during the spri.ng and surnmerc Wool, when obtainable, is supplied by the Depot to Registered Sub-Depots at the current wholesale pricea ___..,. ______ NAVAL AFFAIRS. 1W2/40 -No. 8. SOUTH AFRICA'S LARGE fQOD STOCKS. Latest official statistics issued in Pretoria show that the Union of South Africa's food-stocks are far greater than a year ago. Millions of pounds of butter, cheese, meat and flour among other commodities are in store for local distri­bution, or for export, mainly to the United Kingdom. Butter.stocks at the end of December stood at 4,300 1 000.Jbs; cheese at 3,252,000 lbs; bacon and ham at 1 ,000,000. There were nearly 30,000,000 eggs in store, and large quantities of beef and mutton. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 14.2.40 No •. 1 O. WHEN BRITON MEETS GP.RM.AN -IN NEUTR'., L CHILE. The British u.nd German co1onies in neutral countries, who come into daily business contact with each other, are taking every precaution to treat each other with respect, and avoid any acts that might cause embarrassment to the Government of the country whose hospitality they are receiving, This careful decorum is mentioned by a British business man in Chile, where the German community is considerably larger than the British. However, he adds in a letter to Empire Affairs, it is interesting to. note what a large section of the Germans repudiate the present Nazi regime. Many are of Jewish extr2ction, but even the "Aryans" do not always see eye to eye with the Fuehrer at the present time. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 14/2/40 -No 11. CANADIAN TROOPS MOURN LORD T\IV:CEDSIVIUIR. The Canadian troops in England havegJne into Service mourning for their late Commander-in-Chief; Lord Tweedsmuir, for seven days. Crape arm oands are oeing worn oy all officers and the flag at Divisional Headquarters flies at half-mast. Concerts 9 entertainments and sports events have oeen cancelled for a week. Arrangements are oeing considered for a memorial service · to oe held, either at Aldershot or in London, when Lord Tweedsmuir's oody is orought home to Scotland. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 14/2/40 -No.12. J.\.USTRJ\LIA TI:LLS GERi'I/\.NY -------·-------·----­ THINGS TO 1P!BICH C.r:.~LS.AR HAS IJO TITLE. :.~:i". Archie Cmneron9 Le2c1er of the Country Pc.rty in Austro.lio., in C'. broo.dco.s t f i1om Aus tro.l i o. todo.y which it W!'.s hoped wciulc1 reach German listeners 9 ngu.in ernphcisizec1 that the Cm1E1011weo.lth is in the wo.r heo.rt o.ncJ. soul vrith Greett BritaL1.. '1We f.tght;', he so.id, "not bec<>.use 1Ne object to Caesnr having his own, but bec~use we believe that there are things to which C2esnr has neither right nor title. "In the last vmr 11 , he told Germen listeners, your men met ours i~ rrance, I'l nnders, Gallipoli, Syrin, Mesopotemia, at sea .-:i.J.1c1 in the fl.ir. You have chosen to meet us ag~in. Each kJ.1.0 F G t he; mettle of the oth:; :i., , 11 °,-i e i'ight in this wG.r~ as j_n the l r.st 9 not becnuse the Gove:i.1 rn;1ent orders us to fj_p;ht but beco.use we believe in the justice of the British cause. For this rec.son seven divis ioti.s crossed the sea in the 1Horld. W2.r; for this so.me reason others will follow them in this wnr; for this reason Australic::n seamen, airmen rmc1 soldiers will be found wherever a thre2.t to British interests c1emnnds their presence. 11 9 f;T;iPIRC / FfAIRS. 14/2/40.No.13. IMPORT LICENSING DEPARTMENT Notice to Importers No.41 With reference to Notice to Importers No. 35, dated 19th January, 1940, the Board of Trade announce that they have issued an Open General Licence extending to the 29th February, 1940, the period during which the importation of Mimosa and Paper~\ivhite Narcissi consigned from France will be permitted. Import Licensing Department, Board of Trade, 25, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2. 14th February, 1940. 14/2/400 -No. 14. FOR PUBLICATION AFTER 9o30 p.m. THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING, FEBRUARY 14. THE WAR AND THE PEACE: THE LABOUR PARTY'S DECLARATION OF POLICY by HUGH DALTON, MoP~ MEM. TO SUB-EDITORS: As this script is being issued in advance, it is necessary to check it against the broadcast this (Wednesday) evening at 9o15 p oma in the B.B.C. Home Service on 391 or 449 metreso Last week the National Executive of the Labour Party issued a Declaration on "Labour~ the War and the Peace<>" This was reported pretty fully in most of the newspapers and extracts were given by the Bo B<>Co So I daresay most of you either read or heard something about ito To-night I am going to talk about that Declaration and to quote from ito My colleagues and I who drafted it believe it speaks the will not only of the Br·itish Labour Party, but of the British Nationo "The Labour Party", we declared, 11 unreservedly supports the Allied War of resistance to Na zi aggression because, though loathing war, it regards this war as a lesser evil than the slavery which in the last res-ort would be the only alternative. "A crisis came in 1939 when the simple choice in Europe lay between Liberty and Serfdomo Month by month, as Hitler advanced·.>' the threat to British liberty itself was intensified. It was high time, indeed it would soon have been too late, to make a firm and final stand against the expanding Nasi tyranny. 11 We of the Labour Party have been very critical of British foreign policy since 19310 That year the late Arthur Henderson ceased to be Foreign Secretaryo He had done splendid work for Peace. He had raised the influence of the League of Nations to the highest point it ever reachedo He had won the confidence of the representatives of all nations. They had chosen him unanimously to be President of the world Disarmament Conference which was due to meet in 19320 Remember that in 1931 Hitler and the Nazis were not in power in Germanyo Bruning was still ~hancellor, a civilised man and a devout Roman Catholic. At that time the Germans had no Air Forceo Their Army and Navy were both very smallo Britain was secure then, hath through our araments and t h rough our friendships~ Not only were we much stronger than Germany at sea; we we re much stronger in the Airo We were on friendly terms with all nations, and we were working for a world-wi de agr eement to get 00 rid/ -2 ­ rid of all bombing aircraft everywhere" If we had pulled that off ­ and there vvas a good chance of it -what a different world it vrould be todayu After Arthur Hende::'."son left the Foreign Office 9 things very soon bega:r1 to go wrong, How and why they went wrong, is too long a story for tonighto But a few ;years later we had to face a Q.Uite new situation in Europeo The Germans, under Hitler's rule, had been ordered by the Nazi drill ser,.geants to turn their baclrn on freedom, and truth, and kind.liness 9 and international brotherhooc1,. Now they were goose-stepping back into the Dark Ages, down a road which ran between concentration camps and Torture Charnbers, vvhere day by day nameless outrages 17ere inflicted on helpless victims. Germany, fo1" tho time being, had ceased to be a civ:iLlised country. Nor was this a matter vvhich concerned Germans only. Nazi Germany was setting all her neighbours 1 teeth on edgeo Hitler, moreover, had been allowed to outbuild us in the Air. His Air Force was now much stronger than ours. We haa_ neither disarmed by agreement, nor rearmed wr"en he dido Vife had fallen be­tween t wo stools., Britain was no longer secure, as in Arthur Henderson's day. S0i11e :people in this com1try, chiefly v:eal thy people, vwre taken in by Hitlnro The Britj_ sh Labour Party never were. We lmew too much about -the Nazis, They had murdered personal friends of ours in GermruiJ., 9 i.'hom we used to meet at International Conferences in the old daysc They had suppressed the Trade Unions and the COOi)erative Societies an(1_ the Socialist Party" "Ye cannot gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistleso 11 'l'herefore 9 we were C:Lee:·:ily suspicious of the re11eated attempts at the so-·callec1 11 appeasement11 of Hitlcro r':unich, we thought, yras a disgrace 8l1d a disaster, and we said so at the timeo But now we are at war, and in last week1 s Declax•ation 11the Labour Part;'{ calls upon the Br:L-tish people to contribute their utmost effort to the overthrorv of the Hitler system in Germany. 11 Furt~rnr, vrn are "convinced that the Allies ought not to enter into peace negotiati rms.1 e:.:cept r:ith a Gerrnan Government which has not merely yPomisec1, but actually performed , certain acts of restitution. In view of the ex:•)erience of recent years, no one can trust 8. Nazi Government honestl~r to ~)erform such acts or to abstain from future aggression. Restitution must include freedom for the Polish and Czechoslovak !_)eoples" No prrni1ise of independence for these :9eoples will suffice, unless accompanied. by the 1,;rithdrawal of the German forces and 1Y1lice o" "The Austrian people 1 must be left free to decide \Yhether or not they wish to remain within the German Reich" and 11 in the general re-arrangerne:r1t after the War 1 the just and real interests of all the peoples must be respected, including those nf the German people. 11 Arther Henderson always maintained that the ke~r 11roble1n in Europe was t ,J reconclle the French clai:t!l to security with the German claim to ec:1_ualityo He himself wished to give the most definite British guari:mtees to France, in order to win French consent to reasonable Gex•man demands, He could not get his way. /A few -3 ­ A fevv "&eeks before his death9 in Oci~o>c: .1 · l)·: j~ Arthur Henderson said sadly to a friend, ;'They wouldn't take my wr>.y. But they will have to come bc1ck to it .•.. nfter n wnste and suffering that cannot be mec,sured. 11 ;rh.ose were prophetic words. In l flst week 's Declaration the LnbouI' Pnrty is loy:>.1 to Arthur Henderson's memory and to his practical wisdom. ;;';11atever e lse 9 11 we sny, 11may be contnined in the P,:::o.ce 'rreaty9 this will assuredly not be the lns t Va r i n Furope, unless, ·when this ~inr ends, we can succeed i n reconciling the French clD.im to Security with the Gern12n clr:.im to Equn.lity. In reply to the just cla im of the French, the Labour Pnrty nnswe!'s 9 ''Fe shc,_re your cleter­ minat ion tho:t this recurrent Germnn menc~ce, requiring these repe2ted mobilisHtions of the whole manhood of Frr:.nce, chetll not plnc~ue your next genGro.tion e.nd ours 9 if our strength and foresight c::m lJrevent it. Henceforth, in resistance to any German n.ggression9 our two peoples i!mst be not merely allies for a season9 but brothers for all time. a In reply to the Ge rm2.ns 9 the Labour Pnrty woul d sr'.y , :;Vie are opposed to e.ny Rttempt from outside to brenk up Germany. ',;fe do not seek the htu·!1iliation or dismemberment of your country. \".'e whole­ heartedly desire to welcome you without delay into the peaceful collaboration of civilised nations . Vie must y.,rnrn you, horrever, that Hitler o.~1ci_ his system :prepared :::i.nd st2rtecl this \lnr. He could not. continue it if you ceased supiJorting him. Until this 8.ccurscc1 N~zl regime is overthrown, there is no hope of pence between us. ~3ut if you establish R Government sincerely willing thnt Germ~ny sh2ll be a good ne ir;hbour nnd a good European, there shall be no hur;1il i o..t ion nor revenge. ;; ~o 2void 211 misunderstanding, we mnke in our Declo.ration the following ln1ief reference to Russ i o.: ;;HG had hoped that she would join V<.'i th t . .hG Dcmocr'C'.C ics for the collectivc orgnnisntion o:f' pence nnd resistcmce &to f~ggress :i_o:i.1. We worked h[).rc.1 to tho.t end. We condemnec1 the clurns iness of the British Govermnent in its earlier relations with the Soviet Union; but. this cannot e:::cuse the Russ ian Government's Pn.ct with the Naz is on the eve of the 'C!n -:c· , much less its unprovoked att ack on Pinlnnd in shcr!leless imitation of the Nazi technique in foreign policy. 11 Only the mentRl contortionists of the Cm·nnJ.mist Pr:.rty, r:nd. their ho.nse1,s-on, cnn try to justify this c.ct of J t nJ.inist imycrinlism. I,ci.bour ' s Peace Aims n.re clearly set forth in our Dccl 2rat ion. ).ra tional ;.)overeignty must be held in check or it \'!ill lnnc1 us in v1ar 2gain ancl. o.g:1. in. ;'the Peace Settlement mus t estnblish n new J\.ssocif'.tion or Cornmonweo.lth of 8tntes , the:: collective authority of which rem.st tran­~cend, over D proper sphere, the sovGreign ri'rht s of e-.Jr:r•nte St ates. 'l'hi "-1 . t b u 0 J: (.' c. s au~!o~1 Y must control such military nnd economi c power ns will enable l G uO enforce peaceful behnviour C1S between its mei:1bcrs , 8.nd ~~us . ~e~u;:c-~ t~: 1111-r ound reduction of nnt ionr~l n.rmr.:.ments to the l evel iequ1reQ ioi GilG preservntion of internal order. ·h n ; ;/~11 internri. tj_on2l d i sputes, wherever nrising5 nnc1I \· o:i.:"' w ,.tever sort, must be settled by peo.ceful men.ns. -4­ 11 The present close cooperation between the British Cornrnonwealth, France, and their Allies in the political and economic syheres should be the nucleus of this wider Association, membership of ;;'.;hich should be open and advantageous to all na tions. 11 In :particulor, "Labour demands tho.t Colonial peoples every\vhere shou'.l..d move forward, as speedily as possible, tovvards self-government. In the aoministration of Colonoes not yet r eo.dy for self-0overnment, the interests of the native population should be paramount and should be safeguarded through an extension and strengthening of the Mandate system. There mu:::it be equal opportunity of access for nll peaceful peoples to raw materials and markets in these Colonial tGrritories. 11A new world order, which applies thef:.c pr•inciples, can only be secu!"ely founded on Socialism ano. Democracy. The necessary unity of purpose will be lacking if the peoples remain divided internally into two nations, sundered by wide differences of wealth, privilege, and opportunity. LastinG Peace depends on social justice ~j_tb._in States, no less than on political justice between Stat es. The necessary vigour and power of growth will be lackinc if the indivirl.ual citizen is treated as the slave of the State or is denied such freedom of opinion, speech, and faith as is compatible with the froodom of others. 11A vePy gr G.ve ec onomic crisis will conf'ront all nations at the conclusion of tho '-:.far. In addition to national :0olicio~3 of reconstruction 9 therefore, there must be bold economic r.n.-1 financial planning on o. world-wide scaleo Intornationo.l pu1Jlic 'Nor 1::s, and also tho comprehensive development of gr eat colonial territories now divided botwoon two or more Colonial Powers 9 as in Africa 9 mur-it 1JG undertaken throuch an International Authority with a budc;et and poFers far greater than the League of Nations over had. 11To aid in raising the' stanclaro. of livine:; of workor :3 in all l ands , a new imp~;tus mur::~t bu given to tho work of the International Labour Orao.nisation a The ineffectiveness of the League 9 wa.s lJartly duo to the lack of conviction and sincority of its l ea ding member St o.tos 9 ~1nd partly to its cc:mpo.rative neglect of economic questions. Vvc must leo.rn the lessons of experience nnd. builc'1. bettor next time. 11 The rc:L)cnte d n.g~ressions of the l o. st f ew y,:;c.rs '.I.TI<~. the cvasive neutralitios in f r:lce of ag~_ressionmark the br oo.kdown, morol and 9 material 9 of mus t be l a iCI. the now. old world or~er. The f oundations of a now order 11 Victory must Allies: the PeRec come mus t to be the won arms of Britainfop Humanity." ~ :81 r ance, o.nd their BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCEr:riNT . 14.2.40 No.15. -'-'--------~~~~~ NATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE & LORD DERBY'S SCHEME. The National Youth Committee met at the offices of the Board of Education yesterday (Wednesday) under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kenneth Lindsay. Among many matters considered was Lord Derby's scheme for those unemployed between the Rges-of 16 and 20. The Committee did not favour a scheme of labour camps and agreed that a better way of mooting the problem was by a.eveloping existin3 opportunities for occupation and encouraging new ones. The Committee censidered particularly the possibilities of agricultural ana. forestry work, an extension of the Y.M.C.A. hostel scheme, run jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Board of Education; industrial and commercial apprenticeships, special mention being made of the scheme sponsored by Sir Wo odman Burbidge, the Dunlop Rubber Company and Messrs. Thornycroft; courses at Technical Colleges and Universities ancl social work in clubs and cent-res for young people. They agreed that fullest possible publicity should be given by Government Departments, I,ocal Education Authorities, private firms and schools to the various openings which exist or which in the future may be developed in these airections. They passed a strong res)lution in f avour of the resumption of Civil Service Examinations and were also strongly in favour of the restoration of all Advisory work in connection with Juveniles. The Committee commended. the :;;rowth of Youth Recreation Centres which are extending throughout the country and some of which have already been given financial assistance. They were also impressed by the need for more leaders and agreed to set up a committee to o.d.vise on recruitment and training. The Committee considered the need for hostels and clubs for young workers, owing to the war-time expansion of industry and the establishment of new industrial centres. Encouraging reports were given from Local Education Authorities of the formation of Youth Committees. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay will next week made a Midland Tour speaking at Stoke on Monday, Wolverhampton on Tuesc.ay and on Wecl.nesday he will address at Birmingham a lar3e gathering of Education Authorities and Voluntary Bodies cl.rawn from Birmingham, Warwickshire, Ylfo rcestershire, Coventry and. the surrounding country. 14.2.40. No.16. C.5. GENT!RAL AND TRAD:~; PRESS NOTICE Pref.,rence System for Government and Export Orders in the Cotton Industr1. With a view to expediting the production and delivery of cotton goods to meet Government requirements and export orders, a system of preference Directions is to be brought into operation on Monday, the 19th February, under the Control of the Cotton Industry (No.4) Order, which is issued today. The Order empowers the Nlinister of Supply to issue directions to producers and distributors in the cotton industry to give preference to the production and delivery of goods which they have agreed to produQe and d~liTer under contracts made with Government Departments or for other approved purposes, notwithstanding obligations to which they may be subject under contracts for which no directions have been issued; for example, orders for the home trade. It is proposed to use the powers under the Order to ensure, so far as possible, the prompt carrying out of existing contracts or contracts which firms may accept in future for Government requirements and for export trade. "Directions" may be given that work under a contract of either kind shall have preference over other work so far as may be necessary for its due performance and subjectto the delivery of material or performance of any work by any other person. Preference directions will be issued by the Cotton Controller on behalf of the Minister of Supply. They will be in two categories, the first -Class "A" -being those to be issued in respect of Government requirements. Government contractors are being instructed by the De~'artments concerned to inform the Cotton Controller of the number of Government contracts they hold for cotton goods; the Controller will then forward to them a form for completion in respect of each contract, Directions in respect of export orders will be in Class "B" and will rank after directions given for Govsrnrnent orders. The new preference system will not interfere with the normal trade procedure in placing orders for export; it is intended to assist in the execution of such orders booked in the customary way between merchants and manufacturers and manufacturers and spinners. The exporter who has placed an order for cotton goods, whether before or after the introduction of the scheme, will be able to apply for preference directions to be issued to his suppliers with a view to facilitating prompt delivery. Export applications can be submitted by export houses in the cotton industry, and also by firms in other trades (e.g. the hosiery trade) who have placed contracts for yarn or other cotton materials required for export orders. It is ~reposed that export applications should be submitted through the Federation of British Industries and the Chambers of Commerce in textile centres. The Federation of British Industries and the principal Chambers of Commerce have already agreed to assist in the operation of the scheme; they will supply application forms to the exporters on request and will subsequently certify the completed forms. In this way it is hoped to avoid th.3 delay and expense which might otherwise be involved if all applications had to go to the Cotton Control in the first instance. The organisations concerned have undertakan this duty as part of their service to the trading community, and exporters will benefit from the fact that in this way it will be possible to reduce formalities to a minimum. A list of approved i. certifying authorities may be obtained on application to the Cotton Control (Preference Department), 3 Albert Street, :Manchester, 3. The Order also provides that merchants, wholesalers and others who buy direct from cotton spinners or manufacturers shall, upon notice being given to them individually by the Nri.nister of Supply, furnish such information in regard to their stocks and purchasas of cotton products as may be required. Tulinistry of Supply, The Adelphi, w.c.2. 14th February, 1940. r. ·~ ·-­ The War O:ffice, London, S-. W-.1 .., 14th February, 1940• The War Of'fice desires to draw the attention ~:f the relatives of officers and soldiers o:f the British Lxpeditionary Force to the :following m.atters in connection with the special telegraph service for private messages ()f an urgent· nature irvhich was made available :from February 9th, 1940, as announced by the Post Master General in the House ,,r Commons on F'ebruary 7th, 1940. 1. This service should NOT be used when it is desired that officers and soldiers be granted leave from the B.;E.F. on compassionate groundsy but telegrams pref'erring such req_uests should continue to be sent to The War Office (A.G.4a) Romney House, Marsham Street, London, S. W.1. and should give f'ull details of the officer or soldier, the address to which he is asked to return and the address of the sender of the telegram, '";here this is different. 2. Telegrams conveying a yersonal message and signed by a Christian nan1e only should NOT be sent to the War Office, . as no action can be taken in such cases beyond f'a.rwarding them b;\' post. 1 R The Vl/ar Of'fice, London, S. W.1. 14th February, 1940. U BOAT PRISONERS OF WAR. The f'ollowing officers and men are prisoners of war in this country:­ HUTTEL Leutnant JACOBI Bootsmannsinaat MIKS Mas'chinenmaat MENZEL Mechanikersmaat RADEK Maschinengefreiter FORGER Maschinengefreiter STEINERT Matrosengefreiter PETZOLD Funkgef'reiter No. 19. INDIA'S WAR CONTRIBUTIONS. Specific war contributions in money and kind continue to reach His Excellency the Viceroy from all classes of Indian society. The wide range is illustrated by the following contributions which appear in the latest list received from India: His Highness the Maharaja of Bhavnagar:-Two lakhs of rupees and the workshops of Bhavnagar State Railway for the manufacture of munitions and other articles useful in the prosecution of the war; His Highness the Maharaja of Rewa:-Food and agricultural produce valued at one lakh for the Defence of India Service or for export. His Highnes·s the Maharaja of Dewas (Senior):-An ambulance unit with 32 stretcher bearers, an Indian officer and a sub-assistant surgeon; The Nawab of Kurwai:-Rs.2,500 for the aid of British wounded; His Higness the Maharaja of Cochin:-One lakh of rupees and Rs.2,000 each to the Indian Red Cross and St.Dunstan's Hostel; His Highness the Maharawal of Jaisalmer:-Rs.5,000 for the War Department and Rso1,000 each to the Indian Red Cross and St. Dunstan's Hostel. His Highness the Maharaj0 of Bikaner:-In addition to previous donations, 1,000 maunds (80,000 lb) of babul tree bark for munitions; The Mir of Hunza (on the road from Kashmir to Turkestan):-Rs.2,000; A Sikh living in Teheran, Rs.6,666; Mohammed Elias Khan, living in the Netherlands, Rs~42; Mr. P. Chacko Pothan, a second ~onsignment of 500 lb. of tea for the troops. -2 ­ There are a large number of recurring contributions from one rupee monthly upwards, while several sums from humble donors are earmarked for the aid of British wounded. The approximate totals now stand at Rs.50 lakhs non-recurring and Rs.34 lakhs recurring. INDIA OFFICE. - ..... -~­ 14/2/40 No 20. A CHIN CHIEF'S WAR GIFT. Pum Za Maug, Chief of the Kamhau Tribal Area in the Chin Hills, has offered the sum of Rs. 500 to the British Government as a war contribution. This spontaneous gift, which has been gratefully accepted on behalf of His Majesty's Government, represents a substantiiJ. amount for a Chief of the Chin Hills to contribute. The Chief's father, How Chin Koop; also gave a donation during the last Great War. BURMA OFFICE. -~-----­ .:1..4/2/40 -No.21. THE LATE LORD TWEEDSMUIR. The Prime Minister of Canada has to-day sent the following message to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in reply to his message conveying the sympathy of the United Kingdom Government at the death of Lord Tweedsmuir:­ "Please accept my warmest thanks on behalf of the Canadian Government and people for your telegram in which you record the deep regret of His Majesty1 s Government of the United Kingdom at the passing of His Excellency Lord Tweedsmuir, and its desire to be associated with us in our national sorrowo "By his broad humanity, his great gifts, his high conception of office, his devotion to duty, his unsparing dedication of himself to the service of Canada, his wide knowledge of our country and its people, Lord Tweedsmuir had endeared himself to all classes of Canadiansa His passing is regarded as a personal loss in thousands of homes in this l ando The telegrams of sympathy which have reached us from all parts of the world bear witness to the affection, regard and ad~iration which his character, and the labours of his life~ won for him among men of many races. "Everything that he did and said brought honour to the country of his birth and the country of his adoption. His presence amongst us made our people proudly happy, and the example of his life will remain as an abiding memory in this land which he loved so much and served so well"., EMPIRE AFFAIRS. -·-·-·--·-·-oOo------­ 14/2/40 .,, No . 22,. . FRENCH 0Ffil1AL COMMUNlQ1lE (EVENI NG). Paris, Wednesday, February 14, 1940·,. The following official communique was issued this evening from French G.H. Q:­ "An enemy raid failed to the West of the Saar~ 11A German cargo has been eaptured and t aken into a French Port~" AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. 14. 2.40 No.23. (NOT TO BE QUOTED AS A.T\f AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT). CIVIL PILOTS TO ,FERRY R. A. F. AIRCRJ'.FT. The first all-civil ferry pilots pool is opening tomorrow (Thursday)e Its personnel will consist of 40 pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary who, after four months' attachment to R.A.F. units to learn the work are now forming a first civilian ferry organisation for dealing with all types of R.A.F. aircraft. The Air Transport Auxiliary was formed just before the present war by British Airways Ltd. It was felt that R.A.F. pilots who had special training and qualifications for particular R.A.F. tasks should not be employed longer than was necessary on the work of ferrying aircraft from contractors' works to their R.A.F. destinations. Experienced pilots who were too old or otherwise unfit to qualify for the R.A.F. might still, it was felt, be a valuable source of sup~ly for non-operational work. Forty nilots were accordingly signed on, the requirements being a certain standard of experience, a good record, and unfitness for the R.A.F. for physical reasons or because of age. Private owners from the Civil Air Guard and the various flying clubs, well known amateurs who have toured Europe in their private aircraft before the war, professional men of all sorts, including some of the older professional pilots have all been taken on and are doing very well. Lieut. Col. Sir Francis Shelmerdine, Director-General of Civil Aviation, who has taken a keen in~erest in this experimental use of the "owner-pilot class", represented to the Air Ministry that if the men proved able to fly modern military aircraft, their navigational and bad weather experience should make them very useful for ferrying aeroplanes where they were needed. A number of A.T.A. nilots were therefore sent to the R. A.F. Central Flying School for 11 conversion" to modern service types. In due course, all were passed through, some for single-engined types and others for all types. They were then attached to existing ferry pools where for the past four months they have been flying fighters, bombers, reconnaissance and training craft over many parts of England and Scotland. In other words they have been in training in the R.A.F. where the helpfulness and generous attitude to the 'amateurs' ­many of them veterans of the last war -have been warmlyappreciated by the A.T.A. ~~en the success of the scheme became assured, a womens section was started to ferry light machines, as has already been announced. Both the work itself and the A.T.A. share of it is expanding ra-pidly and the original forty pilots, no longer sufficient, are being added to by new recruitm~nt. AIR AFFAI RS . Since the sinldng of the two U-boats by one British cLestroyer was announced on the 9th of February, 3 large British merchant ships, n&~ely SS. GRETAFIELD l0,191 tons, S.S. BRITISH TRIUMPH 8,501 tons and S.S. SUI.TAN STAR 12,306 tons, have been sunk, but 2 of the U-boats concerned have also been destroyed. In the case of the sinking of the SULT.AN STAR, the U-boat onl.y eurvived her victim half an hour.