I ? FROM THE IvIINI~TRY OF MORNING BULLETIN No.40 25th Septanber 192,2 FACILITIES FOR NEUTRAL TRADERS The Ministry of Economic Warfare announce that, for the convenience of British and neutral traders, they have established a Commercial Enquiries Section to answer enquiries from commercial firms, shipowners and agents. Enquiries should be made by letter, whenever possible, rather than by telephone; a duplicate would be helpful and the envelope should be marked C.E. All ,enquiries will be answered with the utmost dispatchu Traders and others are asked to note that the main object of the Commercial Enquiries Section is to assist them in regard to particular consignments of goods detained or likely to be detained by our contraband patrols. The Section will not be able to advise on export policy, import or export licensing questions, assistance for British QXporters in neutral markets, or questions arising out of the Trading with the Enemy Act. All these matters are the responsibility of other Government Departments, not of the Ministry of Economic Warfare. EMPIRE ~FAIRS A Regiment of Freinds Another anti-aircraft regiment is being raised in Northern Ireland and a special effort has been made to arrange that as far as possible, recruits will include groups of friends from cricket, football and tennis clubs, who will therefore be able to serve together in the same unit . Recruiting, which is open to those between the ages of 29 and 50, began to-day. There was an excellent response immediately, and in a day or two it is anticipated that the regiment which is to supplement the air defences of Belfast will be at establishment. er,;ty ol r · 5tin, Te~ (The following impressions of our Field Force have been received by the Ministry of Information from a Military Observer who is attached "Somewhere in France")o "WE HAVE AN ARMY THAT LACKS NOTHING OF THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF THOSE V'/HO WERE DESCRIBED IN EARLIER DAYS AS 'CONTEMPTIBLE'. IT IS IMPOSS IBLE TO ENCOUNTER THEM WITHOUT A FEELING OF PRIDE .AND OF CONFIDENCE THAT THIS ARMY WILL ACQUIT ITSELF WITH HONOUR11 • -the Military Observer. An Army that grew "Old" Overnigh_t, There were the Smile and the Song to hide the Grim Determination. Somevvhere-in-France. . . ­ Watch them on the march -there is still a little marching to do -the troops give one a feeling of supreme confidence that they will worthily maintain the traditions of that great host of men who lie. sleeping on. foreign soil -the men who died. for the very cause we have come to defend.• The Army seems to have grown older in a night. Youth was its most striking feature a month ago. Now it seems to have attained full manhood; partly due to the return of the Reservists, many of whom saw service in other theatres of war; perhaps also accounted for by the realisation, on the part of the New Army, of the vital issues that have thrust the troops into battle-dresso A few days ago a corn:mentator spoke of the British Army as being "a skeleton which is rapidJ.y being clothed with flesh". I have just had the opportunity of examining that part of the "skeleton" which comprises the British Field Force -and a very substantial "skeleton" it is. It is a "skeleton" 9 toos that is animated by the good-humoured spirit of 1914. NEW TWIST. ---OLD·SONGS VIITH A -..---.,,.. __ ----....---.......--..-·. ~---· The same old songs of J.914 are sung; but behind the banter and the blarney is a bluntly grim determination that wasp perhaps not quite so manifest in the very earliest days of the last war. "Pack up Your Troubles1t swings to a variation:­ What ~ s the use of Go--er-ing? He never wns much good, So pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, And smile7 smile 9 smile. But the smile veils a different r~~action on the part of the troops compared to 19140 Then the troops knew that they were "up against" a military machine of some efficiency; they regarded the v conflict as being between soldiers and soldierso Today even the r awest of the New Army feels that we are out to quell something sinister -· something that, unless crushed, definitely and irrevocably9 will spell misery and farewell to all things most treasured in lifeo 2 A French Officer summed up for me the situation thus: "So far the enemy have encountered flesh only, but now they will come up against BONE". Truly descriptive -and descriptive:!ly true. Realisation of the issue has produced in the troops that bone-hard fixity of purpose. JUST AS IF ' THE CLOCK HAD STOPPED FOR 21 YEARS. And yet, to those of us familiar with life at the Front, it is just a case of history repeating itself. A thousand scenes, enacted then, are to be witnessed daily now; the despatch-rider -more in evidence than ever -who rushes about and rarely ceases to regret the "pave" streets; the officer's servant who is always on the look-out. to "scrounge" what he can for his staff officer (who, incidentally, however busy, has not forgotten how to be courteous); the padre who loses no opportunity to make friends with the troops --­ It is just as if the clock had stopped for twenty-one years, and had now been re-started. As then, so now. "Pain" -11 oeufs" -"coffee-or-lay" -"no bon" -"tray bon" and "enco~en still make up the average soldier's vocabulary. And he usually gets what he wants. It is astonishing how with a little English, a little Hindustani, a few signs, AND A LAUGH, -the troops succeed in getting what they want. HUMOUR IS NOT LACKING. Naturally, with so many troops gathered together, humour is not lacking. This morning I found a bunch of the troops giving a youngFrenchman a lesson in English. Just as I nrrived there were roars of laughter. The young Frenchman had just indicated, with the help of a dictionary, that he taught English in the local school. The only "English" I could extract from him was "Me: English a very little spleak". (I should have liked to hear his pupils "spleaking~u ~. No dotibt some of the newly-arrived troops, with their freshly acquired "mastery" of the French langlilage, would have voted the young Frenchman's knowledge of English "no bon". AND BEHIND ALL THE HUMOUR Behind the laughs (as I have indicated) lies a sturdyhumanity. The loss of "Courageous" tightened Tommy's lips a bit. On the way over one was conscious of the supreme confidence in the -~ Navy; the Army is ever mindful of the wonderful protection afforded during those long years of the last war. ' While crossing, I heard a Tommy say, "Eh, chum, where is all this blinking Navy we heard about?" And the response was, "Why, chum, they're all around you disguised as water -you're as safe here as om the blinking old Serpentine". THR SPIRIT O:L:> TH:C 'l'ROOPS IS EXC:CLLENT The spirit of the troops is e;~ccllcnt. Tho.t :;hrase you h .:).vc hcr:trd alrC['dy. And you 'Hill continue to he1:1.r it-no matter how long this vn'.r l nsts. Tho -post-war historian will most certainly hove that phraco ns the central thorno of his records. Thanks to thRt spirit, the troops con make full use of their off-dut.:,r periods. I wr-tched qnito a thrillins football match between the Se rgeants' Mess Dnd other ranlrn of a vrnll-knmm Corps. Str11-ngcly enough(?)· the Scrgonnts 1:1011 .• this oxciting gnme :5-4· S"'.ve f or r~ ~roI]. gun on rm A.... nounting to r emind us of war it might have been played on an Aldershot Sports ground. :.mi:.1 LOOIC B/l.CK TO 1914 How did the departure of the Field Force compare with that of the Expeditionary r.;orcc in 1914 ?. The nnswor is;-11In most ways there wn.s little differ ence 9 e.nd9 where there wns n differenc·~: , it was all for the better. 11 V!c: miss the horses. Yet we a.re glad that they nro not here. It was strange not to ha.ve the f e.miliar sight of their being slung nboo.rc1, or of the ten nK:n heaving a ropo to coax the eighth horse into a nchcvnux11 wa.gon which looked ns if it raight with n groat effort, hold eight good sized-goats. Thr: other noticeable difference is the new equipment. It is only v-:' 1.cn we speak that it is r r;alised that we arc tiEngleesh", now thz:.t tho uniforms of the Allies are almost identical, save for hcad::se2r. And9 with our :Porc.ge co.ps 9 mElny think that vve are Americons. f.illothcr chanse i s tho.t 9 rrhil ': n~ ho.ve been receivod with warmth and rGnl af f'ection9 we have :1ot been de:;_)rived of cap-badge, numerals, buttons? or nnythinG else to s erve as souvenirs. The re is more to this wc r thm1 souvenir-collecting. But (as I have Glrc dy said) the s,irit of the troops is e~ccllent. .,. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. The Slovak Consul in Lonc'.'...)n, M. Mi l an Harmine, has communicated to the Foreign Office a a.eclaration in the following terms: ­ "The whole of Slovakia is occupied by Nazi armed forces. The voice of the Slovak people has been ten~orarily silenced by the ruthless abbrogation of all treaties and agreements. "In the name of Slovakia I solemnly protest against this shameful betrayal, and declare that the aim and ideals of Great Britain and France a:c'·e identical with those of my sorely tried people." EMPIRE AFFAIRS. TigNIJ::.L\Q._ SEAM8N READY . The following t el egram has been :received from the Government of Trinidad in reference to the attitude of British merchant seamen gunners: "Shortly after the outbreak of war 9 the British Consul, ARUBA, Netherlands West Indies 9 asked whether Trinidad seamen would serve on British merchant ships whose regnlar crews of foreign nationality declined to continue voyages j_n war :;>;ones. The local Seamen's and Watch-keepers Front Workers' Unj_on was consulted, and seamen members immediately and unanimously volunteered to serve. Eighty have already been engaged on three British merchantmen~ ana. a call for more is meeting with a ready r esponseo" · HOME AFPAJJill. MINISTRY OF FOOD The Rt. Hon.W.S.Morrison,K.C. 9 M.P., Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of Food, has appointed '.Jlhe Lord Perry, K.B.E. 9 to be Business Adviser to the Ministry of Food. N 0 T E S The Ministry of Food, when it takes over full control of essBntial foodstuffs, will become a large trading organisation. In the Great War the trading accounts of the Minist::y of Food in the period 1917-2'1 totalled nearly £1, 000 millions, of which over £800 millions were devoted to the purchase of foodstuffs. With such large financial and trading transactions in view, Mr. Morrison has thought it desirable to secure at the outset of the Ministry's career the advice of a businessman familiar with commercial operations on a large scale. Lord Perry is the Chairmnn of Ford Motor Company Limited, and Henry Ford & Sons, Limited. He is also a Director of the National Provincial Bank, Limited, and o:f the Slough Estates, Limited. He was born i n 1878. Duri ng the Great War, J_,ord Perry (he was then Mr. Percival Perry) \Vas the Director of the Agricultural Machinery Division of the Food Production Depertment. It was this Division which acquired and operated the large fleet of agricultural tractors which played such an important part in the i)loughing-up in 1917-·18. Later Lord Perr;;/ became the Deputy Controller of the Mechanical Warfare Department and Director of '.P.'.·c:c·tion in·the The following mat erial regarding Aliens Tribunals is not to be broadcast by B.B.C. or published in the Press before 9 p.m. 25/9/39. Aliens Tribunals (Germans and Austrians.) The Home Secretary has appointed the following persons to sit as tribunals to exa~ine the position of all Germans and Austrians in this country 9 for the purpose of considering which of them ought on grounds of national security to be interned, and which of them can properly be exempt ed from the special restrictions imposed by the Aliens Order on onerrw aliens:­ ENGLAND l..ND WAL~fh. London (23)--Judge Wood.cock, K. C. , Judge Austin Jones, Judge Konstam, C. B. E. IC Co , Judge Lilley, Judge Earengey, K. C. , Judge Tudor Rees, Ex-Judge Maxwell, Ex-Judge Dumas, Roland Burrows, K. C. ,N. L. C. Macaslcie , K. C" , J, D. Casswell, K. C, , Sir Albion Richardson, K. C. ,Russell Viele 9K. C. , J-. H. Morris, K. C. , The Hon. Charles Romer, O. B. E. ,K. C. , H. W. Shawcross , K. c. , E. s. Herbert; and the following six Magistrates: K.M,MarshallsC.B.E. ,J.B.Sandbach,K.C., E.C.P.Boyd, Paul Bennett ,v.c. ,M, C, 9 Walter Hedley,D.s.o., K.C., L.R.Dunne. Reading (2)--R.O'Sullivan,K.C., Leo Page. Aylesbury ~·-R. M. Mo:i;itgomery, K. C. , Slough --Judge Snagge. Wycombe --Judge Cotes-Preedy, K.C., Cambridge --G. A. Thesiger. Northampton --Judge J.H.D.Hurst. Bedford The Hon.Victor Russell, O.B.E. Chester Walter Peel, C.B.E., Exet er --Judge Thesiger. Truro --G.D.Roberts,O.B.E., K.C., Newcastle ,,._ G. H. B. Streatfn i, ld,M. C. ,K. C. , Preston --(3) J.C.Jolly,K.C. ,F.R.Batt, H. Broadbent, Manchest er (Li.) --G.J.IJynskey,K.C., W. Gorman,K.C., A.E.Jalland, C.H,Spafford. Liverpool (3) --Judge Procter, J.F.Harrison,L.S.Holmes. Derby --Har' ol d Rhodes. Dorchester --E. ]~. Sykes. Durham C~B, Fenwick. Chelmsford --Judge Owen Thompson, K.C. Colchester --Judge Hildesley, KoC• Southend --Judge Drucquer. Cheltenham --Judge Kennedy, K.C. Bristol --Judge Thomas. Winchester --R.P. Hills, O.B. E., M.C. Basingstoke --R.F. Bayford, K.C. Southampton --Judge Topham, K.C. Worcester --Judge Roope ]eeve, K.C. Hatfi~{~ --c. Paley Scott, K.C. Hertford --A~T. Miller, K.C. St. Alband -F.Ao Sellers, K.C. Maidstone --Judge Sir Gerald Hurst, K.C. Canterbury --T. VI . Carthew, K. c. Tunbridge ',-Iells --St. John G. Micklethwait, K.C. Margate --Cyril King, K.C. Folkestone --A. c. Caporn. Rochester --F. Bert:-am Reece Richborough (7) --Sir George Bonner, P.E. Sandlands, O.B.E. K.C., w. Blake Odgers, K~C. Tristram Beresford, K.c., J.H. Thorpe, O.B.E. K. c., Trevor Hrmter, K.C. P.E. Sugden. Oxford --Judge Dale. Leicester -Dingwall Bateson. Lincoln --Judge Langman. Norwich --Judge Rowlands. Nottingham --Judge Hildyard, K.c. Taunton -Judge Cave, K.C. Devizes j--Judge Kirkhouse Jenkins, K.C. Reigate --Judge Galbraj_ th. Woking --Judge Hancocko Farnham --:B,. V'! . Beney. Guildford (4) --Judge Haydon, K,C., F. E. Bray, K.C., Maurice Healy, K.C., C. R. Havers, ILC, Lewes --Judge Archer, K.C c Hastings --C. M. Picciotto y K.C" Chichester --Harry Atkins~ Brighton (2) --John Flowers, K. C. , E. £t. Neve, K. C. Wa;:-Nick --Arthur s. Ward. Birm:.ngham (3) --H~ St e John Field; K. C., A.J. Long, K.C., H.J. Wallington, K.C. York --Judge Gamon. Leeds (3) --Judge Frcml\:land, J. VI. Jardine, K. C. , Arthur Morley:• O. B. E. , K9 C. Wakefield (2) --Judge Essenhigh, H. B9 H. Hylton-Foster.Cardiff --Judge Clnrk Williams, K.C. Gaernarvon --Judge Samuel, KoC. SCO'I'LAND. --Edinburgh --T. B" Simpson. Glasgow --J~ F. Strachan, K.C. / • ersity oi . ~-1 L_·•stin, Tc UNOFFICIAL NOTE FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PRESS Germans and Austrains in this country are liable to be interned as 11enen1y aliens 11 but most of the Germans 9 and Austrians now here are refugees and many of them are anxious to help the country which has given them asylum. It would, therefore, be wrong to treat o.11 Germans and Austrians as though they were "enemies. 11 Those whose suspicious activities have been under observation have been already interned, but to avoid risks and to supplement the information already available to the authorities, it has been decided to review the case of every German and Austrian over the age of 16 and the tribunals for which the appointments are announced tonight will carry this out as quickly as possible. The Aliens Order prevents enemy aliens from travelling without a pern1i t more than five miles from their registered place of residence, (if they live in London from travellins outside the City of London and the Metropolitan Police District) and it imposes r-estrictions on the yosession of certain articles. Germe.ns and Austrians who o.re anxious to assist this country and may be hampered by these l)rovisions in carrying on some useful business or service will be e:~cmpted from these restrictions and placed in the same position as friendly or neutral aliens-;-...._ _ They will still be subject to the other provisions of the Aliens " Order requiring all aliens to notify changes-of~ hddx.es-s to the police, etc. 9 The tribunals which will carry out the review ·will sit in places arr anged by the :i::iolice and each will be charged with the duty of examining c2scs of enemy aliens residing in the area. Aft er each case has been examined~ the alien's police registration certificate will be endorced in one of the following forn1S ­ (a) The holder of this certifico.te is to be interned until further order. (b) The holderi of this certificate is to be exempted until further order fror1 internment (c) The holder of this certificate is to be exempted until furth::.;r order f rom internrnent and from the special restrictions applicable to enemy aliens under the Aliens Orner. If the tribunal is satisfied that the Alien is a genuine refugee, the words "Refugee fror.1 Nazi oppression11 will be added to the endorcement. An enemy alien V\Tho has been interned by the endorsemeni.t of a tribunal may make representations to the Home Office and, Ul:Ill.ess the Secretary of State decides that. there is no case for further inquiry, the representations 'Nill be referred to the Ad.visory Committee which has. been constituted for this purpose. as announced on Septemher l8. The Home Secretary may order the internment of an alien who has been ex.empted from internment by a tribunal if further information satisfies the Secret.ary of St_ate that; this is nec.essary in the public interest. Discretion is left to the tribunal to decide whether it is necessary to interview each alien or not. The proceenings vvill not he in pub)li_co It will not be open to allll ali.en to employ a barrister or solicitor as his advoc.ate, but the tribunal may allow the alien to be accnmpanied by a friend and to bring wi tnesseso It is anticipaterl that, when the temporary dislocations due to the change.-o,ver to war conditions have passed, there wi1..l be an inc,reasing demand for labour and servic,es of all kinds. To meet thi.s anticipated demand it is intended that use shall he made o:f the labour and servicas of friendl:y Germans and Austrians wherever this can be arranged without. detriment to the interests of British sub jec.ts. Special c.onsideration, it is understood, will he give.n by the tribunals to cases of British women who by marriage to Germans. or Austrians have ac.g_uired their husbands nationality. / FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORULTION m:o. i. 25/9/39 FLASH NEVVS AIR .AFFAIRS Royal Air Force aircraft carried out successful daylight reconnaissances yesterday over western Germany. Last nightt reconnaissance flights took place over western and north~west Germany, in the course of which leaflets were dropped. All our aircraf't-returned safely and no serious opposi t·i.oll-was-enic.0-unter>B d FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO:. 2'. 25/9/39 GERMAN METHODS OF__'..'.§TATING A CAS~" The short collection of do«urnents published by the German Foreign Office on "The Last Phase of the German-Polish crisis" is prefaced by a summary claiming to give the 11picture11 which these documents illustrate. As the documents exclude any account of the interviews between Sir N. Henderson and Herr Hitler on August 23,25, 28, and 29th,or of the interview between Sir N.Henderson and Herr von Ribbentrop on the night of August 30/3lst9 this picture is unli.kely to be accurate, even if the German leaders wished to make it accurate. For obvious reasons Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop do not wish to produce an 11 accurate11 picture. They have every motive for concealing from the German people and from the world at large the truth ahout this "last phase of the German-Polish crisis11 • The truth is that the "crisis" was brought about deliberately by German ac_t ion. The German methods are well known to us. We have seen, them in operation elsewhere. We know the faked atrocity stories, the faked reports about the persecution of German minorities, followed by the "rising tide of indignation" in Germany, the insistence by Herr Hitler that "the limit of tolerance is reached". The climax is always a German demand for a unilateral settlement. The weaker party, as in the case of Austria and Czecho-Slovakia, is summoned to send a representative, immediately, to Germany in order to hear and to accept without discussion the full German demands. The German-Polish negotiations thus followed the normal cycle of 11negotiations 11 conducted by Jfilerr Hitler and Herr v·on Ribbentrop, and all attempts to 11fake" the "pie:ture11 in the German White Book cannot conceal the trl.:.th, or shift on to other shoulders the fearful responsibility for the outbreak of war. The quickest methocl of observing the omissions and misstate­ments in the German summary is to compare it with the summary 2 printed in the Britj__sh Documents rel8ting to Ge rman-Polish relations and to the outbreal<;_Qf ho12_j:; ' ·. i ti~~ bet17een Great Britain and Germany on September 3rd, 1939. (Cmd. 6406). It is possible by this means, to notice the false impression given in each paragr::1.ph of the German summary. Thus in Qaragrap_h_l_ the German Government, vrrongly, denies that the Danzig Senate hnd proposed to suspend the activities of certain Polish customs inspectors. In paragrn:oh 2 the German Govern.men:. im:._1lies that the British guarantee to Poland was made o_e.fore the Polis~1 rejection of the · German . Qf fer of .IJarch., 1939" ..J:r;. fact~ tb.e Pritish guarantee .was t noompatia 1-...~ yy.i th. Polish inds.=;p~n.denct;).3 . and after-the G.errn;.m_s had-· !: . --­ .J:)een. ..u:uwill.ing t..o....:U...~n__to_Eoli.sl1 ~eourrte·r-·prapo~;mls o In :;'.)_§:;rag,r_g_pJ1 .2 there i s no mention'· 0f the, illegaJ. .ap:pointment_ of' 'Gaulei ter J?t:J"rster as Iiead of the Sts.te of the Free City o:f Danzig or of Herr Hitler· 1 s r c::f'...i_sal t~ gi.1'.•.I'a:ntee to the British Ambassador in Berlin a negot:'..CJ.tec1-settlement of the Polit .' question because 11 Polish provocation11 (the usual Ger man fiction) "might render German interfere:n.:n.ce inevitable ;;. Paragrar)h 5 descl"i be s the German demand for a Polish represent­ ative in Berlin by midnight of August 30th to receive and accept the German 11Proposals 11 It is not stated that, from the first, the • British Government d.emur!'ed to this 1\.11 tj_matum1; ~ a:1.d suggested that normal o.nd sensible :procedure wl1.ere-by the German Government should give the Polish Ambassador in Berlin the German pro::-iosals for trans­ mission to the Polish Government. The compilers of the German ;.'summary", like the Germar.. Jovernment, never once recogni se that the Polish Government nac'i_ a :...,"_ght to see these :.!ro:posals 9 to consider them, and to reply to them., ,;Di scussio:111 s.nd 11negoti ation n 1 on the Germnn viev', meant.'9 as us •.1ul 9 ccmplete and im"nediate aco:eptance of German de;-.mnds . ·~ 3 -· P~raP-h-~ omits the messages from the British Government suggesting the normal procedure for the transmission of proposals from Government to Government; and the appeal to the German Govern­ment to avoid acts of provocation 9 and the similar appeal (communi­cated to the German Government) .1:1ade by Viscount Halifax to the Polish Government. Paragraph 7 implies -by a clumsy omissj_on of dates and times-that on .August 30th the British ,0.Jnbassador in Berlin was given the German proposals which were explained to him in detailo In fact, on the night of August 30/31st 9 Herr von Ribbentrop's method of explanation "was to read out al engthy document in German at top speed". He refused to give the British Ambassador a copy of these proposals, and added that, in any case, he considered that the pro­posals (which the Polish Goverrunent had not seen) were rejected because a Polish plenipotentiary had not arrived to accept them en bloc before midnight on August 30tho The proposals were not given to the British _L\mbassador until 9o15 Po m" on August 31st, when the German Government again repeated the view that the propos­als were rejected because the Polish Government had not agPced to the German plan of a 11 dictated11 settlement in Berlj.no Paragraphs 8 and 9 describe the German Governm.ent as compelled to use force against Poland because the Polish iJl1bassador in Berlin would not enter into any discussion of the German proposals (which the Polish Government had not yet considered, and which 9 in any case involved a surrender which no independent state could reasonably accept.) Paragraph 9 also repeats the German lies about Polish acts of unprovoked aggression, Parag£..§J?Jl.~~}.1. _anq_j..?._ blame Great Britain for refusing It11lian mediation, but omit to state that the British Government ref'used to negotiate unJ.ess the Germans had ceased their attacks on Poland and had promised to withdraw their troops from Polish soil o Wi th these omissions and distortions of fact it is not difficult for the compilers of the German summary to put the finishing touch to their "picture" with a statement from Herr von Ribbentrop that the responsibility for the outbreak of war lay with Great Britain and FranceJ FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO. 3_.-~9/39 Further Notes on the German White Book. The German Whi.te Book Urkunden zar letzten Pmse der deut_schpolnischen., K!:_i~e contains an introductj_on a!iLd 26 doc'Uinents of varying length and. charactero Fifteen of these documents have already appeared in the White Book Correspondence between Ho M. Governme!il.!t in the Uni 'ced Kingdom and the German Qpvernment 2 AugQst..2.... 1939. ( Cmd. 6.102) and in Documents relating to Ger.,:~:r:i-P_olish r•e1ations and to the outlwreak of hostiljcti_es "b~et.ween Great BJ?...7. taj.n_ and Germag;y--2.][ September 32 1.939 (Cmdo 61.06). Of the :c>emaining elevttin documents, the substance of' t hr>ee (Correspondence over Pol:.slh customs inspectors) is reproduced in the second of these British White Books; tvrn documents deal with an exchi.~nge of correspondence between M. Daladier and the German Chancel~. ·r on August 26-27; one docmment j_s the French note of warning to the German Government, on September le This note was identical in terma with the British note of the sama date.n The other documents are :­ ( l) :rcec,ord of a telephone message from the Germa:i charge d' af'faires at Warsa11v to the German Foreign Office at l 1o 30 on August 30. (2) Arm01.mcement on the Warsaw radio of August 31. (3) note from the Ital.ian Ambassador in Berli:r... to the German Foreign office on September 2a This proposal is referred to in a Stefani coml:Itmicatj_on printed in the British White Book (Cmd. 6102) ( 4) Announcement by the H.avas agency on September 2., (5) French u1timo.tum to Ger:man~r 9 September 3o 1l1he only relevant fac.ts in the German book whj_ch are not containea_ also in the two British ~:;:niblications are t hus the Polish announcement c 7 31 August, and the Havas report that the French Government hacl given a 1'pos::t tive. answer•1' ( eine pos:!..ti~,re .Antwort.) to the Italian pr oposalso -2 ­ On the other hand the Germo.n White Book omits a number of documents recording factts of great importance: 1. There are no accounts of the conversations between Sir.N. Henderson and Herr Hitler on August 23rd. (2 interviews) 25th 28th and 29th and of the conversation between Sir.N.Henderson and Herr von Ribbentrop on the night of August, 30/31 2. There is no reference to the British messages to the German Government at 2.0.a.m.2.45 p.m.and 5.30 p.m on August 30th. 3. There is no reference to the British message of 6.50 p.m. on August 30th. These omissions are of cnrdinal importance. Since the German Government is thus able not merely to avoid mention of the violent and menacing l anguage used by Herr Hitler in his interviews, but also to conceal certain leading facts: 1) that the British Government protested at once against the German demand for the arrival of a Polish plenipo­ tentiary at Berlin to r ec·ei ve and accept German demands by midnight on August 30th. 2) that the German Government 9 while insisting on August 29th that this demand was not an ultimatum, stated at midnight on August 30th that they r egarded their pro­ posals as already r e jected because their "unilateral" demand for the arrival of a Polish plenipotentiary by midnight on August 30th had not been accepted. 3) that the German Government r efused , absolutely, the r epeated suggestions made by the British Government (and accepted by the Polish Gover'nment) that the Polish­ German negotiations should t ake the ordinary form,i.e. that any German proposals should be given to the Polish Antb assador f or transmission to his Government. 4) that, on rt.:Ld:night August 30th, Herr von Ribbentrop refused to give the British Ambassador a written communication stat.ing the German proposals 9 or to suggest to the Polish Govermnent any method of negotiation other than that of f acing a Polish plenipotentiary­-wrtlrel· -3 ­ series of demands which this plenipotentiary v1ould be compelled to accept v.ri thout consulting his Government. The documents in the German v.'hi te Bool<: therefore give a defective and misleading account of the correspondence betv1een Great Britain and Germany, and of the attempts of the British Government to secure Germn:.-· adhesion to the plan for a direct interchange of communications betvreen the German and Polish Governments. It is clear that through©ut 11the last :phase of the German-Polish crisis" the German Government was determined to carry through a "unilateraln settlement of their demands upon Poland, although these demands, as put forvrard, were obviously incompatible with Polish independence, and although the German Government knew that Great Britain and France were pledged to come to the assistance of Poland if the latter were the victim of aggression. Since the "picture" Vlhich the German documents are intended to give is a misleading one, the summary describinE-; this picture (pp.5-7 of the German White Book) is a fortiori ~lso inaccurate tendencipus. A complete answer to this German "picture 11 is provided in the documents printed on pages 83-181 of the British Documents relating to German-Polish Relations and to the Outbreak of Hosti~_, i ties between Great Britain and Germany (Cmd. ) and summarised in the introductory pages -~~t1i. --XX-~1 Note. No mention is made in this memorandum either of the Polish b~oadcast of August 31 (German document No. 16) or of the statement of the Havas agency on 2 September that France had given neine positive Antwort11 to the Italian proposals of September 2 (German document No. 2) It is assumed thnt the French and. Polish Governments will take notice of these statements and make the necessary renlies l1 J. ( ' ,-} T;' I r, ~. · f°" ... ..&.. l:\.L•) ..,,1 j\o\_; .! .i.. IJ -' • 1 J~r1L1r:..t~ ::.J ~.. cr1 tr: ~10v;. t. r-. en i!..:1 i:. 2: '\''I~~ i c 11 \"·i ]. J. t.tr: s ~_l ,.~ "... tl~G. ~ rll·.1~j_1 g ::.t1~: V'C.It t~;c .l... 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P 1'..G: t ~ u tr·i t j 0n G<::nEJr.:.11 ;.gric ilture Grc::r;Gla.·:1c( J'1utriti0'1 of Hortieultur~l Crops G·rac.o D.~~rj }'O:lCL::;_r Cc110e: r)\.r[4 tio:i Livcct0~~ ard !utrition. The Ck.::rrt1J.J.'3' of :::ituto fo.r: Sc·)tlur/1 1:"ill ccrcult the ,ii.griculturc.l. Colle:rc;_:; i::l:."ld tile ?.c3-:::.~rc~~ I11ctitu-"-t,c ir: <:co·~Lmd on &1'.:)-1-t~\~l·_rLicu.1 \10~cs"Lior1s or1 'J:tJ.:ie~1 t l1c.i1') ~.1cl.vi~e r.1a~y t~ c:cc.i.L1 cd . PRESS NO'rICi~ NO . 5/25. 9. :i.939. (issued by the Ministry of Information). BAKING 1.rRAD_? BOARD J.~~NGIJ-IND _iµm 1:V.ALESl. At the meeting of t he Baking Tr ade Board (England and Wales) on 19th September, 1939, the Board approved proposals relating to holidays with pay for wor kers ii1 the baking trade within the scope of the Board, but decided to defer the decision as to the date from which such a scheme should t alce effect until they meet again in January, 1940 • They will not issue a Notice of Proposal on the subject in t he meantime. The Board also approved proposals r elating to minimum overtime rates f or Bank Holidays, and decided to ask t he consent of the Minister of Labour and National Service t o t he issue of a Notice of Proposal to vary, accordingly, the overt~ne rates at present operative. H.Q.871-450 I.I. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. No. 6. -25/9/39. FLASH NEYfS . EMPIRE AFFAIRS. Foon ·suPPLIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA. Record Maize Crop. The latest returns of the South. African maize crop show a record yield of 28 million bags --a bag contains 200 lbs, of which 12 to 13 million bags will be available for export. South African advices suggest that maize will figure largely in the Union's schGme to buy one million pounds' worth of food­stuffs for the Allies. Sugar, butter, cheese, frozen meat , crayfish, dried and preserved fruits, and wines and spirits are other food stuffs which South Africa can supply in large quantities. A National Supplies Board was set up long before the out­break of war, and a comprehensive survey has been made of the country's agricultural production r esources. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. NO. 1: '2:5/9 /39 (The following is the text of the broadcast (6.30pm. 25/9/39) by Sir Alexander Rouse, Chief Engineer A.R.P. Dept., Ministry of Home Security. ) AIR IJA.ID SHELTER AT HOME The number of people for whom blast and splinter protection has been provided in their homes in the more vulnerable areas runs into many millions. But I we.nt those of you who have no such ;,,....; shelter readily accessible to realise that every house provides a certain amount of shelter against splinters and blast and against ~ra@nents of our own anti-aircraft shells, and that there are many simple ways of increasing this protection. Here are some hints . Outsi£~ the House. If you have a garden, you can dig a trench. Don't dig a deep trench, unless you know how to construct one properly. Deep trenches are apt to fall in if the sides are not specially supported. But a shallow trench will give you quite good cover. Dig do~m about 4t feet, and with the earth you dig ----·· out fill boxes or sandbags and stack them up to a height of about 15 inches all round the edge of the trench above ground level. If you can get some corrugated iron or old boards put them over the top of the trench with a few inches of eRrth on top to keep them in place. Insi§..L:fihe_Ho-q~.§..·_ The first thing to look f'or is a place where there is a good thickness of wall to protect you a8ninst flying splinters. They must be stone walls or brickwork -lath and plaster walls give no protection. A small or narrow room is better than a large one, because the roof is more strongly supported. In the average house the most suitable places will probably be a basement, a passage with no window, or a room such as a scullery with a small window. If the window faces a narrow outside passage, so much the better. If your shelter;proom'or passage has a window, you must protect the window aga~_~-ist splinters to a level of at least 6 feet from the floor level, This can be done in -2;­ variou.:s ways., If it is a basement window pa:;:'tially above ground, ,..yd'u can build up a low wall of earth or sanclbags outside. If it, is a ground floor window 9 build it i n with sandbags if you can get them. But sandbags are not essential. You can use boxes filled with earth. Or 9 }. f you cannot get enough material to build up yom~ earth wall from the groi.md 9 take a wooden table or i-nake a wooden platform up to the J.:..nrel of the window sill and. build up fl'om there with e:::trth in bags or boxes., Another way of protec,ting your windovv is to nail stout boar as both inside and outside the wj_ndmv opening, to a height of 6 feet from the floor 9 and fill the intervening space with pebbles 9 broken bricks 9 earth or sando A wooden frame with wire netting on both sides could be used in place 0f t he boarding if you line it vvi th l:h:noleum or· other material to keep the pebb'les or earth f'rom f alling outo .You can also protec.t o.. ·,rindmv from the insj.de by :pJ.ac i.ng in front of it a 'bookcase tightly packed. with old books or magazines, or by piling up against it old trunks or boxes filled with stones or earth. If you do this, be sure that the boxes are firmly supported. and do not sit where the forc.e of an explosion might cause them to topple on to you, Don't forget the danger from flying glass. If any part; of the window is J_eft unprotec:ted, you slwuld take up ym.u" position during a radd where splinte::'.'s from t he wine.ow won't hi:.t you. The best position ~s close to the wall on either side of the window. The.se are only a fe'l·v hlnts 9 i1J..nst.rating the general principles to be followedo You and. your friends will doU:b.tless think of other 1vays of using the materialo you can 1s.y your hands on. Don't forget that. ever;rone in a vulner-al:Jle ar'ea who provides in his ovm home reasona-ole pr>otect:i:on for himself and his family ts making a valuable contributi on to national security. Do it now. ~ FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. No.,;/.-:-25/9/39. FLASH NEWS. THE 11 ROYAL SCEPTRE'~. Murder on the High Seas. As announced on Saturday, it is feared that· .all hope has now to be given up for the officers and crew of the steamship "Royal Sceptre", sunk by an U-boat on September 6th in a position about 300 miles to the westward of Ushant. The crew of this ship were cast adrift in their boats without possible hope of reaching l and., a foul act of piracy on the high seas on the part of the German Navy 9 carried out in direct contravention of the submarine protocol signed by Germany in November, 1936, which was to be binding for all timeo This protocol is contained in Part 1V of the London Naval Treaty of 1930, ~nd makes it abun::!.antly clear that no v.,rarship, submarine or otherwise is justified in sinking a merchant ship unless the crew has been placed in safety, and that open boats cannot be considered a place of safety unless in calm weather and close to land or a rescuing ship. The names of the officers and men thus callously abandoned to their fate and literally murdered in cold blood were as follows:­ Master: J ames Gay, Alnvtlck. First Mate: Norman Hartley, West Hartlepool, Second ti Hector Wo Smith, North Shields. Third ti Peter Mo William, Twickenham. Carpenter: John Stabulbeck, Barry. Boatswain: J ames Meyler, Wexford. A.B's. Martin PoV!er, Dungarvan Leslie Sharp, Wrotham. Charles Wo Smith, Pulborough. Robert Sarsfield, Waterford. Ordinary Seamen: First Engineer: Second Engineer: Third Engineer: Patrick R. Middlebombe, Ashurst, Southampton. Raymond Burford, Card:'.f'f. James Doyale, VJexford. John Davison, Wallsend-on-·Tyne. Richard Lonsdale, Sunderland. John G. Smiles, Sunderland. Fourth Engineer: Leslie Hayton? Sunderland. Donkeymen: Firemen: Steward: Cook: Messroom Boy: Cabin Boy: Galley boy: Apprentices: Radio Officer: Manual Co Martinez, Cardiff. Alfred Ro1es, Southampton William Sullivan, Southampton, Juan T. Martin$ Cardiff. Manual Dias, Cardiffc Thomas Nieva, Cardiffo Joseph Gatt, Cardiff. James Twomey , Barry Dock. John Hal1 9 Worthingo Henry Burford, Cardiff~ George HarcJ..ing~ Southampton. Elwyn Price, Southampton. Willia~ Dunn, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Clifton Rigby, Romford. Leslie J effcott 5 Port Talbot. .·­ FROM THD l'IINISTRY OF INFORt:ATIOH. No. 9 -25/9/39. EMPIRE AFFAIRS SFCC:1:AL. (Covering: Role of the Indian Army: Loyalty of Emir Abdullah of Trans-Jord.an; Message from Field-Marshal Lord Birdwood. M:CSSAGE FROM Fr:cv;-ivTARSHAL LORD BIRD\:fO(iD. The following message has been issued from Field Marshal Lord Birdwooa_, from Deal Castle, Kent: ­ "The innumerable messages of loyalty and the many proraises of moral and material su~9port which have been pouring in from the Princes and peoples of India in the present emergency must necessaril~r be a source of pleasure and gratification -though certainly not of surprise -to one whose intimate personal association with India and the Indian Army began well over half a century ago. "It was in 1885 that I follorrnd my father, and nw f'ather' s father, into the Ina.ian service, and ny experiences in the ensuing period of some fifty-four years enable me to srieak, as I do with all sincerity and admiration, of the wonderful qualities of the Indian soldier of every class and creed, both in peace and in war. "His fine trac1iti ons, his discipline ancl ef'fici ency, his exenvlary bravery in actions are known to all the worlcl9 which has not forgotten, and will never forget, the magnificent gallantry and fortitude displayedby Indian troops in a hundred fierce engagements, from the major battles of the Great War t o such far-off yet irqperishably memorable incidents as the defence of Saraghari or the vrithdrawal from Maizar in 1897. I have always been profoundly proud and. ha:m:w to command such splendid troops; and it gives me the greatest satisfaction to know that, novv as ever faithful to their salt, the soldiers of India are once again prepared to fight shoulder to shoulder with us in the cause of justice and security. "There is another matter of which I can speak with first-hand knowled.ge; namely, the very real interest and admiration evinced by His Majesty the King-Emperor vii th regarcl to his Indian Ar~r. As 'Gold Stick' it is my high privilege to be a member of His Majesty's house­hold and to be in attendance on him from time to time; and I never cease to be impressed by the way in which His lilajesty, following closely in the footsteps of his illustrious father, gives constant 9roof of his knowledge, sympathy and grasp of detail in matters relating to the Indian soldier. The King-:Smperor shows a remarkable farailiar•i ty with the records and achievements of his Indian regiments and corps, and.His Majesty has often expressed to me something of the pride and affection in which he holds the brave and loyal men Y1ho serve in them. "To my many life-long friends among the officers and men of the Indian Army I send my warmest greetings and heartfelt good wishes; while to their sons and successors now serving in the ranks of those Units which I have ltnown so well, I vwuld add the simple exhortation that they should ever strive to safeguard and preserve intact the great legacy of untarnished honour that has been handed down to them. 11 ROLE OF THE nmIAN ARMY The role of the Indian Army in this war v.r::;;.s recently pictured by General Sir Robert Cassels, the Commancler-in-Chief 9 in a broad­cast to the country on its strategical ~roblems and the modernisation of India's defence forces. The Commander-in-Chief said that 9 contrasted with the last war, it would be unwise in this war to assume India's being immune from a direct thre8.t. Burma 9 iri hostile h0. nds, would be a pistol pointed at the heart of Bengnl. It was also vital to India that Egypt and .& den should never f all into unfriendly hands. Events in Europe might make a heavy call on man-power and delay reinforcements for garrisons e ast of Suez. Hence India must herself reinforce those garrisons. Such reinforcements would at the most repre8ent only one-tenth of the forces maintained in India for the defence of India's frontiers . Turning to India's man-power, the Commander-in-Chief said that the country's greatest asset was a large surlply of the finest types of fighting men. "Indian troops 9 so f ar as their quality is con­cerned9 need not fear comparison with the troons of any country in the world." -• In a recently :Ls.s.ued-COilllilUili..g_ue-,_regcrrding man-power the Govern­ment of India pointed out that it is of ~rimary importance to h~ve a steady flow into the right channels. The Government have asked that peoyle 8hould.....n.ot-VOlunteer for service in India or e1se~·;here 9 out should stay at their pres-en~_J>ost.s t.ill--oj;.h~.e-cor9JtlBnded. Recruits for the Indian J'.rmy come from many co.stes and tribes, the majority coming from the LIUSLHI ·population of North Indio.. The Sikhs contribute very l arge numbers both to the cava lry 2nd infantry. The Sikhs 9 who 1ive in the Punj.abr-..origi.nat-e-.in a sect__ founded in the early part of t he 16th Cent.ur;i. The Gurkhf:l.s, v1ho also contribute l nrgely to the Indian Army 9 come from Nepal, a countyy of some 5 million people 9 up against the Himalayas . In the l ast war NepRl sup~}liecl some t·v-m hundred thousand / fighting men to help the Allied cause. As in the last war, there has been an offer of Nepalese troop"> , which has been gratefully accepted. The profes2ional military cas te of India is the Ra jput of Rajputana and the United Provinces. Raj~uts have sust~ined the English flag in every campai gn in the E~st. Other castes who have given good service to the Indian Army inc lude Jats, Dogras, and Mahrattas. In the last war Indian troops saw service in France, Belgium, Gallipoli, Salonica, Palestine, Egy:pt,. the Suclan, Mesopotamia, Aden and the Red Sea littoral, Somaliland, Cnmeroons, East Africn, North West Persia 9 and Kurdistan , South Per '-'. i n , the Gulf of Oman, the whole length of East Persia, Trans-easpia , North China , and of course on the North West and North East Frontiers of India. During the last vn.r the Victorin Cross vro.s awarded for conspicuous gallnntry to two Indian officers, four non­commissioned officers o.nd six ot her ranks of the Indian Army. The Lilit ary Cross was o.vmrcled to ninety-six Indian officers, and to three Indian officers for service in Waziristan. . A large number of Indian officers and men \Vere also grJ.nted foreign decorations. On the outbreak of the last war the combat o.nt strength of the Indian J\rmy, including reservists, was 194 ,000 Indian ranks. Enlistments during the war for all brGnches of the service totalled 7 91, 000, m:J.lcing a totc. l conb::i.t ant contribution of 985,000. Of this number, 552,000 were sent oversee.s. As regards non-combatant....,, 427,000 vmre enrolled <'!uring the war and 391,000 were sent oversen'"l. The total contribution of Indian personnel was thus 1,457,000. LOYALTY OF EMIR ABDULLAH OF TRANS-JORDAN The loyalty of the Emir Abdullah of Trans-Jordan, numerous manifestations of which have been published since the outbreak of hostilities, can surprise only those who supposed, wrongly, that Arab Nationalism was taking on an anti-British complex. For this noble Arab has been staunch in hi_s friendship towards the British from a time which ant®.-datcd the last war. It was early in 1914 that this son of the late King HUS~EIN of the HEJAZ approached Lord Kitchener in Egypt to take soundirtgs for Anglo-Arab co-operation in the event of war, and like many other prominent Arabs, he has never wavered in his belief that the future of the Arabs is enexorably woven with that of Great Britain. Time and time again during the mandatory relations of his state with Britain, he has proved this. His Highness the Emir has rightly expressed the conviction which all Moslem people feel in the justice of the cause for which Britain is fightingo In the last vvar, Germany tried to raise a Jehad (Holy War) against the Moslems who had declared their allegiance to Britain, and the attempt failed miserably. Failing even more conspicuously today are all endeavours to sow dissension between the Moslems, democrats in the deepest sense, and those who adamantly face the tyranny of Nazi Germany. It is as no result of British pressure that Trans-Jordan, under the Emir, is so unanimous in favour of Britain. There is but a. handful of British advisers in the whole of the Emirate, and these suggest rather than execute methods of adminstration. That the Trans-Jordan Arabs of their ovm free will should so solidly have proclaimed their loyalty is immensely to their credit. FROM _':rHE MJ-NI§TR.Y OF INFORMATION. NO. 10. 25/9/39 Persons in ReceY?._t of Poor Relief (g.ii-2rt~r-~ended. Ju~J---2.23.~ The .Minister of Health, Mr. Walt.er Elliot, has today (Monday) issued his quarterly st.atement showing the number of.' persons in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales for the quarter ended June, 1939. With the exception of increases following the Easter and Whitsun holidays there v-rns a continuous decrease throughout the quarter :~n the numher of persons in rec,eipt of reli.e:fo At the end of June, 1939 s the total number was l,03ls42.l, a decrease. of 42:,554 vvhen compared with the corresponding total at the end of March, 193,9, and a decrease of 8,931 when compared with the end of June, l.93-8. NOJ. 11. 25/9/39 "PERSONAL OCCUPATION AND NATIONAL REGISTER." Arrangements have been made by the Registrar General (Sir Sylvanus Vivian) to meet the request that a person who is trained in some other occupation than his or her present one should be able to have it recorded in the National Register. The return of "Personal occupntion" must state the occupation or calling ordinarily followed for a livelihood on National Registration Day -next Friday, 29th September. This return is in no way affected by the new arrangement and must be made according to the instructions in the schedule. A supplementary return, however, may be made if desired on a special postcard N.R.Z. This postcard will be supplied on personal application, o.fter the 29th September, at the local National Registration Office. In Scotland this is the office of the local registrar. In England and Wales it is almost invariably at the local Co1mcil 0ffices. The address can be ascertnined by enquiry at any local Police Station. The nostcards will not be distributed by the enumerators• .J; -­ Any per son wishing to make o. suppl ementary return of occupation must wait until his or her identity card has been delivercd by tho onumerato1•. Full particulnrs of the previous occup2tion should then be entered on the postcard, which must be si 2/1cd, the serial number entered from the idcntity card, and posted. This sup1J1c~-.nentary return will be recorded in the National Register. A supplementary occupation must be one . in which person notifying it was 0fu1ly trained by actual lJractice or experience as a means oi' 1ivelihoody 11 A supplementary return should NOT be made of skill deriv d solely from pursuit of a hobby. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No 12. 25/9/39· For Pu'blica tioin in Tuesday Morning papers only DEFENCE (FINANCE) REGULATIONS, 193.9 e Securit,ies, (Restrictions an\i Returns) Bu an Order made by the Treasury under the above Regulations and dated the 26th August, 1939, the owners of cer-"ttain spacified s.ecurities we-re d±rected to make a return of their holdings to the Bank of England within one month from the date of the Order9 i oeo by the 26th September, 1939, By an amending Order the period during which returns muat he made. has now been extended to the 9th October, 1939· The securities spe,cifie,d in the original Order were the, following:: ­ Securities in respect of which the principal, interest or dividends are payable in the currency of any of the f"olJlowing countries; ­ Argentina Belgium Canada France Holland and the Dutch East Indies Norway Sweden Swit z.erland United Sir.ates. of· America O!' in respect of which the holder has an option to require the payment of principa:I.9 interest or dividends-in the currenay o,f any o'f' those countrieso FROLI THE MINIS'i'RY OF INFORlIATION No. 13 25/9/39 THE KI NG WITH EIS AIRMEN The Eing stood yesterday in the grounds of a quiet country house soF1ewhere in England. And the Ki ng's presence t here was the most remarkable thing about it, for you come across such pleasant houses , looking snugly retired and modestly prosperolrn, in scores up and down the l and. But this was a very renarkable and secret .house If the enemy sent a boub through its unobtrusive roof, they would have somethinc to boast about at l ast. For here, in this remote innocent-seeming spot , o.re the headquarters and keenest 'brains of the Royal Air Force Coostal Cormnand. The King, attended by Sir Kingsley Wood, the Minister for Air, suddenly arrive to be shovvn the sort of home that the R. A. F. has chosen for much of its r11os·c vito.l work -and as usual he missed nothing. Looking as hard and woll as the fittest of his serving of ficers, King George was received by the Officer Commanding the Coastr:tl Comrnand 7 and the second-in-command. They !_')lunged at once into the warren of corridors , lined heavily with cables and wires, and the honeycomb of small, active r ooms into which a once-spacious house has been transformed. The King went ~o the r'oom, in which girls of the r!.A. A.F. sat over clicking machines, anc1 next :passE:.cl to the Cypher room, where vrnmen' s brains ·were once iJore dexterously busy. A select grou11 of half-a-dozen were decoding messases frora aircrnft, ships 9 and the headquarters of all three -2 ­ Services, or alternatively rapidly turning into cypher-figures en clair messages waiting to go out. "You find it interesting?" asked the King. A voluble and technical explanation of how it is done descended on him. "I couldn't learn it in a day's match," confessed the King. "We are getting rather good at arithmetic1' smiled the head of the Section. "You centainly should know your multiplication tables," said the King, laughing. He left the house to inspect trenches and shelters which are being dug; said a word to the canteen girls, who blushed delightedly among their piles of chocolate and buns; glanced in at the Sergeants' Mess; asked about the comforts of the men in one of the dormitory huts and then stepped again into the mellow afternoon sunshine. There was no sound except of a football being punted in a neighbouring field. Blackberries hung ripe on one of the garden hedges; a line of Irish yews below the t errace stood with their placid immemorial air, and the maples burnt overhead in fiery autumn colour. It was hard to realize there was a war on. And then one suddenly had a vision of all the fighting commands with which this pleasant place is linked and of the sleeping air squadrons that at any hour or second would roar at a signal into wakefulness and begin their swift intercepting climb. The phrase used to be "the wooden walls of Old England". To-day the wall that helps maintain this land inviolate has changed to the thin steel and stays of the modern war-plane. But these patrollers of the sky -so frail and yet so deadly -watch our coasts alertly as· any frigate under Nelson. The one factor which does not change is the men. They still are hearts of oak -loyal and ready hearts; and some of them were mightily cheered yesterday by this glimpse of their supreme Commander, the King. FROM THE MINISTRY OF I1'.1FORHA~ION. No.14 -25/9/39. COLITIERCIAL ROAD VEHICLES. :CXTRA FUEL RATIONS• The Ministry of Tro.nsrort asks through the Ministry of Information goods vehicle group organisers who are in a position to estimate in advance the requirements of the operators in their groups for sup~lementary ration issues for the week beginning Saturday, September 30, to lodge a'_1plications with the appropriate sub­di strict manager as early as possible this vrnek. Similar appli­cations should be made each week in future as early as possible. A:p-:)lications must inc1icate how the basic ration wi 11 be used and explain the need for additional fuel. While it is desired. to lrnep in operation all necessary road transport, due regard must in every case be paid to economy in the use of fuel and the possibilities of alternative means of transportn FROM THE haNISTRY OF INFORI':IATION. No. 15 -25/9/39. --·-·----­ ARMY. CH.~LAINCIES. The following information, announced by the War Office, should be carefully noted by clergymen and ministers of religion. Candidates for Army Chaplaincies must be ordained ministers and must be prepared to serve overseas. They should be under 40 years of age and should apply as follows:­ ( 1 ,'i;hurch of England and ~ Through the Bishop Roman Catholic ( of the Diocese. ! Other Churches ( Through the recognised Cornmittee appointed by the Church of which the applicant is an accredited minister. Applicants must not ap-; ly direct to the War Office, either in person or in ~riting, No. 16-25/9/39 FLASH NEWS. THE ROYAL SCEPTRE MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS The Admiralty requests that the following corrections may be made in the list of casualties to officers and men of 11Royal Sceptre" issued under the Ministry of Information Flash No.8 -25/9/39, (1) Place of residence of LESLIE SHARP A,B. is Southwick, Sussex, and not WrothauL (2) For PATRICK R. MIDDLECOMBE of Ashurst, Southampton,read FRANK BIDDLECOMBE of Ashurst, Southampton• . . ... . ... . . . . . . ---~ ~ R~V;JISED SUGAR PRTCES. F_gf?H N~WS • The Ministry of Food have issued an Order amending the Sugar (Maximum Prices) Or·der 9 and :providing for an increa.se of *d· :per po1!Jlld in the prices of granuI:at·e·d and softt browm suga:rr. The effect of th:is ts to increase the margins; between the wholesale and retail prices for sugar prescribed in tha:t Order. The opportunity has been taken to include in thi.s Order some additional yarieties of' sugar (e. g_o preserving, icing, . ,._..-" ·· '-· ---'the .rev:tsed._r:riazimum retail pric.es per ·pound are as '~· .. ~. . ../ - .follmvs: ­ Granu1ate.d., o o ·0 0 •J" (' 3!-d. a o 0 , Cubes •• . 4d. • 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 • 0 • Ca.st,er. 4da j) ~) 0 •