25/1!QV)9. -NO. 1. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. On the whole the night has been quiet. Patrol and artillery activity to the west of the Saar~ 25 /10/39 No. 2. PRESS NOTICE ROYAL MARINES As a sufficient number of applications for temporary eommissions has been received, no further applications for temporar;y connnissions in the Royal Marines should be made until a f'Urther announcement is made. ADMIRALTY 9 VJHITEHALL, S.W.l. 25.10.39. AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT. Royal Air Force over Germany. The reconnaissances carried out by the Royal Air Force during the past twentyfour hours included night flights over Berlin, Magdeburg and Hamburg. I r The \'/ar Office, Londtn, S.'.V .1. 25th October, 1939. The War Office announces the fcrmaticn of a new Corps ­ the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Ccrps -recruiting for which will open tomorrow throughout the ccuntry. As the age limits will r1ormally be ccnfined to men between 35 and 50 9 this new corps is opening its rarli~s to the older man whose desire to serve can now be satisfied to some considerable extent. The Auxiliary l'!Iili tary Pioneer Corps has been designed to carry out work, the importance of which cannot be over­emphasised, since its main object is to ensure the proper maintenance of all kinds of supplies to our armies at home and abroad. To achieve this cbject entails the handling at docks, bases , and depcts cf a vast amount of stores, and to ensure the smooth transportation of such stcres, roads and railways on Lines of Communication must be maintained in a fit condition !'.or smcoth and quick transit to be possible. In addition new roads may rey_uire to be constructed and light railways laid. 'rhe efficiency and morale of ciur Armies at the front depend to an aJpreciable degree on the efficient working of the organization responsible for its mairnenance, and it is to ensure that such an orgadization shall exist that this new Corps is being formed. rfien eligible for the Auxiliary I'.1ilitary Pioneer Corps will realise the importance of its duties, and it is hoped they will ccme forward and offer the ir seJ'vices t0 a Corps with such a vital work to perform. Pay/ !• • ·'' n 10. Pay and c0aditi~ns will be the same as for British Infantry and full details can be 0btained at all recruiting offices . It must b e pointed out, however9 that men in Reserved Occupati(.ns should not apply but if in any doubt they shculd seek advice frcrn their nearest Lo.b.0ur .ii;xchange. _____________.....,___ 25th October 1939. A meeting Of tbe Agricultural Jazes Bo~rd was held at King's Buildin,:s:::i, .Smith Sq_uaTe, 1or:caonJ 0 . . :.1., on October 24th 1939 n--h Rt T-,.,, .,,. • t -r1 1 t ' ' re • tlOn. ~ne ~1scoun LI-~s~a er, G.C. B. , prasi ding The Board co~sidered notifications from ~~ricultural Wages Cofr'.rui ttees of clectsior1s fixing minir;.u.r.1 and ove;;.J..;ime rates of wases a.nd ;Li.re ctions j_ n re;;a:rcA. to ho Ji 6.ays and. holi d.ay remunero.tion an~ proceeded to ~a~e the follo~ing Crdera: -· ' .Sbropshj.re: An On:er varyinc the e:x::L Bting minimum and ove:::time rates of W·.?<:;es ar.d. tlle d.irect:Luns in regard to llolidays with pay at present i n force in their area, such rates a.nd. di rect,j_ ons as varied to come into force on 29th Cctober, 1939, and to operate until further notice. The t1j_11.imur;1 rates in tlle cc.1::; e of male v,o::.~kers of 21 years of age and over are 36/-(instead of 35/-) per week of 44-~-hours in the 'Nee1L3 in v:hic:1 Christmac, Dtj,y 8-nJ_ Good Friday fall and f)4 hours in any otner ·irnek, with overtim8 uncl1an,::;ed at 9d. per ~1our on weel{da.r[.:; and for attention to stock on Sundays, and. lOd. per hour fo:c other ern1Jloy:,ien-t on .'::.unJ.ays . In the case of female workers of 18 years of age and over the minimum rates remain unchanged ~t ~d. per hour with overtime at 6d. :per hour . The directions in regard to holida._;rs with pay remain unchanged and provide that whole-time male workers employed or engaged to be employed. by the sa:rlG ernploycff throughout the period 1st January to 31st .December in any year sball be allowed. holidays of six days and 'i.:here ~cl:i.e e;nployment d.oe s not exterld thr0ughout that period. ·che worirer shall be allowed holidays at the rate of one day for each two consecutive months of empJ.o:yme nt with the same employer in the period. I111e 110li days are to be allowed at times within the year as may be agreed bet-·N0en the employer and. wor~rnr, and provision is made ;;i,s to when tl1ey ~Y'e to be allowed in defa11lt of agreement . Holiday remuneration is fixed at a daily rate of not less than one sixth of the weekly minimum rate of w~ges applicable to the worker . Carmarthenshire: An Order fixing minimum and overtime rates of wages for male and female workers and mdking directions in regard to h oli da~rs with pay e..n;l hol L-:..ay remun.erati on for male wCJrlrnrs, to come into fcrce on the 15th of November, 1939 (i . e . the day follo-v;j_ns that on Yvhicb the e:cisting rates s.re c!.ue to expire) and to continue in operation until the 14tl1 November, 1940. 'I'be minimum rates in the case of male workers of 21 years of age and over are 33/-(as at present) per week of 45 hours in the weeks in which Christmas Day, Gocd iriday, \ihit liionday and .du.gust :aanJ\: Holiday fs.11 and. 54 hours in any other weel<: . The miEimum ra-r.e for female worlcers of 18 years of age and over remains unchanged. at 5d. per bcur. The overtime r ates are also unchanged, in the case of male workers of 20 years of age and overJ Bid. per ho~r, and f emale workers of 18 years and over, Gd. per hour. 1. P:-,~avic1" 0"' ~ s -.~., 'e ' 1'~~·· -·· . ' l ·•·.. .., ­ · ­ .._ ,., ~~ _,_ .,_._,u N.iel. c O.y d Wr10 -~e·-i.,1X8 ma.te WOrKer who is employed or en-za[:78 (i to be eriJ0_1_o:ye C. cy t:1e ca.r:-.e employer throu9'll0ut the period 15th Nov~~tar, J939 , to t he 14th Novamber , 1940, s~all be al:!..o'."Jed. h°,l~·jays of ~J1r2e. c~,avs . •;;!2ere the wor;rnr is not employ ed. or engagou ~o be emp~OJed tnrouzhout that period, he sball be allo·JVed a. holi day of o.ne c1.ay in re spect of' each four co·~plete consec:utive :nonths o:r:' e'.lrployment vii th t he same employer in that period. The holj_day remuneration for workers of 21 yea:cs of age and over is 5/6d.. pe:c day. 1I1he holidays are to be a:.i.lovv ed at ·dmes vii thin the period 15th November, 1939, tv 14th November, 1940, as may be · agreed between the employer and the worker and prov:i.sion is made as to when they are to be allowed in default of agreement . Glarnorganshire. A.n Orde:.r-fixing minimum and overtime rates of wages and making directions in regard toholi cJ.ays v1ith pay and holiday remunerat ion for male workers employed whJlly or mainly in :forestry, i.e. e;:nployment in cor;.r_ection v:i tl1 pre:oaring l and, planting and m5.i.ntaining fore.::Jtry ai·eas and nursery work in connection t herewith, to come irr~o force on 2nd November, 1939, (i.e . the day follo1.ving ti~a.t on wl1ich the existing rates are due to expire) and to continue in operation until 1st November, 1940. 'I'he minimum ratec in the case of ma,le NOr~;::ers of 21 years of a 2;e and over are 42/-(instead of '±0/-) per weei,r of 48 ri'ours in wi -;_ter and 52 hours i n summer, with overtime at 11-:'td. per hour (i nstead of l ld. per hour) . Provision is made w~ereby a whole-time male worker employed or enga6ed to be emp:Loyeci by the same employer throughout the period 2nd No vember, 1939, to 1st November, 1940, shall be allowed holi day::i of 6 days. \il1ere the worker is not employed or engaged to be employed t r1l'O Uj;l10ut tb..:..t 1:.ieriod, he shall be all owed holidays of t wo days in respect of each four complete consecut ive calendar months of employment with the same employer i n tbat period. The holiday r emuneration for male workers of 21 years of age arid over is 7/-per day. The next meeting of the :Board vdll be held on Tuesday, 14th November, 1939 . I SSUED THROUGH TH:'.£ PRE~S BUREAU . No.6. PRESS i OTIC~. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE CLUB TAPES OR BY BROADCAST OR IN ANY OTff'~R WAY BEFORE THE MORNING OF THURSDAY 26TH OCTOBER, 1939. The Treasury has issued the following Notice to Chambers of Commerce and similar bodies in the TJnited Kingdom for the information of importers. PROVISION OF EXiVI-lANGE FOR IMPORTED GOODS. (1) The importation of certain goods is prohibited except under licence issued by the Import Licensing Department of the Board of Tradeo Application for foreign exchange needed to pay for imports of goods on the prohibited list should not be made until.. the importer is satisfied that an import licence for the goods can be obtained. In order to facilitate dealing with applications the imDort licence should when :possible be produced at the time when the application for exchange is made. (2) In all cases where exchange is required for the · imuort of goods, whether the goods are on the prohibited list or otherwise, the bank will require the production in due course of a certified copy of the Customs import entry, verifying that the goods have been imported. (3) In order to obtain a certified copy of the Customs import entry, importers must present to the Customs at the time of_ent~;y_Qf_j;_h~_goods an extra copy of the entry plainly marked in red . inl<: FOR EXCHJ\NGE CONTROL PURPOSES ONLY. 1 FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST The :Ministry of Home Security urgently draws attention to the necessity for more care in the use of hand torches in the streets. Some members of the public are, for example, thoughtlessly flashing them into the line of sight of drivers of omnibuses approaching stopping places. Pedestrians crossing the roads are also in many cases flashing torches in the direction of approaching vehicles. These highly dangerous practices have been the cause of several accidents. Drivers of road vehicles are temporarily blinded and this makes the strain of night driving in the blackout still more onerous. In view of the serious consequences that may follow a misuse of torches, the public are earnestly requested to observe the direction already given that torches must at all times be pointed downwards. Never in any circumstances may they be directed towards the driver of a motor vehicle. Press Officer, Ministry of Home Security. 25th October, 1939. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 25010.39 No.8. ----~­ EMPIRE BROADCAST 4.0.p.m. BY COL.REITZ MINISTER FOR NATIVE AFFAIRS, SOUT:r-I AFRICA. Delegates from every Dominion are coming to London t o attend a war conference, and I have the honour of representing the Government of the Union of South Afr ica. I ho:'.)e that the f ac t of our coming will be of great sei"vice to the Comrnon Cause and that it will be a proof of our solidarity in this crisis; a proof that the smaller nations within the British Empire fully realise that their fate depends upon a victorious i ssue as much as does that of Great Britain itself. As I am the first of the Dominion Cabinet Ministers to arrive in London, and as I have been here only a f ew days as yet, it would be presumption on my part were I to comment on the local aspect of the situation until I have been able t o l ook around me, but I thought it might be of interest if I wer e briefly t o tell you how we stand in South Africa, for I am afr~~d there has been a certain degree of misconception about our attitude t owards the war. In the first place, I can give you the assurance that we in South Africa are fully aware that, should the Germans succeed, we shall be the first t o go under. We are a small community of less than three million Europeans. We hold an enormously strat egic position -a half way house between t wo worlds -and we -produce mo:re than three quarters of the world's gold sunnly, so we are under no illusion as t o what would haDpen to us had we been without the mutual fri endship and protection of the nations of the British Commonwealth. Our liberty and our status as a free nation would not have been worth a year's purchase if Hitler won this war, and, for that reason , I repeat that our destiny is bound up with victory even more closely than any other portion of the Empire, and theref ore we stand firmly by our friends. Nevertheless, our position is somewhat differ ent from that of the other members of the Empire. In Great Britain, in Australia anc"'. in New Zealand, you have homogeneous British communities, srleaJzing th0; same language and held t ogether by the same historical traditions, whereas, in South Africa, the majority of our European population is of _,J.tch descent, speaking the Dutch or Afrikaans language. For this reason, you in Canada will better be able to understand our problems for in your country, too, you are solving your racial and language questions on a basis of equality and justice t o both sections. I should say the ratio of Dutch to English descended citizens in South Africa is as 60% to 40%and, naturally, our Dutch speaking population l ook at their position within the British Em1Jirc from a somewhat different angle t o that of our English speaking community. You must remember that, in t he p2st, we f ought t wo bitter wars against the Britj_sh9 I myself, who am speaking t o you this afternoon, served f or three years unc<.er arms against t he British Em"'>ire, and I went into exile in a strange l and rather than live under the British Flag. I mention these things t o show you the difference between our own past and that of the other Dominions. But Great Britain, after defeating us in war, treated us with a generosity unknown in history and conferred on us an ;:;ven greater measure of liberty than we had enjoyed under our own f ormer Republics. Today, as a voluntary partner in the British Commonwealth, we 2re not only free, but far safer than we could hope t o be if we were on our own with the "smash and gr ab11 policy which is now trying t o dominate the world. It is true that, when the war broke out 1ast month, there was some initial difference of opinion, and many of OUI' Afrikaans speaking people were in favour of our remaining neutral, but today the position is rapidly improving, for they are now beginning to appreciate the fact that a neutral South Africa would have been a disgraced South Afri.ca, would have been a South Africa shorn of friends and markets and shipping: a. South Afric.a isolated, and at the mercy of Germany who, for a start, would strip us of South West Africa the territory captured by South African Troops in 1915, and who, thereafter, would certainly strip us of our own countryo The Germans have never understood the psychology of other nations and, in our case, they are under the impression that tll~ the Afrikaans section in the Union of South Africa is p~o German, whereas I give you my solemn assurance that there is lite.rally no pro German element among us. Night after night the Germans broadcast from Berlin in Afrikaans, thinking to sow doubt and discord among us, but their efforts are so extravagant and so grotes~ue that they defeat their own object. We have achieved liberty and progress and security within the four corners of the British Empire, and we are not going to exchange the substance of what we possess for the shadows that would await us without: It would be premature for me to indicate what our military c,ontribution to the war is going to be, but we have undertaken to protect, with all our resources, the land defences of the British Naval Bases at Simonstovm. A glance at the map will show you that Simonstovm constitutes a vital point in the lines of communication by sea to all parts of the world and to all parts of the Empire so that, in doing . this, we have taken upon ourselves a duty of major milit~ry importance. In addition we shall hold South Africa against all comers and we shall assist in defending the other territories in Africa belonging to the British Commonwealth. We shall also hold South West Africa, for this country is, geographically, an integral portion of the Union and two thirds of its inhabitants are our own nationals. Already, we have interned all the Nazi agitators who were making trouble there, just as we have interned all Na~i propagandists in South Africa, and should Tanganyika or the other protectorates be menaced, we shall throw our entire weight into the scales. In conclusion, l et me once again assure you, on behalf of General Smuts, our great leader, ac"'ld on beha.lf' of the Union Government, that South Africans will do what South Africans have ever done in the past -they will f'ight for liberty side by side with all those who wish to be freeo 25/10/39 No. _2 FOR PUBLICATION A1i•TER DELIV::iRY. . . smm ARY OF LORD r..·:ACI':ILL.AN Is SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ··· OCTOK:=R 25th. Lord f·Tacmillan in replying to Lord fhdleton' s motion in the House of Lords this afternoon gave the results of the scrutiny of the staff of the Ministry which he had carried.·out. He pointed out that the Department had been originally organised in advance to come into full operation on the outbreak of \'Jar and so had to be able to meet every contingency which might have arisen. It might have been necessary to deal with a series of imr11ediate crises and with a great flood of material. The course of events hadbeen different from what had been anticipated and time had been given to the Ministry to adapt its structure to the actual needs of the case. The chief criticism directed by Lord MicUeton against the Ministry was that it was over-staffed at the to1) vdth an unnecessary number of high-salaried officials. There was originally a series of Departments, each with a Director of its ovm. The organisation of the Ministry had.now been simplified and re-organised under eight Divisions. These fell into three classes, the first four divisions dealing with the actual vvork of i)ropaganda in ­ l ll Foreign c.ountries, allied and neutral. 2 The Empire. 3 The United Kingdom. and the fourth Division in a special category by itself concerned with the United States of .A.merica, where v1e prefer to leave our propoganda to Herr Hitler. Secondly, there were now three Divisions concerned with the technical production and distribution of material; one being con­cerned with general :production~ printing etc; anotP,er with a special Department of films; and a third with racUo relat ions and com­munications. The remaining eighth division would be concerned only with administration, Le. finance, accounts and establishment, w:ith a small section engaged in intelligence work. The effect of this rearrangement is that the Ministry has been able to dispense at Headquarters with some 67 officials with cor­responding reductions in the ancillary staff representing a pa~r-roll of the order of £46,000 a ye ar. The remaining staff has been accep­ted by the Treasury as reasonable in nuJnber and grading for the present work of the IHnistry. Lord Macmillan said that it had been no pleasant task for a new Minister, coming entirely fresh to an existing Department to have to deal so drastically with a staff largely composed of accomplished people who had been invited to join the Ministry in some cases 111onths ago, and who had addressed them­selves unsparingly to the tasks a~)pointed to them. He repeated his tribute of thanlrn to them for their services. Lord Macmillan pointed out that he had been concerned not only with the number and remuneration of the staf~, but had also to consider their suita­bility for the tasks appointed to thern. He might well, as time went on, have to effect further changes here and there as experience dictated anc1 new needs arose ancl. he had particularly in mind the desirabi1ity of obtainin.~ more assistance from the journalist pro­fession on the })Ublicity side of the Ministry's work. Some progress had been made in this direction. Journalists were reauired mostly in the Foreign Departr,-1ent. Here it was necessary to obtain Journalists / who . ­ -2 ­ whoin addition to their export pross experience, were also well qualified on the grounds of hnving intimate and detailed knowledge of the politics and mentality of particular foreign Countries. The list of staff which hnd appeared in Harn;ard described many members of the staff as Civil Servants. While this was accurate, it might have been better if it had been explained that their s election har~. ~_been based on their expert knowledge of foreign affairs relating to the particular Countries in which they had lived as Government servants, 0 5..'!' with which they had been concerned in Government Offices. In considering, in the caso of any organisation, the numbbr of people to be emp7.oyed, the salaries to be paid to them, and the aptitude which tCy)ymust possess, the predominant mo.tter must nlways be the character and extent of the work which the organisation has to perform. Lord Macmillan said that there hnd been a remarkable absence of appreciation of what the work of propagnnda r eo.lly involved. It had three aspects: Firs;tr, tho collection of the necessary ::.:'.'1formntion to enable propaganda material to be prepared. Second, the securing of means whereby propaganda may reach its destination and Third, the actual preparation of the propaganda material itself. These were all skilled jobs, r equiring expert knowledge and experien·,,e. There were not less than 50 Countries for which the Minister was responsible. By grouping it ha d bee~ possible for one Specialist to cover several Countries in some instances, but not l ess than 26 or 27 Specialists were r equired. In point of fact, the Foreign Publicity Department corresponded with no less than 75 distributing centres abroad. Lord Ma:-;"Tlillnncl went on to give det ails of the work /thr<3e that had to be dono in ea~h of thosexBr anches of propaganda work, concerned with t he sources, the mechanism -3 ­ and the output, and explained the large amount of work which had to be done in each of these branches, if effectual results were to be obtained. To give an instance, in order to keep in touch with the opinion in foreign Countries it was necessary to know what was being broadcast in these Countries. The Ministry had an arrangement with the B. B. c. whereby foreign broadcasts vvere listened in to and recorded to the extent of a quarter of a million words a day, subsequently di gested into a summary of about 80 pages> which provided a most valuable guide to propaganda work. Notwithstanding the difficulties under 1Hhich the Ministry had laboured, it had already some notable achievements to its credit. On the outbreak of War '''e had only 18 Press Attaches e.t foreign Embassj_es and Legations. The Ministry has been instrumental in prD~uring the appointment of no fev-ver than 21 ne-vv· Press Attaches , with an addition of some 59 assistants, The work of the Press Attache was of special importance for he was able to be not only a guide to the Ministry as to the prevalent opinions in the Country to which he was accredited~ but also acted as the Ministry 's representative for securing the translation and distribution of propaganda material in his Country, he was also able to render many other valuable services. As regards photographs, as to which there had been some complaint of shortage , the Ministry had supplied by the 17th October 4806 photographs dealing 1cri th about 500 different subjects. 'rhey had arranged f or permits for photographing to be issued to the Press and over 500 had been issued by the 15th October. Arr angements had been made for official Photographers to proceed to France, and official photographs could now be v1irelessed to the United States and sorne other Countries abroad" In the vveek October 4 "~/fl to llth, to give only one instance 9 t here appeared in the Swedish Press 190 column inchesof British Photographs against only 77 of German photogra:phso Ano ther matter to v.rhich thd Ministry had specially addressed i tseif was to secure. the circulation of British newspapers abr·oad and with the assi stance of the AdmiraltyJ Air Ministry and of the KoL?Ha and SabenJ. a daily air' mail service now secured the a.rrival of large. consig.'.1ffients of Briti sh newspapers in Holland and Belg:Lum. on the day of publica tic.m :-i.nd in Denmark~ /. -Norway and Sweden the followi::ig day,, · On the outbreak of War y overseaG progr•emmes were broadcast daj_ly from this Country in 8 foreign l 8nguages 0 Since then 7 more languages had been added and other p:".'og:L"amme s expanded. The Fil.n Division had. done much vvork, its policy being to util~'.mthe exi sting facilities of the industry fo:t: production, distribution and e.x..hibi tiono The value of Nows Reels was specially oovious and the Mi n istry had arranged vvi th the SePvice Depart:nents for• each Nevvs Reel Company to have its own representative at the fronto The Mlnis tr•y had commissioned, with the ap::;iroval o~~, the Secr'etai'y of State for· Air a film of our air activities in de.fence and attack:i and thanks to the uervices of' Mro Korda ,_ mo st gener•ously givenf o.n admiPci.bJ.e fi:Lm 11 '11he Lion ha s Wings" would shortly be 1:rr.oduced0 Tl:lanks vve2e due not only to Mr 0 Kore.a but CJ.lso to the a:L"tists who gave their' services <, A:pcu::•-r :from the Headquarters work of the Ministry~ its regional work was also under considei"a-Cion and the Minister hoped that it woulC. be possj_ble to car·ry on this important Branch vvi th much simplifie~ machineryc The work of the Min:-.stry had frequently been compared to its disadvantage vvith that of German;yo It should be. remembered that the German Pr'opaganda Depar tment had been in operation for five or six years~ that probably not less than £6~000, 000 a year was expended upon it, that it had hordes o~ Agents in every centre throughout the world9 and that its geographical position ·was much more advantageous than ours 9 and finally-that it did not ln.bour under the h&ndicap of ver acityo The Minj_st er in conclusion stated that he hoped. that the re.cord of the M].nistryY s work during the period of its existf:1nce, of' which h e had only been abl e to give a :few samples 9 would be recognised as so.tisfactory and he could give an assur ance of e-ven better results in the fuc1'ff•e 0 He couJ.d undGrsto.nd the view that there should be no Ministry or Propo.go.nda at o.11, but he could not understand the view that ther e shou~d be an ineff.'ici.ent. Ministry• . The Ministry was bound to be ine.ffid.ent. if it did not secure the suppO:i.."t and confidence of PaPliament and the publi~.., 25/10/39 -No.10 FOR PRESS ANTI BROADCAST The National Equine Defence League have requested that an announcement be made that they have homes of rest for horses 1 and means for disposing of old horses. Traders who now find that they have horses in their possession which they are unable to employ or accommodate because the users have been called up for service 1 are invited to make use cf the League's Homes of Rest, where the horses will be kept and cared for until the owners a~e able to take them back for work or other arrangements can be made. Application should be made to the Hon. Secretary, The National Equine Defence League, 36, Victoria Street, London, S. W.1o HOME OFFICE PRESS NOTICE The King has been pleaeed to approve the appointment of the Reverend Gordon Sayle to the living of Lezayre in the I s le of Man, in the place of the Reverend Cannon. Rbhert Daniel Kermode, who has resigned. HOME OFFICE 25th October, 193~.'!.. M.A.F. ?5. MINIS'rER APPOINTS NINE POUL'l'RY A.:_DVISERS . The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has appoint ed a Committee to ac1viE-rn him on matters af'fectLng the interests of the Poultry Industry in time of war. The following are t he members:­ Mr . A. Ar-buthnot Mr. C.G. Belfield Capt ain S. Clift Dr. Chas. Crowt her Mr. P.A. Prancis Mr . Tom l'Tewman Mr . Frank Snowden M:r . Stanley Str eet-Porter Mr . ~:homas Tur ney. Mr . Prancis , t he Ministry's Poultry Commissioner will be Chairman of the Com.'1littee and Mr. L.S.Porter will be t he Secretary. 25.10.39 No.13. EMPIRE Al'TNOUNCBMI~NT. INDIA CEYLON CONFERENC~. It is understood in L0ndon that negotiations are taking place between the Governments of India and Ceylon for a conference in Delhi about the third weel( in November for the purpose of trade negotiations and for discussions on the question of emigration and immigration and other outstanding matters of common interest. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. A. M , .t:mlletin No. 99. -----n-" ~-· ..... NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE l MORNING NEWSPAPERS OP ,jTHURSDAY, 26TH o:JTOBER , 1939. \ .., AIR MINISTRY CASUALTY COMMUNI QUE N.9..!.-1. ROYAL AIR FORCE o The Air Ministr·y regrets to announce the following e&sualties on various dates. CLARK COCHRANE ~ BROWN HARGREAVES LETCHFORD LEVITT MAY POWELL WARRY WITTY BAUGHAN BRYANT DAY HERD HILL iQLLER SPROSTON STEPHENS THOWJ.AS THOMPSON WILLIAMS Kill~d in Action. 39272 Flying Officer C.E. 620399 AirGraftman 2nd Class W Mc.K. 8~2045 Corporal J.F. Killed on Active Service. 41985 740208 580247 741280 521784 524069 804336 565438 Missing. 37922 580939 . 05175 564710 545939 548867 580679 580680 545990 40445 366471 Acting Pilot Officer R.E.S. Sergeant J.H. Sergeant H. Sergeant W.E. Aircraftman 1st Class F.H. Aircraftman 1st Class W.A.J. Aircraftman 2nd Class J. Sergeant G.G. Flying Officer R.D. Acting Sergeant F.G. Wing Commander H.M.A • Sergeant R.E. Aircraftman 1st Class A.F. Aircraftman 2nd Class F.G. Sergeant P.E.B. Sergeant W.H. Aircraftman 1st Class D.L. Pilot Officer K.G.S. Flight Sergeant s. Missing -Believed Killed. FIDDOCK 619855 Aircraftman 2nd Class W.H. FORD 37631 Flying Officer D. ' ..... Pffis 565352 Sergeant R.S. Died on Active Service" BROCKWAY EMERY LOCKWOOD MONTGOMERY PRICE YATES Previously Reported DAVIES 843146 620231 770908 763619 512105 5179515 Aircraftman 2nd Class L.T. Aircraftman :;;ind Class W.J. Aircraftman 2nd Class R.G. Aircraftman 2nd Class R.E. Leading Aircraftman F.T. Corporal N.H.G. ~Mi§..§..~' Now Reported ' Killed in Action'. 34103 ] light Lieutenant T.I. Press & Publicity Branch, Air Ministry, 25th October, 1939. King Charles Street, Whitehall, S.W.1. .s5LlQL3__9 -No 15. BOARD OF EDUCATION .ANNQ.TJ.NCEM.Er T. NATIONAL YOUTH COMITTEE9 The third meeting of the National Youth Comittee, under the chairmanship of lVIr Q Kenneth Lindsay, was held today in the offices of the Boardo The Committee recommended the appointment of Youth Corrnnittees all over the country with full cooperation of Local Education Authorities. An announcement giving full details of the scheme will be made shortlyo Reference was made to an experimental type of informal "club" now working in a few districts. Unlike the usual club which provides an organised prograrrnne and concentrates on character training, these are mainly r ecreational and are open to anyone paying a nightly entrance fee of, say 1d, They ar e open to boys and girls and often attract big crowdso In order that experiments of this nature may be widely known throughout the country the Corrnnittee would like to hear of similar experiments and ask that anyone running such organisations corrnnunicate with The Secretary, National Youth Corrnnittee, Alexandra House Kingsway, W. Co2o The special needs of Industrial ar eas were also considered by the c.ommitteeo ++++++++++ + 25~10.39 -No. 16. MINISTRY OF PENSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT. The Minister of Pensions wishes to remind members of the Mercantile Marine that a Government Scheme has been made for compensation for members of the Mercantile Marine and Fishing Fleets who suffer disablement directly attributable to war injury, or to detention as a result of capture by the enemy, and for pension to their widows or dependants in the case of death as a result of war injury or detentiono Allowances may also be paid to the family of a captured mariner while he is detained by the enemyo The Scheme applies also to members of the pilotage or lightvessel servi ceso Leaflets describing the Scheme are available at all Mercantile Marine Offices and local offices of the Ministry of Pensions, The Minister is particularly anxious to ensure that all concerned should be aware of their rights under the Scheme in order that all applications may be promptly lodgedo Arrangements have been made throughout the country for the prompt handling of claims, but if the Ministry is not notified that a man has been disabled and given particulars of his whereabouts, delay must inevitably occuro Persons concerned are therefore asked to note:­ (1) An application form may be obtained from any Mercantile Marine Office or local office of the Ministry of Pensions, the address of which can be obtained from any Post Office. (2) If (2) If an injured man is taken t~ hospital or confined to bed, he sh~uld asl{ som~rnne t0 send particulars of his case to the local offica of the Ministry of Pensi0ns. If necessary, arrangsinents will bt: made fr:r a mc;dical examination in h0spital 0r at hnti1e with0ut delay. (3) Pr~visi')nal alll)wanc>Js ar0 made when medical examination disclcses an appreciable d'egree 0f disablei·,1ent from war injury. ( 4) /.,.llcwances f~r the families of mariners detainod by the enemy will be authoris"~d as soon as inf~rraation 0f the detention is received and necessary particulars have be·.;n V:;;rifiedo (5) To avoid hardship in those cases where iii1mediate pecuniary assistance is required owi ng to unavoidable d~lay i n payr1ent, speci al arrangements have been made under which the Unemployment ;.ssistance Board can deal with such cases urg0ntly under the Scheme for the Prevention and Relief of Distress. Applications for such ternp0rary assistance should be maQe t o th~ local office of the Unempl cyrnent J. ssistance Board. / / TEXT OF BROADCAST TO BE GIVEN AT ...2• 15 P,~I MR. ANTHONY EDEN ON WEDNESDAY 25th OCTOBER. CO-OPERATION IN WARTIME~ This war has brought our own country into ev~n closer association with the Dominions .. The immediate response whic! . came from the Empire overseas on the outbreak of war is still fre$h in our memory. Within the next few weeks we shall have a still more t angible sign of that friendship and co-operation in the presence in London of Cabinet Ministers from Canada and Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Before long I hope that you who are listening to me to-night will be able to hear each one of them speak his message to uso Meanwhile, let me tell you who they are and what they represent in their own countries. The Canadian representative, Mr o Crerar, who comes from the Prairie Provinces, has been one of the senior members of the Canadian Government since 1935. Throughout his life he has been connected with the grain industry of Canada, and was Minister of Agriculture in the last war. He is no stranger to us, for he was one of Canada's representatives at the Coronation and the Imperial Conference in 1937. We are glad to welcome him here again~ Australia's representative is Mr , Casey, who has a wide circle of friends in this country. He served throughout the last war when he won both the D.S.O. and the M.C o He was subsequently for some years Treasurer in the Commonwealth Government, a post corresponding to that of our Chancellor of the Excl1equer. He is now Minister of Supply, and is responsible for equippin8 the forces which Australia is raising. New Zealand is sending Mr. Fraser, who, as Acting Prime Minister during the illness of Mr. Savage, expressed on behalf of his country with so much dignity and force those deuisions which brought New Zealand into the war at our side. Mr. Fraser, a Scotsman born, has since been President of the New Zealand Labour Party, and for more than twenty years a member of Parliament in that Dominiol:lo The Union of South Africa is represented by Colonel Reitz, the Minister of Native Affairs. To many of you his name will be familiar as the author of "Commando". No more vivid account of a gallant military exploit has ever been written. Let me describe him in his own words, which I quote from one of his recent speeches:­ "Speaking as one of the old Afrikaner stock; speaking as an old Republican; speaking as one who for three years fought against the British and sooner than submit to British rule went to Madagascar as an exile; s~eaking as a son of an old President, I feel that if South Africa had remained neutral in this war we would have been shamed in the face of the world11 a There will be no formal conference with these Ministers~ We shall not need to draw up an elaborate and detailed agendao Instead there will be a series of informal but pr actical discussions from which will result that close co-operation which is our cornwon aim. Much of this lies in the future, but I can give you here and now one instance of a scheme of outstanding importance which shows that our wart ime collaboration with the Dominions has already begun to produce practical resultso All the Governments concerned recently accepted the -2 ~ the principle of a proposal whereby their joint resourees would be used to the fullest advantage in the development of our air power. The outline of the scheme was announced by the Secretary of Sfate for Air in the House of Commons a for1night ago, but I do not believe that its significance has yet been realised. It is scarcely possible to exaggerate the influence which its full operation may have upon the course of the war. Broadly speaking, the scheme is this. Parallel with our great effort here in Britain, each Dominion is providing for a rapid and indeed phenomenal expansion in the personnel of its Air Force. The elementary training of all these recruits will take place in their own land. For those countries which participate in the scheme the advanced training will be concentrated aRd completed in Canada. In that g~eat country, free from all risk of enemy interference and with the splendid facilities which Canada possesses, 3 possesses, this great war :potential can be bnilt up rapidly and with­out hindrance. No action that the German forces can take will . influence this development which has no parallel in the world's history. A new arm is being developed by new E1ethoc1s. Yle shall ~-, thus be assured of a constant supply o:f pilots and other air personnel of an exceptionally high stsna_ard in skill and daring. This time it is the new world which is offering its help to determine the future of the old. Now let me s1Jeak to you for a moment o:f the course of the hostilities themselves. The war has been in ~:regress . less than t wo months, but already Herr Hitler has lost the initiative. The aggressor's early advantage is SJ_)ent. The roac1 to the East is blocked by Russia or barred by Turkey. In the West every v7eek that passes adds to the strength of the free democracies. 1;/i th f ast gathering momentrun we swing into our stride. German attacks by air upon our fleet, or upon our merchantmen, have f ailed utterl;sr in their purpose. By cmt1parison with the l ast war the submarine has :provea_ to be an indecisive i,-.rea:pon, while the percentage of losses a:t!1ong German U-boats has been infini t­ely highero The Royal Navy and oux• Mercantile Marine have swept and kept the seas. The total of British merchant ships so far sunk is less than one per cent. of our total tonnage. This figure needs no comrnent. The much heralded German offensive in the West still hangs fire, while winter closes in , a 'winter no doubt difficult for all, but in­finitely to b e dreaded by G~rmsny. In all t his there i s encouragement for the final victory, nor has any one of us in any part of the British Comrnon\;·ealth a doubt of the ultimate outcome. Strain ana_ stresses there must be, and even moments of cteep anxiety, but the issue cannot be in question. The character of this war i s in strong contrast to what most people expected. It is certainly very different from the war that very many of us t ook part in t 1:.'enty years ago. It differs in truth not only in the character of the war i t s e1f, but in the mood in '.~r~1ich the peoples of the British Corrr.monwealth have entered upon it. When the call came in August 1911..i-fevY people gr asJ;:ied the 1uagnitude of the struggle, the t est of endur ance, the vast ontput of energy anc1 or­ganisation affecting the Phole life of the country, that would be involved. 'J~ o-day the scene i s utterly differ ent. For months l'ast and longer we heve hacl. b efore our eyes the imminent prospect of war. He have seen the enormous military machine being made ready in Germany. Vie have yvatched our mm J}r eparations go forv-.rard st2.ge by stage to meet the approaching menace. Day by day we have listened to news of gurope. YJe have knovvn the issues at stake anc1 vm have had no i l lusion about the meaning of wc.r to everyone of us. And yet, with all these differences, there is one element which has not changed -the spirit of the British J;:>eo1Jl e. The generation that fought then have the sane qnali ties as those who are fighting or pr el;aring to fight to-day, and. these a.re the very qualities which we shall need most, b oth at the ·front in France and at the front at home . For ever~r war i s fought on t vro fronts. An army in the field depends on the spirit of the nation at home. The hor1 e front is not only a source of material supplies but of spiritual inspiration. Our democracy is alive and activeo That is a healthy sign. It is going to help us to win. But if this spirit i s to be maintained and strengthened, it is essential that we should be f u11y conscious of what v;e are fighting against /and 4 and what we arc fighting for. This war hns bean thrust uDon us and u~on the world by the German Government's flagrant breaches of faith and by the German Chancellor's obsession that his will must prevail at all costs" Even so , we arc not fighting against one man nor for any r~iven frontier, but in support of a principle. That principle is good faith between peoples, and without it there can be no peace" Nazi l eaders are loud in their declarations that this war was thrust upon them. The evidence is against them, the documents have been published, the world can judge. But in truth there is more striking testj_mony than even the best authenticated tocumcnts can :_Jrovide. In Warsaw·, as in Prague and in scores of other cities, Garman troops stand as invaders to-day. Each one of them is thc:t•e in defiance of the German Chancc::l 1or is pledged word. Each is a living token of a German Government's broken faitho Ou1: cause is in truth that of all nations who wish ·r,o live on friendly and decent terms with their neighbours, who wish to sec firmly established once more rules of conduct and of law which can givc confidence and sccurit;y for the future , Attempts h2ve been made in the past t o .-:;st2blish an in~ernatlonal system which, by its very nature, shoul~ outlaw v:ar and make r)ossi-'.Jlc free co ..·oncration -::ietween the nab.ansin search of 8. cormnon prosperity and a common civilisation. Some of these attempts have failed , oth.::ors hnve succeeded , and of all the successes pcrhans the outstanding example is afforded by the British Commonwealth of J\Tat ior~se Here vvc have a number .:)f cq_ual states·, each the master of its own destinyj yet conscious of the mutual advantage: to be derived from constant co-operation and consultation unon the problems which f ace them all e The magnitude of this achievement can only be measured by the mutual bebcfit which each of the nations has derived from this association" Why is it that our f ellow nations overseas have entered the present conflict so spontaneously? Why is it that they are sending their Ministers to London to consult with our Ministers unon the conduct of the war? It is because they share c·:.--·,, love of libertyand our hatred of tyranny; it is because they look upon this country as ~efcnding the principles for which they stando They are eager t o :_Jlay their part in the struggle which has as its aim the establishment in Europe, and ultimately in the whole world, of that spirit of free and willing co-operation which is the essential characteristic of the British Commonwealth of Nationso Our cause then is clear to all neoplc where there is fr-:;edom t o speak and t o write ,;.:1at they think, I believe it is equally clear to many who f or the rr:ornent do not enjoy that freedom., More than twenty years &go we had fought through to victory the greatest war in our hist0ry,the greatest war of all time. That war was fought by the British peoples for a high ideal. Not only a new Europe , but a new world was to rise nhocnix--like from the sacrifices of t~1e mi~_lions vvho had lost their lives.Never again, we were determined, was civilised man to suffer this ordealo Tolerance and justice, we hoped, not force and greed, would rule. Yet once again, men and women of the same generation, we are facing the same foe, f acing the same ordeal. .And there is to-day greater unity tirnn j_n 1914, a grimmer and quieter determination to see this thing thr:;ugh, We arc determined that this time good wj_ll come out of the sacrifices now demandedo 1.':e are r esolved that our youth, now called on to fip;ht,shall not live through the disappointments which we experiencedo That is our c1ctermination, somethJng that we can an-: -5 -· will do. ·Nor, I need hnrdly add, cnn thrents nnd menaces ~ · move us however loudly they may be shouted. It displays a strange ignorance of British psychology to suppose for one instant that they can. We have witnessed in recent years the progressive deterioration of respect for international engagements. It was this that made war ultimately inevitable. Once treaties and pledges can be broken with impunity, then confidence is undermined, armaments are piled up, the rule of law is sapped and broken and might is right. This process is cumulative, and its outcome is inevitable, that outcome is war. · That is why s:. patchwork peace, an armed truce, must be utterly unacceptable to uso It is not because we love war, but because we hate it, that 1Ne are determined to go· on this time until we have finally made an end of a system that has grown to power on breaking promises and gloryfying force. This time we must not only win the war, but win the after war and the latter may prove the more difficult task. We are fighting to-day for our own liberties and those of the nations allied to uso That for us must come first. But we believe, and indeed we knowy that on our existence as a free and strong people depends the freedom of many other nations who are taking no direct part in this wa.r, but who have to suffer many of its consequences, and are awaiting anxiously its outcome. Herein lies the true significance of Turkey's action. Her example has much more. than strategic importance. Turkey has taken a stand for that same principle of good faith. In this nttitude Turkey has been entirely consistent throughout the whole post-war peJ•iod. When she has sought the revision of a treaty~ she hes invariably done so by negotiation arid not by for ceo ~Phis was the policy that she pursued and which culminatc..d i re the freely negotiated agreementsigned at Mcntreux in 1936c We believe that when we have won through to the end a heavy responsibility, which vill Stslo be an unrivalled opportunity, will fall to the to the allied powers. It will be our task then to give practical expression to the j_nnermost feelings of men and women in all lands where servitude has not starved or frozen them. Those feelings are for a closer European unity and a wider world understanding, for an international order that shall be respected, for religious tole~ation, for the denial and not the worship of an aggressive natlonQlism, for liberty, security and peace. The task will be arduou3, and struggle hard fought, but if we wilJ. keep the aim steadfast.:y before us we cannot fail, for that aim is the aim of the bet ter part of mnnkind, ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU 25/10/39 -No~ 18, ;!30ARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT The Board of Education announce,s that ~echnica1 School.s and other institutes for Further Education mayn• re-open as soon as the necessary work for providing air raid protection is ..,,; commenced. It is no longer necessary to postpone re,-opening until such work has been comple,tedr 25/10/39 -NO 19 BOARD OP TRADE ANNOUNCEHENT -"'·---·~-... The Board ~;U Trade announces that they have to-day issued an order prohibiti:.l.g the importation~ except under licences, of silver bullion and forei gn silver coin. Persons desiring to import these goods may make application for import licences to the Import Licensing Department of the Board of Trade at 25 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, w.c.2~ Forms of application can be obtained from the Import Licensing Department and from offices of Collectors of Customs and Excise. +++++++++++++++++ No.20. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT • . As from Friday, the 27th October, all communications relating to the issue of export licences for arms, ammunition, etc., under the Arms Export Prohibition Order of May 19th, 1931, should be addressed to:­ The EX])ort Licensing Denartment,. Inveresk House, Strand, lll, C.2. Telephone Number: TemDle Bar 0251., and not as hithertofore to the BoRrd of Trade Fl t.George Street, S.W~1. 2.5/1i0/39 -No 2:"'1 FOR PUBLICATION IN THE MORNING PAPERS OF 'rTIURSDAY 9 26TH OCTOBER, 1939. The S:ecretary of S:tate for Foreign Affairs gave a luncheon party at the Savoy Hotel yesterday in honour of His Excellency Signor Guiseppe Bastianini, Italian Ambassador. in Londono The following accapted invitations to be present:­ The Prime Minister The Earl of Clarendon Signor Cro l .la Mr. R. A. Butler, M. p., Mr. Oliver Harvey FOREIGN AFFAIRS +++++++++++++ 25/10/39 -Nc.22. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. POTATO PRICES. The Potatoes (Provisional Prices) (N~.3.) Order,1939, issued with effect from the 25th October, provides for certain modirications in the Schedule of the previ~us Order as :f'ollews:­ ( 1) An adjustment in the boundary of the districts as between East and West Lancashire. (2) The introduction of a new grade A (1) for "King Edward.", "Red King" and "Gladstone" p,.,tatoes grown on Lincolnshire and Yorkshire limestone soil and for "Golden Wonder" grown on any Sl"'il. (3) The placing under ~rade A (2) of remaining varieties previously classed as Grade A, with the addition of 0the:re€rown in red soil in Scotland. Growers' maximum prices for Grade A (1) potatoes are fixed at from 10/-to 20/--~per-t-o.n-hi.gher than Grade A (2) and whole~ale p~i~es at 6d. to 1/•d. pe~)lun~~~~t higher. Retail prices remain unchanged with the exception of District 4 where the price of Grades A (1) and A (2) h~ been raiaed to 1id. per lb., and Scotland. whe;e the p?tice for ....±4~.e grades has been raised to 4d. per 3~ l'P.w ...... A o.o-py ··of_.the.. .n.ew So-hedule is attached. 25.10.39 -No. 23. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE (EVENING) Our reconnaissance units and those of enemy have shown a certain activity in the course of the ~~y. We have repulsed a German Detachment in the region close to the Moselle.