31/1/40 - No. 1. ANGLO-GUATEMALAN TREATY DISPUTE With the object of settling their dispute with Guatemala arising out of their alleged non-fulfilment of Article 7 of the Anglo-Guatemalan Convention of 1859, H.M.Government have instructed Mr.Leche, H.M.Representative at Guatemala City, to inform the Guatemalan Government that if they are willing to reconsider their previous refusal to submit the controversy to the Permanent Court of International Justice, H.M.Government would be happy to agree that the Court should deal with the matter under Article 38 of its Statute, which enables the Court to take into account questions of equity when giving its final decision. If, however, the Guatemalan Government still maintain their refusal to entertain the offer of the Permanent Court, H.M. Government, in the interests of reaching a just and amicable settlement, are prepared as an alternative to consider arbitration by ad hoc an tribunal composed of an equal number of international lawyers nominated by each party and an umpire selected by the members thus nominated. They suggest that in that event recourse should be made to the method of arbitration by summary procedure laid down in Chapter IV of The Hague Convention of 1907 for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, to which Guatemala is a party. If, however, the Guatemalan Government still demur to any form of tribunal connected with The Hague, Mr.Leche has intimated to them that H.M. Government, whilst they would regret their objection to the established methods of arbitration, would be prepared to accept a reference to an ad hoc tribunal composed of three international lawyers, one member to be nominated by either party, with a third as umpire to be nominated by the President of the United States. H.M.Government have approached President Roosevelt in connexion with the last-named proposal, and he has expressed his willingness to nominate an umpire if invited to do so. FROM FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT. URGENT. 31/1/40 - No.2. PRESS NOTICE The Board of Admiralty have sent the following telegram to H.M.S. Ajax:- Their Lordships are glad to welcome H.M.S. Ajax home and congratulate you on your safe return after two years’ service abroad, culminating in the memorable action against the enemy. They hope that you all will soon enjoy a well-earned leave. ADMIRALTY, S.W.1. 31.1.40. 31/1/40 - No. 3 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (Morning) Paris, Wednesday, January 31st, 1940. The following official communique was issued this morning from French G.H.Q. : NOTHING TO REPORT. 31/1/40 - No.4. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. EXPORT LICENCES. PAPER AND PAPER BOARD. The Board of Trade announce that on and after the 5th February, 1940, applications for licences to export any of the goods set out below should be addressed to:- The Ministry of Supply, Paper Control, Great Western Hotel, Reading, the envelope being marked "Export Licence Application". The applications will be examined by the Paper Control who will forward them to the Export Licensing Department of the Board of Trade who are responsible for the grant or refusal of the licence. Traders who have already made applications for export licences should not reapply to the Paper Control und this arrangement. Paper of all kinds, other than the following exceptions:- The following are the exceptions:- Paper in sheets of a superficial area not exceeding 218 square inches (except waste paper). Paper in rolls or on bobbins or reels where either the width of the paper or the diameter of the roll of paper does not exceed 9 inches (except cigarette paper). Printed paper (not being waste paper). Textile-ba ck ed pape r . Bi tumen- tr ea t ed paper. Crepe paper. Embossed wallpaper. Gummed paper. Cigarette paper in booklet containers. Photographic printing paper (whether sensitised or not). Paper patterns, paper yarn fabric, carbon paper, and other articles made from paper. Paper board of all kinds, other than the following exceptions:- The following are the exceptions:- Board in sheets of a superficial area not exceeding 218 square inches. Board in rolls or on reels where either the width of the board or the diameter of the roll of board does not exceed 9 inches. Printed board. Texti1e -b acked board. Bitumen -treated board. Gumm ed board. Articles made from board. Board of Trade, 3lst January, 1940. 31/1/40 - No. 5. PROGRESS OF BRITISH GUIANA. PROSPERITY INCREASES THIRST. The possibilities of providing a home in British Guiana, the only British colony on the South American Continent, for refugees from the Old World, have been frequently investigated of late. This fact lends special interest to the Annual Report for 1938 for the Colony, published today by the Stationery Office. The population of the Colony consists predominantly of East Indians and blacks, but there are also Portuguese (8,499), other Europeans (2,199), Chinese, Aborigines, mixed and other races. In the year under review there was an increase in the mining of both gold and bauxite, and the sugar crop exceeded the record output attained in 1936. Possibly the miners have been working more vigorously on "beer, ale, stout and porter”, for which the Report states there is an increasing demand in the Colony. Beer is evidently the favourite drink; imports, chiefly from Holland, have been going 1936, 6,718 in. up since when gallons came In 1933, 29,316 gallons were imported; and the imports of malt liquor the as a whole amounted to 245,929 gallons, highest quantity since 1929, when a trade war in prices made refreshment particularly cheap. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 31/1/40 - No.6. A HOSPITAL FOR CANADIANS. The Canadian Division is taking over the modern, steam-heated barracks known as Canada Huts, which will he used as a temporary convalescent depot for the Canuks. The depot will be operated by the Fort William Medical Unit under the Command of Lt. Col. G.E. McCartney. The hospital, which accommodates five hundred, is established pending the acquisiton of a larger and more modern hospital somewhere on the South Coast. This will be staffed by the Canadian Medical Unit from Montreal. A recent epidemic of colds and mild influenza has abated, and the general health of the troops is good. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No.7. AT MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC STATEMENT GIVEN TO CORRESPONDENTS WARFARE ON 31st JANUARY, 1940. On 30th January there were 29 neutral ships in the Contraband Control bases in the United Kingdom, of which 18 had been there for 5 days or less, This total included:- 11 Dutch (9 for five days or less) (4 " " " " " ) 5 Norwegian 4 Belgian (2 " " " " " ) " 4 Danish 3 Greek " " (all " ) There were also one Finnish and one Swedish ship, both of which had been detained for over five days. During the week ending 27th January the Contraband Committee considered the cargoes of 107 ships which had arrived since 20th January and 31 outstanding cargoes from the previous week. The combined total included ships of the following nationalities 49 Dutch 25 Norwegian 21 Italian 8 Belgian 7 Greek 7 Swedish 5 United States In 84 cases entire cargoes were released, either on first consideration or after enquiries. The system under which advance copies of manifests of cargoes are received and considered before the ships’ arrival at ports in this country resulted, during the week under review, in 64 cases being so dealt with, and in 51 cases of the ships concerned being released by the Committee, subject merely to the formal checking of the original manifests on their arrival at the Control Bases. MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE. 31/1/40 - No. 8. FRENCH TRIBUTE TO THE CANADIANS A tribute to Canadian troops was paid by M.Delbos in a message sent to Mr .Mackenzie King, before the French Deputies, who visited the Canadians, left Aldershot. The French Minister expressed his respect to the Prime Minister of Canada; his admiration of the excellent hearing of the troops, and his full con- fidence in victory for the Allied arms. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No.9. PRESS NOTICE. Civil Defence volunteers who are artists, or who have special artistic talents, are to be encouraged to paint or sketch subjects which they may see in the various branches of Civil Defence. Works of merit will be considered for official purchase by the Artists Advisory Committee which has been set up by the Ministry of Information for the purpose of securing an artistic record of the war. The work of Civil Defence is not only an entirely new field for the artist, hut it is considered to be rich in artistic possibilities. It is not contemplated that artists in the Civil Defence services should be released from any of their duties for the purpose of painting or sketching, but the Minister of Home Security has indicated to local authorities that where Civil Defence volunteers may wish to employ their leisure to draw or paint some scene or setting of Civil Defence, they should be encouraged to do so, and that they should be given facilities for doing so during their periods of duty, provided that it does not in any way conflict with the discharge of their duties. The address to which works should he sent, and the arrangements to be made for their return, will be announced later. MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY. 31.1.40. No.10 T.13 PRESS NOTICE. TIMBER CONTROL. Softwood and hardwood importers and merchants and plywood importers, situate in the United Kingdom, should now apply to the Area Offices of the Timber Control for copies of Form T.C.3/8/QL - "Application for Trading to deal in 'National Stock' of timber". The application forms, when completed, are to be returned, marked "CONFIDENTIAL" to the Ministry of Supply, Timber Control Department III, Branch 8, Bristol. Only applications in writing will be considered. Members of the timber trade are advised to apply promptly for the form so as to give them sufficient time to prepare the necessary information required to complete it. Only applications from importers and merchants will be considered. Ministry of Supply, The Adelphi, W.C.2. 31st January, 1940. 31/1/40 - No. 11. PRESS NOTICE Lord Eltisley, who has held the office of Deputy Regional Commissioner for the Eastern Civil Defence Region since the outbreak of war, has resigned his appointment owing to the increasing demands made upon his time by his agricultural and industrial interests. The vacancy created by Lord Eltisley’s resignation will be filled by the Earl of Cranbrook, who has for some time past been associated with the Regional Commissioner in various Civil Defence activities. MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY. BY PRIVATE NOTICE: 31/1/40, - No. 12. Mr. Attlee, - To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make any statement regarding the cost of living. (Answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer) The announcement I have to make to the House refers to decisions which the Government have taken with a view to control- ling as far as possible the retail prices of the principal essential foodstuffs. At the outbreak of war there was an immediate and inevitable rise in the cost of buying food abroad and of bringing it to this country. This increase in wholesale prices resulted from a number of causes, for instance the devaluation of the pound, higher freights, and war risks insurance. It was in a sense the natural result of transition from peace-time to war-time conditions, and it would be a mistake to imagine that it necessarily foreshadowed a series of similar or even more marked increases in prices. This initial rise was gradually reflected in an increase in retail prices in this country and the cost of living index (in which food prices are the predominant factor), after standing at 155 at the beginning of September, rose by 18 points, or more than 10%, to 173 at the end of November. Hon. Members who have followed the monthly figures will be aware that the cost of food index remained quite steady between 1st December and 1st January. I will explain the reason. The position at the beginning of December was that further increases in food prices would have been found to be necessary if the working of the Food Control were not to involve a loss to the Exchequer. The Government then decided, after a careful examination of the economic situation and of the principles which ought to guide their policy in that sphere, that the Exchequer should bear, for the time being, the loss involved in an endeavour to avoid these further increases. It was due to this action that the cost of food index was unchanged between December and January. This policy of controlling retail food prices by the use of public funds is being continued and I anticipate that as a consequence any increase there may be during the present month in the cost of food controlled by the Government will be of quite small dimensions. The cost to the Exchequer of following this policy is, however, very substantial. It is at present running at the rate of £1 million a week or, say, £5O millions a year, the cost arising principally from the holding of the prices of such articles as bread, flour, meat and milk. In existing circumstances, when every demand upon the Exchequer must be subjected to the closest scrutiny, it would be unwise to assume that in all conditions we could continue to shoulder an increasing burden as the result of a policy of avoiding increases in the cost of living. On the other hand, we are very conscious of the grave disadvantages which would be entailed in any excessively marked or swift advances in prices of primary necessities and we are anxious to do all that is practicable to avoid this in the light of the economic position as it develops. 2 Our policy therefore is to continue, for a time at least, to make public money available, within such limits as prove possible, to hold retail prices of staple foods or at any rate to impose delay and check the abruptness of any rise. The House will observe that this policy benefits not merely wage-earners but also all those with small fixed incomes and allowances. Hon. Members will, I am sure, recognise the complexity as well as the significance of the problem with which the Government are endeavouring in this way to deal. It would not be right for the Exchequer, amidst its unprecedented burdens in the prosecution of the war, to undertake an unlimited commit- ment the end of which cannot be foreseen; still less would it be right for us to promise things which in the end we might find ourselves unable to fulfil. Upon other occasions both my Right Hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, and I have referred to the very serious economic dangers which would result in the event of rises in wages and salaries becoming tied automatically and mathematically to rises in the cost of living. This, course, of does not mean that the cost of living can be excluded from the various factors which have to be considered in determining rates of wages. But we all desire to avoid inflation, which brings satisfaction to one, and the decision I have announced is the contribution no which the Government propose to make, at the cost of additional burdens on the Exchequer, towards the attainment of our purpose. I have no doubt that all sections of the community will do their best, by the exercise of the appropriate restraints, to assist in furthering this common interest. 31/1/40 - No.13. Local authorities throughout the country are being urged by the Salvage Department of the Ministry of Supply to introduce at once a clean waste paper collection service. A letter sent to all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales by the Salvage-Department to-day states that owing to the difficulty of obtaining wood pulp from Scandinavia and Finland, industries dependent upon this raw material cannot complete urgent and important war orders. The letter adds: "Fortunately, clean waste paper is an adequate substitute for wood pulp, and some 15,000 tons of this material, which must now be regarded as an important war material, are being wasted in the dust bins of the country each week. At least 5,000 tons per week must be made available to the industries concerned, and the local authorities are now salving only 1,000 tons per week. This being the case, the time has arrived when every local authority with a refuse collection service should, if at all possible, at once introduce a clean waste paper collection service, and urge upon householders the importance of bundling their waste paper before handing it separately to the refuse collectors when they call for the refuse. If this is done in every district, there is reason to believe that the difficulties arising from the of wood pulp he largely lack of imports can over come. From letters received, there is evidence that householders are ready to give their assistance in this matter when requested by the local authorities to do so. The control prices of waste paper are high enough at least to meet the cost of house to house collections undertaken by local authorities. Should any difficulty be experienced in arranging for the disposal of waste paper collected in your district, application for advice should at once be made to the Paper Control, Great Western Hotel, Reading." MINISTRY OF SUPPLY. 31/1/40. - No.14. PRESS NOTICE. It is requested that in Issue No. 5 the second part of the last sentence should read :- "and the imports of malt liquors were the highest" etc., deleting the phrase, "as a whole amounted to 245,929 gallons, the". EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No. 15. SOUTH AFRICA IS BUSY There is less unemployment in South Africa today than at any time since the beginning of the war, according to the official figures issued by the Department of Labour. The registered number of unemployed skilled artisans dropped from 1,089 at the end of November to 750 at the end of December. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 31/1/40 - No.16. PRESS NOTICE. Lt.Commander W. Sargeant, R.N. (Retired) has been awarded a Greenwich Hospital pension of £4O a year in the vacancy created by the death of Lt.Commander R. Walsh, R.N. (Retired) on 30th December, 1939. Lt.Commander W.J. Branton, R.N. (Retired) has been awarded a Greenwich Hospital pension of £4O a year in the vacancy created by the death of Lt.Commander W.H. Blake, M.B.E.,R.N. (Retired) on 3rd January, 1930. 31/1/40 - No.17 "KEEPING THE WOLF PROM THE DOOR: OUR FOOD IN WAR-TIME." by RT. HON. THOMAS JOHNSTON, M.P. Wednesday, January 31, 1940 at 9.15 p.m. AS THIS SCRIPT IS BEING ISSUED IN ADVANCE IT SHOULD BE CHECKED AGAINST THE ACTUAL BROADCAST NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE 9.30 p.m. 31/1/40. "KEEPING THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR: Our Food in War-Time." The wolf is not yet at our door, but every time a food ship is sunk upon the high seas, he comes nearer. Make no mistake about it, shortage and hunger are the camp- followers of every war* All the heroism of the men who have been risking their lives, day in and day out, upon all the seven seas to ensure regular supplies to our national larder, will have been in vain, if we do not take steps at once to increase our home food production and - what is equally important - to avoid any unnecess ary waste of it. We know what happened in the last war. It was the summer of 1917, nearly three years from the outbreak of war, before we got effective food control; and by that time the retail price of the principal foods consumed in this country had doubled* Worse still, there was a desperate and anxious period in the spring of 1917 when we only had three weeks’ supply of food in the country, and that supply was most unevenly distributed. In some areas the traders were dealing in day to day supplies and had no stock reserves. In fact in that year 1917, it was only the bumper potato crop that saved us - carried us over, and beat the U boats. But even so there was no margin of safety, It was just touch and go that it was not the British people who had to end the war with their hands up in surrender, I have been in lands where famine had left its ghastly mark in the sunken eyes and the claw-like hands of the survivors* Those are sights one does not want to see twice, and never here* And I can well recall the nausea which came over me five years ago in Moscow and Leningrad when I got replies to my question, "Why does one never see a dog or cat in the streets?" But none of these disasters need hit us - even in war-time, and with every food vessel making for our ports liable to be mined, bombed, or torpedoed* Not if we bestir ourselves* A great deal in the direction of National food safety has already been done. Before the war began, the Government had arranged for the direct purchase of huge stocks of wheat from over- seas; and although the price of the London quarter loaf, for reasons which I need not go into now, has risen a halfpenny, you will observe that in large parts of Britain, whatever else may have risen in retail price, our daily bread has not* It is the same with margarine. The Government’s great purchases of whale oil - which is the basis of margarine - have ensured our supplies of fats, and again, after five months of war, there has been no increase in price* There/ 2 There are other food commodities, of which the government wisely and quietly laid in stocks last year, sugar and canned herrings, for example; and the price of sugar has only gone up by a halfpenny in addition to the Budget tax. It is pity that a similar prevision and forethought a was not. shown by large-scale buying and storing of other essential commodities. the lost of last be left to the But opportunities summer can now historians. We may have to face a grim struggle against insufficiency and ill-nourishment; but Sir John Orr, our great nutritionist, tells me that if we really apply our brains and our to actually from the with higher energies it, we may emerge war a standard of nutrition than we as a nation have ever enjoyed before, The farmers are being encouraged by grants from the Treasury to about two million of grassland; and there has plough up acres been an official estimate that from this source alone we shall get food for a million adults and one and a half million children for months in the But I would enter plea against undue eight year. a under the plough. So far optimism because of this larger acreage it it is but let not forget that start this war as goes good, us we with two million under the than had at over fewer acres plough we the beginning of the war in 1914* Then we have the market gardeners* They are preparing for a consider ble increase in output, although no doubt they could and would grow still more if they were assured of a market for their produce at a reasonable price* The nation cannot in equity expect the producers to go all out for a great increase in quantity, if they are not assured beforehand against a glut. We may yet have to consider the question of how to dispose of supplies beyond what the mar- ket can absorb-something on the line of the experiment successfully carried through with potatoes at Bishop Auckland* Allotment holders too - half a million of them - are being- encouraged to grow more - to "dig for victory”, and so on. And beyond all reasonable doubt there could be a tremendous increase in the vegetables produced from the ordinary household garden. Do know that of for you our imports onions, instance, amount in ordinary year to four and a half an million hundred-weights at a cost of just under two million pounds? There must be hundreds of of small gardens in this country, where between them we could raise sufficient onions to avoid the necessity of imports. Similarly with carrots. Why in these difficult times should we be risking seamen's lives and shipping to - say nothing of the effect upon our currency - in importing carrots? We can grow them at home. But when we have got our increased supplies of vegetables, we must have more of our people trained in effective methods of cooking them and attractive methods of presenting them. It is cynical joke that the most welcome marriage present you can give girl nowadays a is a tin-opener; but there is far too much grim meaning behind it. In/ d n sa u o th 3 In Scotland, Directors of Education are the for better and preparation of preparing public a choice food, by starting short courses of afternoon classes in domestic to attract of house- cookery. They are hoping large numbers wives to listen to what can be done with the increase in fresh vegetables that we hope for next summer. The Women’s Rural Institutes are busy, too, with their lecture schemes and demonstrations in the villages, and there is a Housewives’ Guild who apparently are going to send a travelling kitchen with skilled demonstrators round some of the industrial towns in the summer time. But their scheme will not operate in the large cities; and there the propaganda for better food and better cookery will depend upon the success of the efforts of the Directors of Education, It is good to know that Voluntary Services in the cities are doing their best to help. Let us turn to other methods of increasing our food supply. We have recently had many successful experiments in the use of venison. Hitherto venison has either been regarded as a rich man’s food, or the carcases of the deer have been distributed by the sporting proprietors as largesse among their tenantry. Now we know that the most appetising sausages in the world can be made out of venison: and arrangements have been made to sell them in the industrial areas at about sixpence a pound less than pork sausages and twopence a pound less than beef sausages. Then again, we have a number of enterprising curing establishments experimenting with mutton-bacon. That is mutton cured and sliced The enterprise began under up as bacon. the heavy handicap of a shorthand description applied to it. Someone called it by the awful name Macon. But already I know of one curing firm in Scotland which is curing and selling each week as mutton bacon anything up to three hundred sheep. When this mutton bacon is freshly cut, you can hardly distinguish it from ordinary pig bacon; and so far as price and taste are concerned a very creditable job of work has already been performed The other day I went round a large curing establishment in Scotland. They had got out their cooked gigot of mutton - beautifully cooked and most appetising - on retail sale at 1/10 a pound, against the retail price of boiled gammon at 3/3 a pound. As for their fresh roast mutton in tins, I thought it was far superior to the canned or corned meats from South America, The mutton ham is selling retail at from sixpence to eightpence a pound lower than pig ham, and the mutton bacon is selling retail at from fivepence to tenpence a pound cheaper than pig bacon. The price of pig bacon is already so high that it is beyond the reach of many poor consumers. For them the rationing has made no difference. Their incomes were too small for them to buy bacon anyhow. But now a real and effort is being made the scientists and technicians determined by in the curing industry to apply modern methods in the treatment of/ 4 of sheep for the market. There are infinite possibilities here. This is not an attempt to foist old braxy sheep upon the consumer. The numbers of sheep can be greatly increased by clearing bracken. This is really a new food at a cheaper price, and if it succeeds, it gives a chance of development and prosperity to our sheep-grazing areas. So Good Luck to it.' In conclusion, I want to say a word about the Ministry of Supply’s campaign against waste. We need not repeat the exaggerations of the anti- waste campaign of the last war. For example, we were told then in a Food Ministry Handbook that before the war the nation could have lived on the food it wasted. That’s just nonsense, but there is gross and avoidable waste in foodstuffs none the less. During the last war the town in which I was then Public Health Convener supplied double sets of bins or cans for domestic refuse to each close or tenement; and we Invited the housewives to their food refuse put scraps and in one bin and their ashes, tin-cans, and so on, in another. With the waste food thus separated for us, we established a system of buying young pigs and feeding them upon our town’s food refuse. We had to buy some meal, of course, and we had to see that the stuff was boiled before it was fed to the pigs. But the result all through the war was a great financial success. Any anyhow we stopped the insane practice of carting food scraps out to a swamp and burying them. In that way, we had fed and bred rats, and every year we had had to hire a rat-catcher to come along and destroy the rats.’ I believe there are now seventeen local authorities running municipal piggeries with food supplies gathered largely by their cleansing departments. And the city of Aberdeen has kept its municipal pig venture going success- fully for the past twenty years. It produces a hundred and forty fat pigs each year, and as a final shout of triumph - and remember we are dealing with Aberdeen - its dust bin refuse pigs, time and again, have lifted first prizes at Agricultural Shows.' BRITISH BROADCASTING HOUSE. 31/1/40. - No. 18. PRESS NOTICE The Postmaster General announces that, owing to weather conditions in this country and on the continent, the outward and homeward Empire Air Mail Services have been subject to some delay. GENERAL POST OFFICE. Jan. 31st 1940. The War Office, London, S.W.1. 31st January, 1940. For release in morning papers of February 1st. The War Office states that:- Under the Defence Regulations, certain prohibitions are imposed on the conveyance by travellers out of the United Kingdom, of various forms of printed, written, type-written or pictorial matter. Many types of business documents are affected by these prohibitions, and a system of travellers’ censorship permits has therefore been devised to facilitate the conveyance of such matter persons, particularly business men, going abroad. A Travellers’ Censorship Office is being opened in London today (February 1st.,) for this purpose. similar offices will be opened shortly in Liverpool and Glasgow. Intending travellers can obtain full information about censorship procedure from the Passport Offices when they apply the exit permits which-must be obtained by all persons going abroad. The War Office, London, S.W.1. 31st January, 1940. Sir Victor Warrender, Bt., M.C. , M.P., Financial Secretary to the War Office, has appointed Lieutenant-Colonel E.T.R. Wickham, M.V.O., M.P., to be his Parliamentry Private Secretary. 31/1/40 - No.21. SPIES IN SOUTH AFRICA. MORE MEASURES AGAINST NAZI SUSPECTS. The South African authorities are investigating reports that racing pigeons are being used by Nazi agents in the Union to carry information out of the country. The reports suggested the existence in Portuguese East Africa of Nazi in information a spy ring engaged obtaining from the Union, and precautions have been taken to keep a check on every racing pigeon in the country and to watch the importation of birds. Recently a crate of "homers" consigned to a religious order were confiscated by the police. All racing birds in the country have been counted and listed, and secretaries of all Homing Pigeon societies have been asked to supply a list of their members, stating the number of birds they own. The authorities are keeping a vigilant eye on all persons in the Union suspected of being Nazi agents. At the beginning of this year the number of internees at Baviaanspoort, near Pretoria, was 715, including 260 sailors from scuttled German ships. The Government has also had under consideration the internment of women of German nationality whose activities are regarded as detrimental. To avoid sending these women to a camp, the Government may have them subjected to "house control", a restriction calculated to reduce communication with the outside world to a minimum. Where necessary, the Government is giving financial assistance to the families of internees, the Treasury paying allowances on the scale of £3.10/- a month for a wife, £2,10/- for the first child and £1.17.6d. each for other children, to a maximum of £9 per month for a family. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No.23. PRESS NOT ICE. RATION BOOK COUPONS. The Ministry of Food understand that some retailers have detached from their customers' ration books other coupons than those valid for the week concerned. Consecutive numbers are printed on the coupons, and each number indicates the week of rationing (beginning with the week Monday 8th to Sunday 14th January) for which the coupon is valid. Thus, a coupon marked 4 is available for the fourth week of rationing, Monday 29th January to Sunday 4th February. It is important that only those for should be coupons valid a particular week detached during that week. In their own interests consumers should verify that the correct coupons are detached from their books. Retailers are reminded that if they remove a whole page of coupons from a customer's ration book they must write the words "page deposited", the number of the page and the date below their name and address inside the cover of the ration book. Consumers should see that this is done. CHANGE OF TRAILER. Members of the public will be afforded the opportunity of changing their retailers when a further distribution of ration books is made. Meanwhile, change of retailer will normally be permitted only in exceptional circumstances. MINISTRY FOOD. 31st January, 1940. 31/1/40 - No.24. PRESS NOTICE. NATIONAL JOINT ADVISORY COUNCIL. The 4th meeting of the National Joint Advisory Council composed of representatives of the British Employers' Confederation and the Trades Union Congress General Council, which was set up to advise the Government on matters in which employers and workers have a common interest, was held to-day (Wednesday) at the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The Minister of Labour and National Service was in the chair. The Minister was accompanied by senior officers of the Department. There were also present Sir Richard Hopkins (Treasury), Sir William Brown (Board of Trade), Sir Alfred Faulkner (Mines Department), Mr. E.M.H. Lloyd (Ministry of Food), and Mr. F.W. Musson (Air Ministry). Further discussion took place in the problems involved in the financing of the war, including the relationship between wages, prices and the cost of living and the question of voluntary savings. The Council also opened discussion on difficulties connected with the taking of holidays during war time and the localised congestion of munition workers. The next meeting will be held on 6th March. Ministry of Labour and National Service, 31st January, 1940. 31/1/40. - No. 25. PRESS NOTICE The tour which Miss Florence Horsbrugh, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, was to have made in the Northern region this week-end in order to familiarise herself with the problems of the Civil Nursing Reserve, has had to be postponed. Miss Horsbrugh hopes to be able to make a similar tour in the Northern region, visiting Newcastle and Darlington, on February 9th and l0th. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, Whitehall, S.W.l. 31/1/40 - No. 26. ULSTER KEEPS THE CAR. The Ulster Exchequer Returns for the ten months ended January 31st., show a revenue of £9 ,671 ,713, an increase of £193,165 over the same period last year. The revenue from motor vehicle duties produced £590,664, a decrease of only £5,266, showing that notwith- standing petrol rationing and increased horse-power tax, far fewer motor cars are being laid up than was anticipated. The Exchequer Returns show an expenditure of £10,323,693, an increase of £31 6, 067. This expenditure is for a period of 44 weeks as against 43 weeks covered by the revenue figure. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No.27. ULSTER SAVING CERTIFICATES. The sales of Ulster Saving Certificates, National Defence issue, for the week ended, January 27 amounted to £35,562. Since November 22, cash received from sales of these Certificates amounts to £514,234, representing 685,647 Certificates. Seventy-five per cent of the proceeds go to the Imperial Exchequer for war purposes. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No. 28 Sir Cosmo Parkinson, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, has appointed Mr. P. Rogers to be his private secretary. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No.29. NIGERIA'S £20.000 FOR WAR RELIEF. A telegram today from the Government of Nigeria states that the contribution of Nigerian War Relief Funds now totals £20,000, out of which the following allocations have been made:- Red Cross £lO,OOO. Polish Relief £ 4,000. St. Dunstan's £ 1 ,000. Of the of will be the remaining £5,000 sum £l,OOO distributed to the Red Cross ; £2,000 to the relief of dependents of men of the North Sea fishing fleets killed or disabled by enemy action, and £2,000 to relief work in Finland. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 31/1/40 - No.30. RETAIL MILK PRICES. The Minister of Food announces that the Liquid Milk (Maximum Retail Prices) Order, 1940, which takes effect from 1st February, 1940, fixes the following maximum retail prices for liquid milk:- Per Quart. Ordinary Tuberculin Tested Milk. Milk. In England and Wales (a) In urban districts and boroughs having a population not exceeding 6d. 7d. 7 1/2d. 10,000, and in rural districts. (b) In urban districts, boroughs and county boroughs having a population exceeding 7d. 10,000 but not exceeding 25,000. (c) Elsewhere in England and Wales. 7d 8d. In Scotland. 6d. 7d. MINISTRY OF FOOD, 31st January 1940. 31/1/40 - No. 31. PRESS NOTICE The Minister of Supply announces that a scheme for rationing paper is under consideration, and that the necessary Order will shortly be issued under which mills will be prohibited, except under licence from the Minister, from supplying more than a limited proportion of the paper hitherto supplied to their customers. No applications for licences for additional supplies of paper will be considered, except in special cases in respect of contracts entered into in writing during the period 23rd January 1940 to 2nd February 1940 inclusive by mills and merchants with their customers. As regards contracts entered into in writing on or after 3rd February 1940, no applications for licences will be entertained on the sole ground that any such contract was in existence on or after that date. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY 31/1/40. - No. 32. Not to be published before the morning newspapers of Thursday 1st February, 1940, or Broadcast before 7 a.m. on Thursday 1st February, 1940. LONDON ALLOWANCES FOR AIRMEN ’S FAMILIES. The Air Ministry announces:- A London allowance of 6d. a day, or 3/6d a week, is now paid, under the provisions of Air Ministry Order No. A. 63/1940 issued today (Thursday) to the families of all airmen receiving family allowances to whom married quarters are not allotted. The allowance is made to airmen’s families resident in the London postal area regardless of the location of the airmen themselves. This allowance is also paid to "unmarried wives” who receive special dependants’ allowances at family allowances rates. Where a special allowance in addition to family or special dependants’ allowances has been awarded on the recommendation of the Military Services (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee, now the War Service Grant Advisory Committee, the extra cost of living in London has been taken into consideration. The gross amount paid to these families therefore remains unchanged. The London allowance is being paid in conjunction with family allowances or special dependants’ allowances direct to airmen’s families. Payments are made retrospective from the 7th December, 1939, and arrears from that date will be paid as soon as practicable. AIR MINISTRY 31/1/40 - No.33. HOW A U-BOAT WAS SUNK. The Admiralty and Air Ministry announce:- Yesterday morning, the 30th January, a U-Boat attacked a convoy and sank the British s.s. "Vaclite", of 5,026 tons, whose crew were rescued by an Italian ship. The Naval escort immediately hunted the submarine, and counter attacked with depth charges, but after a time contact was lost. Later in the day a flying boat of the Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force joined the Naval escort to the convoy in the search, and through a gap in the clouds found the submarine which was proceeding on the surface. It was apparently unable to dive as a result of the damage inflicted during the earlier attack. A heavy bomb was dropped on the starboard side of the submarine. Men were observed on deck, and the submarine opened fire with its anti-aircraft gun, the aircraft retaliating with machine-gun fire. Cloud was now down to sea level and temporarily obscured the submarine. to the warships The aircraft thereupon proceeded and informed them of the position of the submarine, but when they arrived the submarine had sunk. Some survivors were sighted in a rubber dinghy and were rescued, and some additional survivors also picked up later were from the sea by British warships. ADMIRALTY and AIR MINISTRY. 31/1/40 - No. 34. Hot to be quoted as from War Office. PRESS NOTICE The management of the Odeon Cinemas has announced that all men of anti-aircraft batteries in uniform will be admitted to all cinemas in the Odeon and Associated Theatres for sixpence. MILITARY AFFAIRS 31/1/40. - No. 35. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (Evening) Paris, Wednesday, January 31st, 1940. The following official communique was issued this evening from French G.H.Q: ”Our patrols penetrated into enemy territory at several points and successfully accomplished their mission”. The War Office, London, S.W.1. 31st January, 1940. The War Office says it is not correct to state that a substantial number of Territorial Army Officers who are commanding battalions of infantry are to be replaced by Officers of the Regular Army. The only test for Regular and Territorial Officers alike is fitness to train for and lead in battle, and its application must be left to the authority on the spot. The replacement of a commander, also, is governed by questions of efficiency only. If the second in command is considered to be fit to succeed, he is promoted; and it is only in cases in which a Territorial Army second in command is adjudged unsuitable, that a Regular Army Officer is brought in. Before the war-time rules for seniority came into force, all officers of the Territorial Army were junior to all officers of the Regular Army of similar rank irrespective of the date of promotion. But since August 25th, seniority in any rank reckons from the date of appointment to that rank. Thus a Territorial Army lieutenant-colonel whose seniority dates from August 24th is senior to all lieutenant-colonels, Regular or Territorial, promoted after that date. Therefore, since the outbreak of war, the status of the Territorial lieutenant-colonel has not receded, but has been greatly advanced. So far as allegations of discrimination between Regular and Territorial second lieutenants in the length of the respective periods which each has to serve before receiving his second star is concerned, the fact is that the qualifying periods of service for promotion from second lieutenant to lieutenant in the Territorial Army are exactly similar to those in force for the Regular Army. FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION/ No. 31st January , 1940 15 LITHUANIA: DAVID'S STAND AGAINST GOLIATHS A section of the Press in Lithuania, the small Balkan state is up in arms against Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia and the statement has been made that Lithuania will not tolerate either Nazism or Communism. The XX AMZIUS the organ of the Christian Democratic Party yesterday published prominently an article, which was cited by other papers, contrasting the extensive cultural facilities and freedom enjoyed in Lithuania by Germans with the complete absence of facilities for Lithuanians in Germany. "Instead of Lithuania resenting the inundation of German culture, Germans complain of restrictions," affirmed the "Germans adhere to paper. the Nazi doctrineinvolving ’the belief in the homogeneousness of the German people irrespective of frontiers.' " Asking whether Germany would tolerate such a state of affairs, the paper added: "Lithuania cannot tolerate either Nazism or Communism which conflict with the national loyalty. Lithuania has been too tolerant. "German promises of cultural facilities for Lithuanians have not kept the situation from deteriorating. Lithuanians have been fined for listening in to the Lithuanian wireless, despite the absence of propaganda. Lithuania has more reason to prohibit listening in to the German wireless as Germany is a belligerent. Lithuanians in Germany are not receiving their own newspapers, but Lithuania is swamped with German periodicals.” NORWAY: FURY AT HITLER’S SEA METHODS. The fury of the Scandinavians at Hitlers "sink at sight" sea methods continues to mount and one newspaper has branded the Nazi actions as "ruffianly". The influential Conservative newspaper AFTENPOSTEN stated yesterday: "The Germans say they have no interest in dragging us into the war, but at the same time they see to it that it is we who are most hit by it." Even more pointed language was used by the NORGES HANDELS OG SJOFARTS- TIDENDE which declared: "It is ruffianism which sets an eternal stigma on the name of the country concerned with a U-boat chief orders ships’ crews to the boats, sinks the ship and abandons them far out in the Atlantic on a wintry day. That such a thing should happen after a ship's captain had refused to give the false declaration which the U-boat commander demanded, does not improve matters. Still worse is the clandestine laying of miner fields, warningless torpedoing and the placing of infernal machines in neutral ships. All these actions are on a level: with the barbarism which bombs women and children." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW 31/1/40. • Page 2 Sweden: ATTACK ON RUŚSIA. Strong condemnation of the Soviet leaders, who were described as "utterly unscrupulous", and some scathing remarks about the inefficiency of Russian aeroplanes have appeared in the Swedish Press. Referring to Russia’s failure to pay compensation for bases established in Estonia, the STOCKHOLM TIDNINGEN, the organ of the People’s Party stated: "If "the Estonians ever expected security from agreement with Moscow’s demands, they must realise now it was an illusion. This is only a beginning it provides a lesson as to what Finland would have experienced if her leaders had yielded and let the Russians in." The paper continued later: "If Finland falls, the whole Baltic coast will be subjected to Sovietization. The present Russian rulers are utterly unscrupulous." Discussing Russian aeroplanes, the GOTESBORGS MORGENPOST, the Conservative newspaper, stated: "Experts calculate that if Russian planes had not special American oil, they would lose 25 percent of their speed and efficiency. If the Russians did not have American motors they could not fly at all.” Commenting on the Russo-Finnish dispute this paper concluded: "Finland thought she had a strong sympathy in the help herwhich would not U.S.A., enemies. The United States glory is certainly beginning to pale in the North. " "It is evidence of the change in the European situation in the last 70 years that the Balkans should enjoy peace while Scandinavia is in immediate danger," stated the SVENSKA DAGBLADET, the Right Wing newspaper. "The Black Sea nations enjoy a breathing space and see the near future with confidence since Finland’s heroic defence exploded the legend of the invincible Red Army." GERMANY: NAZIS AND THE CONVOY SYSTEM. Attempts are being made in the Nazi Press to assure neutrals that it is not in their interest to avail themselves of the British convoy system, Writing on the sinking of the French ships Tourney and Alsacien, the Duesseldorf newspaper DERMITTAG- stated: "When they went down, the accom- panying British warships played a shameful role. Instead of taking the crews and bringing them to safety, the British warships steamed away at full speed. The heavily armoured warships of the 'ruler of the waves Albion’ took to their heels while the seamen of the Tourny were rescued by a Spanish ship." This paper, which is running a series of articles about Jews, yesterday printed one concerning Jews in England. After allegations about the entire Cabinet being either Jews or admiring Jewish ideas, it went on to refer to Jews who penetrated "high society, the nobility and court circles." A number of German papers yesterday published a message which they dated from London reading: "New disturbances have taken place in India, as had to be admitted in a communication from the Police Commissioner at Rangoon. The sanguinary events in Rangoon were said to be merely a matter of ’excesses by rowdies'. One person however, was killed in them and three further victims later succumbed to their serious wounds. With such British in India following tactics which explanations the are new consist of admitting the disturbances but presenting the information to the public in a suitably touched-up form. 31/1/40. FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW • Page 3 "The London radio has issued another message from Rangoon which indicates that the disturbances there are assuming a serious character," The WESTFAELISCHE LANDESZEITUNG printed a message dated from Istanbul which stated: "England is having to make great efforts to remedy her lack of shipping. British and French shipping companies have made offers to Istanbul ship owners to take into service laid-up Turkish cargo steamers which were shortly going to be broken up. How can this procedure be reconciled with Churchill's claim that he has long ago put an end to the U-boats and mines? " U.S.A: BRITISH POLICY CRITICISED. Some adverse criticism of Britain is made in the NEW YORK POST today. Criticising what is described as the "treat America rough" policy, Westbrook Pegler writes that such a policy by Britain will not assist in obtaining American sympathy. "American emotions have been roused not by England but against her enemies, expressing a strong dislike for the English character, "he adds, and concludes that if America wants to enter the war, she should do so for practical reasons of her own. The Nazi atrocities in Poland are described in the NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE as "evidence of Germany 's reversion to barbarism." The paper adds: "The story is not only of brutality and inhumanity but of semi-Asiatic barbarism of bygone ages. It shows that the German 'peace' which has been brought to Poland is a peace of annihilation. The same German leaders who have so long been calling the world to witness the iniquity and injustice of Versailles, are acting in such a manner as to make Versailles seem extravagently humane." Dorothy Thompson the well known commentator writes: "The difficulty in telling the truth about the Nazis is that the truth is so monstrous that the ordinary human being cannot bring himself to believe it. The idea of a criminally insane society is beyond the reach of our imagination but it is not beyond the reach of Hitler's imagination." Referring to the part Canada has played in the war, the WASHINGTON STAR wrote: "Viewed from this side of the border, Canada has rendered a Yeoman account of itself since it determined to play its part in the Empire's struggle for existence against Nazi aggression. Already Canada is spending one million dollars a day in that effort. She championed the great Empire Air Training Scheme, she sent without delay a fully equipped field force to the Western Front, and she is busily manufacturing war materials." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW • Page 4 31.1.40. ARGENTINE.: BALKAN INVASION PREDICTED. The invasion of the Balkans in which Italy would play a part and rewarded the annexation of Croatia and Dalmatia has been would be by suggested in the Argentine Press. After reviewing the present situation in the Balkans, LA NACION stated yesterday that the invasion of the Balkans was by no means take in this and impossible. Germany, Hungary and Italy might part rewarded by being given Croatia and Dalmatia, Italy would be The Newspaper NOTICIAS GRAFICAS also thought that the Balkans might suffer an invasion, but this paper took the view that the invaders would consist of Germany, Russia and Italy. This paper also expressed the belief that Germany, Russia and Italy having become allies might join Japan in an enterprise in the Far East. The Argentine Press has continued to discuss Mr. Churchill's speech and the question of neutrality, and LA NACION stated :- "Churchill's the facts and the neutrals beginning to realise speech expresses are that neutrality is a condonation of aggression." Another paper agreed with Churchill, but said that the past record of Mr. Chamberlain and M. Daladier made them ineligible to lead the neutral countries. Another that the small States should join Confederation journal argued a submit to the capable of protecting them or they would have to Totalitarian nation. The fate of the smaller nations in the event of a German victory was discussed in a recent issue of the Buenos Aires Newspaper ACCION. "As things stand in Europe, it becomes clearer every day that the security of the small countries bordering on the Nations dominated by the Nazi and Red dictatorships is in daily increasing danger. "The fate of these smaller States appears to the impartial observer to depend on French and British arms. If the Allies are defeated, there can be no doubt that we shall witness a series of territorial annexations which " will substantially modify the map of Europe. SYRIA: MR. CHURCHILL "THE IRON MAN. " Praise for Mr. Churchill, who was described as an "iron man" was contained in an article in AL MARAHIL. "Germany's greatest enemy is Mr. Churchill, the iron man," it was stated. "Within a few weeks of office he swept the German merchant fleet from the seas, safeguarded the British trade routes, and strangled Germany's submarine blockade." Another article in this journal under the heading "I abhor Nazism" stated that the Nazi beliefs contradicted Islam in every phase of its life and religion. The Russians are oppressing Moslems according to AL MUAYAD which declared in editorial article "Soviets yesterday: oppress and an persecute the Moslems not for political activities, but because the Moslems refuse to abandon their religion. Yet the Moslem Missionary institution flourished in the heart of the British Empire, preaching Islam through highly educated scholars." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW • Page 5 31.1.40. SWITZERLAND; DANGER OF UNDER-ESTIMATING NAZI ARMAMENTS. "If the war becomes a ’total war', which is probable in the near future, the worst fault that Germany's enemies can commit will be to under-estimate the Reich’s formidable armaments." This statement is made in the TRIBUNE DE GENEVE to-day commenting on M. Daladier's recent speech. On the same subject, the JOURNAL DE GENEVE writes : "The Allies have hitherto been placed position of psychological inferiority in a because no one attributed strategic initiative to them. Nothing is more unnerving than awaiting aggression in ignorance of where or when it will come. The purpose of Daladier's clarion call is to change this. Without revealing any intentions Daladier disclosed the willing- ness of the Allies to assume the initiative." The speech , according to the NATIONAL ZEITUNG, conveyed the impression that Daladier feared a slackening of watchfulness more than an awakening of national energy. "He knows that those at the head of the Third Reich have still not abandoned the hope of destroying the French power and resistance from within," concludes the paper. Referring to the Rumanian oil question, DER BUND stated yesterday: "The dispute over Rumanian oil and the attitude of Rumania in the economic war between Germany and the Allies continues. Rumanian measures will imply only when Rumania delivers larger quantities than are provided for by existing agreements. Meanwhile, Rumania’s position has become no easier." According to the Berlin Correspondent of the NEUE ZURCHER ZEITUNG, the Radical Democratic newspaper, Germany’s financial needs for the war are encountering fresh difficulties. "The line of least resistance is an extension of the present credit system", adds this paper. "Though the resultant inflation can be slowed up by a close control of wages and prices it is inevitable long " in the run. FINLAND: COMMENTS ON ASSISTANCE TO FINLAND. the Commenting on the question of assistance for Finland, SOSIALIDEMOKRAATTI stated: "So far assistance to Finland has been disinterested, but Russian 'think that if the small brave Finnish some competitors people can weaken the Soviet prestige and bleed the Russian Bear it will be advantageous to help Finland until the last Finnish soldier falls. Such arguments are immoral and dangerous." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW • Page g 31/1/40. ITALY: ITALIAN VIE WOFGERMANAIRFORCE. Germany's geographical position in relation to the use of her Air Arm is more favourable than Britain’s according to LA STAMPA, the Turin newspaper. In a long article on German aviation, this paper stated that the Reich’s favourable geographicalposition "which was of fundamental and decisive character, ha s given her air arm great advantages." Germany had 2,700 front line planes consisting of 1,800 heavy bombers and 900 fighters in addition to reserves, The paper concluded by saying that it was possible that these figures might already have been super- seded by the post-war output. The Balkan question was again given considerable prominence in last night’s Press and most messages re-iterated the intention of the Balkan States to maintain peace. The unlikelihood of any sensational results from the Conference was also stressed. LA STAMPA in a Belgrade message citing the POLITIKA stated: "Italian and German interests in the Balkan and Danubian Sector are identical and consist in the avoidance of any conflict and in the maintenance of peace." Referring to the Asama Maru incident, the MESSAGERO in a London message stated that there was considerable divergence bf views between Britain and Japan and LA STAMPA declared that the British reply, despite the regrets expressed, had aggravated the position. Several newspapers last night featured the Nazi attacks on British shipping and one paper in a message from London paid tribute to the success of British anti-aircraft defences despite the bad weather. DENMARK: BITTER COMMENT ON SINKING OF DANISH SHIPS. The sinking of two Danish ships the main was topic in today's Danish Press, and although several papers used front-page headlines over their reports, only three papers commented on the Nazi actions. "At the beginning of this war Germany stated that she would observe warfare restrictions," stated the KRISTELIGT DAGBLAD. "From this standpoint to the torpedoing of unwarned neutral ships without giving the men a chance to save their lives is such a big jump that it is difficult to believe that Germany did it with her eyes open." In a long Leader the NATIONAL TIDENDE stated, referring to the Danish "They sailed seamen : on a peaceful quest. No one could doubt that the ships they sailed in neutral. in were They no way showed war-like intentions. " The SOCIAL DEMOKRATEN affirmed : "It is unavoidable that bitter feelings will be awakened in this country which only wants to live in peace."