FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION MORNING BULLETIN No. 40 25th September 1939 FACILITIES FOR NEUTRAL TRADERS The Ministry of Economic Warfare announce that, for the convenience of British and neutral traders, they have established a Commercial Enquiries Section to answer enquiries from commercial firms, shipowners and agents. Enquiries should be made by letter, whenever possible, rather than by telephone; a duplicate would be helpful and the envelope should be marked C.E. All enquiries will be answered with the utmost dispatch* Traders and others are asked to note that the main object of the Commercial Enquiries Section is to assist them in regard to particular consignments of goods detained or likely to be detained by our contraband patrols* The Section will not be able to advise on export policy, import or export licensing questions, assistance for British exporters in neutral markets, or arising out of the Trading questions with the Enemy Act* All these matters are the responsibility of other Government Departments, not of the Ministry of Economic Warfare* EMPIRE AFFAIRS A Regiment of Freinds Another anti-aircraft regiment is "being raised in Northern Ireland and a special effort has "been made to arrange that as far as possible, recruits will include groups of friends from cricket, football and tennis clubs, who will therefore be able to serve together in the same unite Recruiting, which is open to those "between the ages of 29 and 50, "began to-day* There was an excellent response immediately, and in a day or two it is anticipated that the regiment which is to supplement the air defences of Belfast will "be at establishment. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION (The following impressions of our Field Force have been received by the Ministry of Information from a Military Observer who is attached "Somewhere in France"). "WE HAVE AN ARMY THAT LACKS NOTHING OF THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF THOSE WHO WERE DESCRIBED IN EARLIER DAYS f AS CONTEMPTIBLE *. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENCOUNTER THEM WITHOUT A FEELING OF PRIDE AND OF CONFIDENCE THAT THIS ARMY WILL ACQUIT ITSELF WITH HONOUR” . the Military Observer. An Army that grew "Old" Overnight. There were the Smile and the Song to hide the Grim Determination. S omewhe re-in-Franc e. Watch them on the march - there is still a little marching to do - the troops give one a feeling of supreme confidence that they will worthily maintain the traditions of that great host of men who lie sleeping on foreign soil - the men who died for the very cause we have come to defend. The Army seems to have grown older in a night. Youth was its most striking feature a month ago. Now it seems to have attained full manhood; partly due to the return of the Reservists, many of whom saw service in other theatres of v/ar; perhaps also accounted for by the realisation, on the part of the New Army, of the vital issues that have thrust the troops into battle-dress. A few days ago a commentator spoke of the British Army as being ”a skeleton which is rapidly being clothed with flesh”. I have just had the opportunity of examining that part of the "skeleton” which comprises the British Field Force - and a very substantial "skeleton” it is. It is a "skeleton”, too, that is animated by the good-humoured spirit of 1914* OLD SONGS WITH A NEW TWIST, The same old songs of 1914 are sung; but behind the banter and the blarney is a bluntly grim determination that was, perhaps not quite so manifest in the very earliest days of the last v/ar. ’’Pack up Your Troubles” swings to a variation ? What s the use of Go-er-ing? He never was much good, So pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, And smile, smile, smile* But the smile veils a different redaction on the part of the troops compared to 1914® Then the troops knew that they were "up against” a military machine of some efficiency; they regarded the conflict as "being between soldiers and soldiers* the New Array feels that we out Today even the rawest of are to quell something sinister - something that, unless crushed, definitely and irrevocably, will spell misery and farewell to all things most treasured in life* 2 A French Officer summed up for* me the situation thus: ”So far the enemy have encountered flesh only, but now they will come up against BONE”. Truly descriptive - and descriptively true. Realisation of the issue has produced in the troops that bone-hard fixity of purpose. JUST AS IF THE CLOCK HAD STOPPED FOR 21 YEARS. And yet, to those of us familiar with life at the Front, it is just a case of history repeating itself. A thousand scenes, enacted then, are to be witnessed daily now; the despatch-rider more in evidence than ever who rushes - - about and rarely ceases to regret the ”pav&” streets; the officer’s servant who is always on the look-out to ’’scrounge” what he can for his staff officer (who, incidentally, however busy, has not forgotten how to be courteous); the padre who loses no opportunity to make friends with the troops ----- It is just as if the clock had stopped for twenty-one years, and had now been re-started. As then, so now, ’’Pain” - ”oeufs” - ”coffee-or-lay” - ”no bon” ’’tray bon” and ’’encosr©” still make up the soldier’s average - vocabulary. And he usually gets what he wants. It is astonishing how with a little English, a little Hindustani, a few signs, AND A LAUGH, - the troops succeed in getting what they want. HUMOUR IS NOT LACKING. Naturally, with so many troops gathered together, humour is not lacking. This morning I found a bunch of the troops giving a young Frenchman a lesson in English. Just as I arrived there were roars of laughter. The young Frenchman had just indicated, with the help of a dictionary, that he taught English in the local school. The only "English" I could extract from him was "Me English a very little spleak". (I should have liked to hear his pupils doubt with "spleaklngj".)» No some of the newly-arrived troops, their freshly acquired "mastery” of the French language, would have voted the young Frenchman’s knowledge of English "no bon". AND BEHIND ALL THE HUMOUR Behind the laughs (as I have indicated) lies a sturdy humanity. The loss of ’’Courageous” tightened Tommy’s lips a bit. On the way over one was conscious of the supreme confidence in the ‘MW? Navy; the Army is ever mindful of the wonderful protection afforded during those long years of the last war. While crossing, I heard a Tommy say, ”Eh, chum, where is all this blinking Navy we heard about?” And the response was, "Why, chum, they’re all around you disguised as water - you’re as safe here as om the blinking old Serpentine”. THE SPIRIT OF THE TROOPS IS EXCELLENT The spirit of the troops is excellent. That phrase you have heard already. And you will co3itinue to hear it- no matter how long this war lasts. The post-war historian will most certainly have that phrase as the central theme of his records. Thanks to that spirit, the troops can make full use of their off-duty periods. I watched quite a thrilling football match between Sergeants' Mess and other the ranks of a well-known Corps. Strangely cnough(?)- the Sergeants won ..this exciting game :5~4« Save for a Bren gun on an A. n. mounting to remind us of war it might have been played on an Aldershot Sports ground. nor LOOK BACK TO 1914 How did the departure of the field Force compare with that 1914 w of the Expeditionary force in ?. The answer is;- ln most ways there was little difference, and, where there was a difference, :f it was all for the Letter. We miss the horses. Yet we are glad that they are not here. It was strange not to have the familiar sight of their being slung aboard, or of the ten men heaving a rope to coax the eighth horse into a “chevaux" wagon which looked as if it might with a great effort, hold eight good sized-goats. The other noticeable difference is the new equipment. It Engleesh", u is only when we speak that it is realised that we arc now that the uniforms of the Allies are almost identical, save for headgear. And, with our forage caps, many think that we are Americans. Another received with change is that* while we have been warmth and real affection, we have not been deprived of cap-badge, numerals, buttons, or anything else to serve as souvenirs. There is more to this war than souvenir-collecting. But (as i have nlro dy said) the spirit of the troops is excellent. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. Evening Bulletin No. 41. 25th Sentember, 1939. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. SLOVAKIA'S DECLARATION» The Slovak Consul in London, M 0 Milan Harmine, has communicated to the Foreign Office a declaration in the following terms ’’The whole of Slovakia is occupied, by Nazi armed, forces. The voice of the Slovak people has been temporarily silenced by the ruthless abbrogation of all treaties and agreements. ”In the name of Slovakia I solemnly protest against this shameful betrayal, and declare that the aim and. ideals of Great Britain and France are identical with those of my sorely tried people.” EMPIRE AFFAIRS. TRINIDAD SEAMEN READY. The following telegram has been received from the Government of Trinidad in reference to the attitude of British merchant seamen gunners ’’Shortly after the outbreak of war, the British Consul, ARUBA, Netherlands West Indies, asked whether Trinidad seamen would serve on British merchant ships whose regular crews of foreign nationality declined to continue voyages in war zones, The local Seamen’s and Watch-keepers Front Workers’ Union was consulted, and seamen members immediately and unanimously volunteered to serve. Eighty have already been engaged on three British merchantmen, and a call for more is meeting with a ready response,” HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRY OF FOOD The Rt. Hon. W.S. Morrison, K.C., M.P., Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of Food, has appointed The Lord Perry, K.B.E., to be Business Adviser to the Ministry of Food. NOTES The Ministry of Food, when it takes over full control of essential foodstuffs, will become a large trading organisation. In the Great War the trading accounts of the Ministry of Food in the period 1917-21 totalled nearly £l,OOO millions, of which over £8OO millions were devoted to the purchase of foodstuffs. With such large financial and trading transactions in view, Mr. Morrison has thought it desirable to secure at the outset of the Ministry 's career the advice of a businessman familiar with commercial operations on a large scale. Lord Perry is the Chairman of Ford Motor Company Limited, and Henry Ford & Sons, Limited. He is also a Director of the National Provincial Bank, Limited, and of the Slough Estates, Limited. He was born in 1878. During the Great War, Lord Perry (he was then Mr. Percival Perry) was the Director of the Agricultural Machinery Division of the Pood Production Department. It was this Division which acquired and operated the large fleet of agricultural tractors which played such an important part in the ploughing-up in 1917-18. Later Lord Perry "became the Deputy Controller of the Mechanical Warfare Department and Director of faction in the ministry of munitions The following material regarding Aliens Tribunals is not to be broadcast by B.B.C, published in the Press before or 9 p.m* 25/9/39. Aliens Tribunals (Germans and Austrians.) The Home Secretary has appointed the following persons to sit as tribunals to examine the position of all Germans and Austrians in this country, for the purpose of considering which of them ought on grounds of national security to be interned, and which of them can properly be exempted from the special restrictions imposed by the Aliens Order on enemy aliens ENGLAND AND WALES. London (23)-~Judge Woodcock, K.C,, Judge Austin Jones, Judge Konstam C.B.E.K.C., Judge Lilley, Judge Earengey, K.C. , Judge Tudor Rees, Ex-Judge Maxwell, Ex-Judge Dumas, Roland Burrows, K.C. ,N.L.C. Macaskie, K.C . , J.D, Casswell, K.C., Sir Albion Richardson, K.C,, Russell Vick, K.C., J.W* Morris, K.C,, The Hon. Charles Romer, 0.B.E. , K.C. , H.W. Shawcross , K.C. , E.S. Herbert; and the following six Magistrates: K,M. Marshall, C.B.E , J. B. Sandbach,K. C. , E.C.P.Boyd, Paul Bennett,V.C.,M.Co, Walter Hedley,D„ S, 0,, K.C,, L.R.Dunne. Reading (2)--R.O ’Sullivan,K« C., Leo Page. Aylesbury R.M. Montgomery, K.C,, Slough Judge Snagge. Wycombe Judge Cotes-Preedy, K. C. , Cambridge G,A.Thesiger. Northampton Judge J.H.D.Hurst. Bedford The Hon.Victor Russell, 0.8.E. Chester Walter Peel, C.B.E. , Exeter Judge Thesiger. Truro G.D< Roberts,o.B.E., K.C., Newcastle G. H. B. Streatfoild,M. C. ,K. C, , Preston (3) J>C. Jolly, K. C.,P.R»Batt, H. Broadbent, Manchester (4) G, J. Lynskey ,K. C e , W. Gorman,K. C. , A.E.Jalland, C.H.Spafford. Liverpool (3) Judge Procter, J.F. Harrison,L.S. Holmes Derby Harold Rhodes. Dorchester —E. R. Sykes. Durham C.B. Fenwick. Chelmsford Judge Owen Thompson, K.C. Colchester Judge Hildesley, K.C. Southend Judge Drucquer. Cheltenham Judge Kennedy, K.C. Bristol Judge Thomas. Winchester R.P. Hills, 0.8.E., M.C. Basingstoke R.F. Bayford, K.C. Southampton Judge Topham, K.C. Worcester Judge Roope Reeve, K.C. Hatfield C. Paley Scott, K.C. Hertford A.T. Miller, K.C. St. Albans - F.A, Sellers, K.C. Maidstone Judge Sir Gerald Hurst, K.C. Canterbury -- T 0 W* Carthew, K O C, Tunbridge Wells St. John G, Micklethwait, K.C. Margate Cyril King, K.C. Folkestone A. C. Caporn. Rochester F. Bertram Reece Richborough (7) Sir George Bonner, P.E. Sandlands, 0.8.E. K.C., W. Blake Odgers, K.C. Tristram Beresford, K.C., J.H. Thorpe, 0.8.E. K.C., Trevor Hunter, K.C. F.E. Sugden. Oxford Judge Dale. Leicester - Dingwall Bateson. Lincoln Judge Longman. Norwich Judge Rowlands. Nottingham Judge Hildyard, K.C. Taunton - Judge Cave, K.Co Judge Kirkhouse Jenkins, K.C. Devizes, — Reigate Judge Galbraith. Woking Judge Hancock. Farnham F.W. Beney. Guildford (4) Judge Haydon, K.C., F.E. Bray, K.C., Maurice Healy, K.C., C.R. Havers, K.C# Lewes Judge Archer, K.C® Hastings C. M. Picciotto, KoCo Chichester Harry Atkins. K.C. Brighton (2) John Flowers, K.C,,E.R. Neve, Warwick Arthur So Ward. Birmingham (3) —H. St c John Field, K.C., A.J. Long, K.C., Ho J. Wallington, K.C, York Judge Gamon, Leeds (3) Judge Prankland, J.W. Jardine, K.C., Arthur Morley, o< 3»E s e , K O C O Wakefield (2) -- Judge Essenhigh, H.B,H. Hylton-Foster. Cardiff Judge Clark Williams, K.C. Caernarvon Judge Samuel, K ft C e SCOTLAND. Edinburgh T. 8., Simpson• Glasgow J* F, Strachan, K.C. UNOFFICIAL NOTE FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PRESS Germans and Austrains in this country are liable to be interned as "enemy aliens", but most of the Germans and Austrians now here are refugees and many of them are anxious to help the country which has given them asylum. It would, therefore, be wrong to treat all Germans and Austrians as though they were "enemies." Those whose suspicious activities have been under observation have been already interned, but to avoid risks and to supplement the information already available to the authorities, it has been decided to review the case of every German and Austrian over the age of 16 and the tribunals for which the appointments are announced tonight will carry this out as quickly as possible. The Aliens Order prevents enemy aliens from travelling without a permit more than five miles from their registered place of residence, (if they live in London from travelling outside the City of London and the Metropolitan Police District) and it imposes restrictions on the posession of certain articles. Germans and Austrians who are anxious to assist this country and may be hampered by these provisions in carrying on some useful business or service will be exempted from these restrictions and placed in the same position as friendly or neutral aliens'; They will still be subject to the other provisions of the Aliens Order requiring all aliens to notify changes—of' address to the police, etc., The tribunals which will carry out the review will sit in places arranged "by the police and each will "be charged with the duty of examining cases of enemy aliens residing in the area. After each case has been examined* the alien's police registration certificate will "be endorced in one of the following forms - (a) The holder of this certificate is to be interned until further order. (b) The holder of this certificate is to "be exempted until further order from internment (c) The holder of this certificate is to be exempted until further order from internment and from the special restrictions applicable to enemy aliens under the Aliens Order. If the tribunal is satisfied that the Alien is a genuine refugee* the words "Refugee from Nazi oppression" will he added to the endorcement. An enemy alien who has been interned by the endorsement of a tribunal may make representations to the Home Office and, unless the Secretary of State decides that, there is no case for further inquiry, the representations will be referred to the Advisory Committee which has been constituted for this purpose as announced on September 18. The Home Secretary may order the internment of an alien who has been exempted from internment by a tribunal if further information satisfies the Secretary of State that this is necessary in the public interest. Discretion is left to the tribunal to decide whether it is necessary to interview each alien or not. The proceedings will not be in public*. It will not be open to an alien to employ a barrister or solicitor as his advocate, but the tribunal may allow the alien to be accompanied by a friend and to bring witnesseso It is anticipated, that, when the temporary dislocations due to the change-over to war conditions have passed, there will be an increasing demand for labour and services of all kinds. To meet this anticipated demand it is intended that use shall be made of the labour and services of friendly Germans and Austrians wherever this can be arranged without detriment to the interests of British subjects. Special consideration., it is understood, will be given by the tribunals to cases of British women who by marriage to Germans or Austrians have acquired their husbands nationality. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO-1- 25/9/39 FLASH NEWS AIR AFFAIRS Royal Air Force aircraft carried out successful daylight reconnaissances yesterday over western Germany. Last night; reconnaissance flights took place over western and north-west Germany, in the course of which leaflets were dropped. All our aircraft—re turned safely and no serious opposition wasencountered FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO .2. 25/9/39 GERMAN METHODS OF "STATING A CASE" The short collection of documents published by the German Foreign Office on "The Last Phase of the German-Polish crisis" is prefaced by a summary claiming to give the "picture" which these documents illustrate. As the documents exclude any account of the interviews between Sir N. Henderson and Herr Hitler on August 23,25 s 28, and 29th,or of the interview between Sir N.Henderson and Herr von Ribbentrop on the night of August 30/31st, this picture is unlikely to be accurate, even if the German leaders wished to make it accurate. For obvious reasons Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop do not wish to produce an "accurate" picture. They have every motive for concealing from the German people and from the world at large the truth about this "last phase of the German-Polish crisis". The truth is that the "crisis" was brought about deliberately by German action. The German methods are well known to us. We have seen,them in operation elsewhere. We know the faked atrocity stories, the faked reports about the persecution of German minorities ? followed by the "rising tide of indignation" in Germany, the insistence by Herr Hitler that "the limit of tolerance is reached". The climax is always a German demand for a unilateral settlement. The weaker party, as in the case of Austria and Czecho-Slovakia, is summoned to send a representative, immediately, to Germany in order to hear and to accept without discussion the full German demands. The German-Polish negotiations thus followed the normal cycle of "negotiations" conducted by Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop, and all attempts to "fake” the "picture" in the German White Book cannot conceal the truth, or shift on to other shoulders the fearful responsibility for the outbreak of war. The quickest method of observing the omissions and misstate- ments in the German summary is to compare it with the summary 2 printed in the British Documents relating to German-Polish relations and to the outbreak of host' '.ltias between Great Britain and Germany on September 3rd, 1939- (Cmd. 6406). It is possible by this to notice the false means, impression given in each paragraph of the German summary. Thus in paragraph 1 the German Government, wrongly, denies that the Senate Danzig had proposed to suspend the activities of certain Polish customs inspectors. In paragraph 2 the German Government that the British . implies guarantee to Poland was made before the Polish rejection of the German, pffer of Hardy, 1939* In fact., the British guarantee v/as Acrt--oftiered to Poland until af/tar'these terms had been refused 9 ,_as incompatible, with Polish independence..* and after-the Germans had been- -unwilling to. Alston, Jo count rope sals» In paragraph B there is no mention "of the illegal appointment. of Gauleiter Forster as Head of the State of the Free City of Danzig or of Herr Hitler’s refusal to guarantee to the British Ambassador in Berlin a negotiated settlement of the Polish question because "Polish provocation" (the usual German fiction) "might render German " interferemce inevitable 0 Paragraph 5 describes the German demand for a Polish represent- ative in Berlin by midnight of August 30th to receive and accept the German "Proposals". It is not stated that, from the first, the British Government demurred to this "ultimatum", and suggested that normal and sensible procedure whereby the German Government should give the Polish Ambassador in Berlin the German proposals for trans- mission to the Polish Government, The compilers of the German "summary", like the German Government, never once recognise that the Polish Government had a right to see these proposals, to consider and to reply to them,- "Discussion" and "negotiation", the them, on acceptance of German view, meant, as usual, complete and immediate German demands - 3 Paragraph 6 omits the messages from the British Government suggesting the normal procedure for the transmission of proposals from Government to Government; and the appeal to the German Govern- ment to avoid acts of provocation, and the similar appeal (communi- cated to the German Government)-made by Viscount Halifax to the Polish Government. Paragraph 7 implies - by a clumsy omission of dates and times- that on August 30th the British Ambassador in Berlin was given the German proposals which were explained to him in detail. In fact, on the night of August 30/31st, Herr von Ribbentrop's method of explanation "was to read out al engthy document in German at top speed". He refused to give the British Ambassador a copy of these proposals, and added that, in any case, he considered that the pro- posals (which the Polish Government had not seen) were rejected because a Polish plenipotentiary had not arrived to accept them en bloc before midnight on August 30th o The proposals were not given to the British Ambassador until 9*15 poim c on Aiugust 31st, when the German Government again repeated the view that the propos- als were rejected because the Polish Government had not agreed to the German plan of a "dictated" settlement in Berlin, Paragraphs 8 and 9 describe the German Government as compelled to use force against Poland because the Polish Ambassador in Berlin would not enter into any discussion of the German proposals (which the Polish Government had not yet considered* and which, in any case involved a surrender which no independent state could reasonably accept. ) Paragraph 9 also repeats the German lies about Polish acts of unprovoked aggression. Paragraphs 11 and J 2 blame Great Britain for refusing Italian mediation,, but omit to state that the British Government refused to negotiate unless the Germans had ceased their attacks on Poland and had promised to withdraw their troops from Polish soil. With these omissions and distortions of fact it is not difficult for the compilers of the German summary to put the finishing touch to their "picture" with a statement from Herr von Ribbentrop that the responsibility for the outbreak of war lay with Great Britain and France' FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO, 3. 25/9/39 Further Notes on the German White Book. The German White Book Urkunden zur letzten Phase der deutschpolnischen Krise contains an introduction and 26 documents of varying length and characten Fifteen of these documents have already appeared in the White Book Correspondence between E>M. Government in the United Kingdom and the German Government 9 August g 1939 (Cmdo 6102) and in Documents relating to German-Polish relations and to the outbreak of hostilities between Great Britain and Germany on Septe mber 3, 1939 (CmcL 6X06 )<> Of the remaining eleven documents, the substance of three (Correspondence over Polish customs inspectors) is reproduced in the second of these British White Books; two documents deal with an exchange of correspondence between M. Daladier and the German Chancellor on August 26-27; one document is the French note of warning to the German Government, on September X 0 This note was identical in terms with the British note of the same date. The other documents are 2- (1) Record of a telephone message from the German charg'd d’affaires at Warsaw to the German Foreign Office at IJ 30O on August 30. (2) Announcement on the Warsaw radio of August 31 (3) Note from the Italian Ambassador in Berlin to the German Foreign office on September 2* This proposal is referred to in a Stefani communication printed in the British White Book (Cmdo 6102) (4) Announcement "by the Havas agency on September 2 0 (3) French ultimatum to Germany, September 3o The only relevant facts in the German hook which are not contained also in the two British publications are thus the Polish announcement cf 31 August,; and the Havas report that the French Government had given a “positive answer" (eine positive Antwort) to the Italian proposalso 2 On the other hand the German White Book omits a number of documents recording facts of great importance: 1. There are no accounts of the (Conversations between Sir.N. Henderson and Herr Hitler on August 23rd. (2 interviews) 25th 28th and 29th and of the conversation between Sir.N.Henderson and Herr von Ribbentrop on the night of August, 30/31 2. There is no reference to the British messages to the German Government at 2.0.a.m.2 0 45 p.m. and 5.30 p.m on August 30th. 3. There is no reference to the British message of 6 0 50 p.m. on August 30th. These omissions are of cardinal importance. Since the German Government is thus able not merely to avoid mention of the violent and menacing language used by Herr Hitler in his interviews, but also to conceal certain leading facts; 1) that the British Government protested at once against the German demand for the arrival of a Polish plenipo- tentiary at Berlin to receive and accept German demands by midnight on August 30th. 2) that the German Government, while insisting on August 29th that this demand was not an ultimatum, stated at midnight on August 30th that they regarded their pro- posals as already rejected because their ''unilateral” demand for the arrival of a Polish plenipotentiary by midnight on August 30th had not been accepted. 3) that the German Government refused, absolutely, the repeated suggestions made by the British Government (and accepted by the Polish Government) that the Polish- German negotiations should take the ordinary form,i s e. that any German proposals should be given to the Polish Ambassador for transmission to his Government. 4) that, on midnight August 30th, Herr von Ribbentrop refused to give the British Ambassador a written communication stating the German proposals, or to suggest to the Polish Government any method of negotiation other than that of facing a Polish plenipotentiary wlthr-a 3 series of demands which this plenipotentiary would be compelled to accept without consulting his Government. The documents in the German White Book therefore give a defective and misleading account of the correspondence between Great Britain and Germany, and of the of the British attempts Government to secure Germaw adhesion to the plan for a direct interchange of communications between the German and Polish Governments. It is clear that throughput "the last phase of the German-Polish crisis” the German Government was determined to carry through a ’’unilateral 11 settlement of their demands upon Poland, although these demands, as put forward, were obviously incompatible with Polish independence, and although the German Government knew that Great Britain and France were pledged to come to the assistance of Poland if the latter v/ere the victim of aggression. Since the "picture" which the German documents are intended to give is a misleading one, the summary describing this picture (pp.s-7 of the German White Book) is a fortiori hlso inaccurate tendencipus. A complete answer to this German ’'picture" is provided in the documents printed on pages 83-181 of the British Documents relating to German-Polish Relations and to the Outbreak of Hostilities betv/een Great Britain and Germany (Cmd. ) and summarised in the introductory pages yf&ZIl --Xx'fri Note* No mention is made in this memorandum either of the Polish broadcast of August 31 (German document No* 16) or of the statement of the Havas agency on 2 September that Prance had given "eine positive Antwort" to the Italian proposals of September 2 (German document N0.2) It is assumed that the French and Polish Governments will take notice of these statements and make the necessary replies ■ MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE No4 - 25th September, 1939. PRESS NOTICE M.A.F. 35. SCIENTIFIC ADVICE AND INVESTIGATION ON FOOD PRODUCTION PROMISES. Arrangements have been made which will ensure that during the war the Agricultural Research Council will work in the closest with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in connection with research and investigetions into problems that may arise from the food production campaign. Under these arrangements the best scientific advice will do available. Since March last a Committee of the Agricultural Research Council hoc had under examination the programmes of research and the qualifications of the staffs of Agricultural Research Institutes from the standpoint of an emergency. It will be the function of the Council now to guide the research at these institutes into the special agricultural problems arising out el war conditions. For this purpose the Chairman of the Agricultural Research Council (Sir Thomas Middleton) has, with the approval of the Lord President of the Council, appointed a small Executive Committee, which will keep all members of the Council in close touch with the situation. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has also constituted an Advisory Panel, the members of which will be available for as need arises, on the immediate consultation, technical problems of war time food production which do not call for further research. The members are as follows: Members. Subject/ Profeseor F.L. Engledow, C.M.G., M.A. Cereals and Crops Professor J.A. Hanley, A.R.C.S., Ph.D. Soils Professor H.D. Kay, O.B.L. Ph.D. , , Dairying Sir John Russ e 11, O.B.E, D.sc., F.R.S. Plant Nutrition Professor J.A,. Scott Watson, M.A. General Agriculture Sir George Stapledon, C.b.l., M.A., Grassland Dr, T. Wallace, M.G., D.Sc., a. I.C. Nutrition of Horticultural Crops Dr. S. J. Watson, D.Sc., F.I.C. Grass and Fodder Conservation Dr. H.E. Woodman, M.A, Ph.D., D.Sc . Livestock and Nutrition. The Secretary of State for Scotland will consult the Agricultural Colleges and the Research Institutes in Scotland on any technical questions on which their advice may be desired. PRESS NOTICE NO. 5/25.9.1939. (issued by the Ministry of Information). BAKING TRADE BOARD (ENGLAND AND WALES At the meeting of the Balling Trade Board (England and Wales) on 19th September, 1939, the Board approved proposals relating to holidays with pay for 'workers in the baking trade within the scope of the Board, but decided to defer the decision as to the date from which such a scheme should take effect until they meet again in January, 1940. They will not issue a Notice of Proposal on the subject in the meantime. The Board, also approved proposals relating to minimum overtime rates for Bank Holidays, and decided to ask the consent of the Minister of Labour and National Service to the issue of a Notice of proposal to vary, accordingly, the overtime rates at present operative. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. No. 6. - 25/9/39. FLASH NEWS. EMPIRE AFFAIRS, FOOD SUPPLIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA. Record Maize Crop. The latest returns of the South African maize crop show a record yield of 28 million bags a bag contains 200 lbs, of which 12 to 13 million bags will be available for export. South African advices suggest that maize will figure largely in the Union’s scheme to buy one million pounds’ worth of food- stuffs for the Allies. Sugar, butter, cheese, frozen meat, crayfish, dried and preserved fruits, and wines and spirits are other food stuffs which South Africa can supply in large quantities. A National Supplies Board was set up long Before the out- break of war, and a comprehensive survey has been made of the country’s agricultural production resources. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. N0.7. 23/9/39 (The following is the text of the broadcast (6.30pm. 23/9/39) by Sir Alexander Rouse, Chief Engineer A.R.P. Dept., Ministry of Home Security.) AIR RAID SHELTER AT HOME The number of people for whom blast and splinter protection has been provided in their homes in the more vulnerable areas runs into many millions. But I want those of you who have no such shelter readily accessible to realise that every house provides a certain amount of shelter against splinters and blast and against fragments of our own anti-aircraft shells, and that there are many simple ways of increasing this protection. Here are some hints Outside the House. If you have a garden, you can dig a trench. Don’t dig a deep trench, unless you know how to construct one properly. Deep trenches are apt to fall in if the sides are not specially supported. But a shallow trench will give you quite good cover. Dig down about Ui feet, and with the earth you dig out fill boxes or sandbags and stack them up to a height of about 15 inches all round the edge of the trench above ground level. If you can get some corrugated iron or old boards put them over the top of the trench with a few inches of earth on top to keep them in place. Inside the House. The first thing to look for is a place where there is a good thickness of wall to protect you against flying splinters. They must he stone walls or brickwork - lath and plaster walls give no protection. A small or narrow room is better than a large one* because the roof is more strongly supported. In the average house the most suitable places will probably be a basement, a passage with no window, or a room such as a scullery with a small window. If the window faces a narrow outside passage, so much the better. If your shelterv-room or passage has a windov/, you must protect the window against splinters to a level of at least 6 feet from the floor level. This can he done in -2_ various ways* If it is a basement window partially above ground, you can build up a low wall of earth or sandbags outside. If it is a ground floor window, build it in with sandbags if you can get them. But sandbags are not essential. You can use boxes filled with earth. Or, if you cannot get enough material to build up your earth wall from the ground, take a wooden table or make a wooden platform up to the level of the window sill and build up from there with earth in bags or boxes* Another way of protecting your window is to nail stout boards both inside and outside the window opening, to a height of 6 feet from the floor, and fill the intervening space with pebbles, broken bricks, earth or sand© A wooden frame with wire netting on both sides could be used in place of the boarding if you line it with linoleum or other material to keep the pebbles or earth from falling onto .You can also protect a window from the inside by placing in front of it a bookcase tightly packed with old books or magazines., or by piling up against it old trunks or boxes filled with stones or earth. If you do this, be sure that the boxes are firmly supported and do not sit where the force of an explosion might cause them to topple on to you. Don’t forget the danger from flying glass. If any part of the window is left unprotected, you should take up your position during a ra«id where splinters from the window won’t hit you. The best position is close to the wall on either side of the window. The.se are only a few hints, illustrating the general principles to "be followed* You and your friends will doubtless think of other ways of using the materials you can lay your hands 1 on. Don t forget that everyone in a vulnerable area who provides in his home reasonable protection for himself and his own family is making a valuable contribution to national security* Do it now. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. N 0.7 - 25/9/39. FLASH NEWS. THE » ROYAL SCEPTRE”. Murder on the High Seas. As announced on Saturday, it is feared that I .all hope has now to be given up for the officers and crew of the steamship "Royal Sceptre", sunk by an U-boat on September 6th in a position about 300 miles to the westward of Ushant. The crew of this ship -were cast adrift in their boats without possible hope of reaching land, a foul act of piracy on the high seas on the part of the German Navy, carried out in direct contravention of the submarine protocol signed by Germany in November, 1936, which was to be binding for all time o This protocol is contained in Part 1V of the London Naval Treaty of 1930, and makes it abundantly clear that no warship, submarine or otherwise is justified in sinking a merchant ship unless the crew has been placed in safety, and that open boats cannot be considered a place of safety unless in calm weather and close to land or a rescuing ship. The names of the officers and men thus callously abandoned to their fate and literally murdered in cold blood were as follows Master: James Gay, Alnwick. First Mate: Norman Hartley, West Hartlepool, Second " Hector W. Smith, North Shields. " Third Peter M. William, Twickenham. Carpenter: John Stabulbeck, Barry. Boatswain: James Meyler, Wexford. ? A.B s. Martin Power, Dungarvan Leslie Sharp, Wrotham. Charles W. Smith, Pulhorough. Robert Sarsfield, Waterford. Ordinary Seamen: Patrick R* Middlebombe, Ashurst, Southampton. Raymond Burford P Cardiff. James Doyale, Wexford. First Engineer: John Davison, Wallsend-on-Tyne. Second Engineer: Richard Lonsdale, Sunderland. Third Engineer: John G. Smiles, Sunderland. Fourth Engineer: Leslie Hayton, Sunderland. Donkeymsn: Manual C 0 Martinez, Cardiff. Alfred Roles, Southampton Firemen: William Sullivan, Southampton, Juan T. Martin, Cardiff. Manual Dias, Cardiff 0 Thomas Nieva, Cardiff„ Joseph Gatt, Cardiff. Steward: James Twomey, Barry Dock. Cook: John Hall, Worthing. Messroom Boy: Henry Burford, Cardiff,, Cabin Boy: George Harding, Southampton. Galley boy: Elwyn Price, Southampton. Apprentices: William Dunn, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Clifton Rigby, Romford. Radio Officer: Leslie Jeffcott, Port Talbot FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. H0.9 - 25/9/39. EMPIRE AFFAIRS SPECIAL. (Covering: Role of the Indian Army: Loyalty of Emir Abdullah of Trans-Jordan; Message from Field-Marshal Lord Birdwood. MESSAGE FROM FIELD-MARSHAL LORD BIRDWOOD. The following message has been issued from Field Marshal Lord Birdwood, from Deal Castle, Kent:- "The innumerable messages of loyalty and the many promises of moral and material support which have been pouring in from the Princes and peoples of India in the present emergency must necessarily be a source of pleasure and gratification - though certainly not of surprise -to one whose intimate personal association with India and the Indian Army began well over half a century ago. "It was in 1885 that I followed my father, and my father’s father, into the Indian service, and my experiences in the ensuing period of some fifty-four years enable me to speak, as I do with all sincerity and admiration, of the wonderful qualities of the Indian soldier of every class and creed, both in peace and in war. "His fine traditions, his discipline and efficiency, his exemplary bravery in action, are known to all the world, which has not forgotten, and will never forget, the magnificent gallantry and fortitude displayed by Indian troops in a hundred fierce engagements, from the major battles of the Great War to such far-off yet imperishably memorable incidents as the defence of Saraghari or the withdrawal from Maizar in 1897. I have alv/ays been profoundly proud and happy to command such splendid troops; and it gives me the greatest satisfaction to know that, nov/ as ever faithful to their salt, the soldiers of India are once again prepared to fight shoulder to shoulder with us in the cause of justice and security. "There is another matter of which I can speak with first-hand knowledge; namely, the very real interest and admiration evinced by His Majesty the King-Emperor with regard to his Indian Army. As ’Gold Stick* it is my high privilege to be a member of His Majesty*s house- hold and to be in attendance on him from time to time; and I never cease be impressed by the way in which His Majesty, following closely to in footsteps of his illustrious father, gives constant proof of his the knowledge, sympathy and grasp of detail in matters relating to the Indian soldier. The King-Emperor shows a remarkable familiarity with the records and achievements of his Indian regiments and corps, and His Majesty has often expressed to me something of the pride and affection in which he holds the brave and loyal men who serve in them. "To my many life-long friends among the officers and men of the Indian Army I send my warmest greetings and heartfelt good wishes; while to their sons and successors now serving in the ranks of those Units which I have known so well, I would add the simple exhortation that they should strive to safeguard and intact the great ever preserve legacy of untarnished honour that has been handed down to them," ROLE OP THE INDIAN ARMY The role of the Indian Army in this war was recently pictured by General Sir Robert Cassels, the Commander-in-Chief, in a broad- cast to the country on its strategical problems and the modernisation of India's defence forces. The Commander-in-Chief said that, contrasted with the last war, it would be unwise in this war to assume India’s being immune from a direct threat. Burma, in hostile hands, Y/ould be a pistol pointed at the heart of Bengal. It was also vital to India that Egypt and Aden should never fall into unfriendly hands. Events in Europe might make a heavy call on man-power and delay reinforcements for garrisons east of Suez. Hence India must herself reinforce those garrisons. Such reinforcements would at the most represent only one-tenth of the forces maintained in India for the defence of India’s frontiers. Turning to India’s man-power, the Commander-in-Chief said that the country’s greatest asset was a large supply of the finest types of fighting men. "Indian troops, so far as their quality is con- cerned, need not fear comparison with the troops of any country in the world." In a recently issued.--c-oinnxunique- .regarding man-power the Govern- ment of India pointed out that it is of primary importance to have a steady flow into the right channels. The Government have asked that people should uiotTArolunteer for service in India or elsewhere, but should stay at their present.posts nde d. Recruits for the Indian Army come from many castes and tribes, the majority coming from the MUSLIM population of North India. The Sikhs contribute very large numbers both to the cavalry and infantry. The Sikhs who live in the Pun j-ab .in a sect., founded in the 9 early part of the l6th Century. The Gurkhas, who also contribute largely to the Indian Army, come from Nepal, a country of some 5 million people, up against the Himalayas. In the last war Nepal supplied some two hundred thousand fighting men to help the Allied cause. As in the last war, there has been an offer of Nepalese troops, which has been gratefully accepted. The professional military caste of India is the Rajput of Rajputana and the United Provinces. Rajputs have sustained the English flag in every campaign in the East. Other castes who have given good service to the Indian Army include Jats, Dogras, and Mahrattas. In the last Indian troops saw service in Prance, Belgium, war Gallipoli, Salonica, Palestine, Egypt,. the Sudan, Mesopotamia, Aden and the Red Sea littoral, Somaliland, Cameroons, East Africa, North West Persia, and Kurdistan, South Persia, the Gulf of Oman, the whole length of East Persia, Trans-Caspia, North China, and of course on the North West and North East Frontiers of India. During the last war the Victoria Cross was awarded for conspicuous gallantry to two Indian officers, four non- commissioned officers and six other ranks of the Indian Army. The Military Cross was awarded to ninety-six Indian officers, and to three Indian officers for service in Waziristan. ■ A large number of Indian officers and men were also granted foreign decorations. On the outbreak of the last war the combatant strength of the Indian Army, including reservists, was 194,000 Indian ranks. Enlistments during the war for all branches of the service totalled 791,000, making a total combatant contribution of 985,000. Of this number, 552,000 were sent overseas. As regards non-combatants, 427,000 were enrolled during the war and 391,000 were sent overseas. The total contribution of Indian personnel was thus 1,457,000. LOYALTY OF EMIR ABDULLAH OF TRANS-JORDAN The loyalty of the Emir Abdullah of Trans-Jordan, numerous manifestations of which have been published since the outbreak of hostilities, can surprise only those v/ho supposed, wrongly, that Arab Nationalism was taking on an anti-British complex. For this noble Arab has been staunch in his friendship towards the British from a time which antedated the last war. It was early in 1914 that this son of the late King HUSSEIN of the HEJAZ approached Lord Kitchener in Egypt to take soundings for Anglo-Arab co-operation in the event of and like many war, other prominent Arabs, he has never wavered in his belief that the future of the Arabs is enexorably woven with that of Great Britain. Time and time again during the mandatory relations of his state with Britain he has proved this. His Highness the Emir has rightly expressed the conviction which all Moslem people feel in the justice of the cause for which Britain is fighting. In the last war, Germany tried to raise a Jehad (Holy War) against the Moslems who had declared their allegiance to Britain, and the attempt failed miserably. Failing even more conspicuously today are all endeavours to sow dissension between the Moslems, democrats in the deepest sense, and those v/ho adamantly face the tyranny of Nazi Germany. It is as no result of British pressure that Trans-Jordan, under the Emir, is so unanimous in favour of Britain. There is hut a handful of British advisers in the whole of the Emirate, and these suggest rather than execute methods of adminstration. That the Trans-Jordan Arabs of their own free will should so solidly have proclaimed their loyalty is immensely to their credit. PR OH THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. NO. 10. 25/9/39 Persons in Receipt of Poor Relief (Quarter ended June. 1939.) The Minister of Health* Mr. Walter Elliot* has today (Monday) issued his quarterly statement showing the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in England and Wales for the quarter ended June, 1939. With the exception of increases following the Easter and Whitsun holidays there was a continuous decrease throughout the quarter in the number of persons in receipt of relief* At the end of June 1939 the total number was * , 1,031,421, a decrease of 42,554 when compared with the corresponding total at the end of March, 1939, and a decrease of 8,931 when compared with the end of June, 1938* FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO.II. 25/9/39 "PERSONAL OCCUPATION AND NATIONAL REGISTER." Arrangements have been made by the Registrar General (Sir Sylvanus Vivian) to meet the request that a person who is trained in some other occupation than his or her present one should be able to have it recorded in the National Register. The return of "Personal occupation" must state the occupation or calling ordinarily followed for a livelihood on National Registration Day - next Friday, 29th September. This return is in no way affected by the new arrangement and must be made according to the instructions in the schedule. A supplementary return, however, may be made if desired on a special postcard N.R.Z. This postcard will be supplied on personal application, after the 29th September, at the local National Registration Office. In Scotland this is the office of the local registrar. In England and Wales it is almost invariably at the local Council Offices. The address can be ascertained by enquiry at any local Police Station. The postcards will not be distributed by the enumerators. Any person wishing to make a supplementary return of occupation must wait until his or her identity card has been delivered by the enumerator. Full particulars of the previous occupation should then be entered on the postcard, which must be signed, the serial number entered from the identity card, and posted. This supplementary return will be recorded in the National Register. A supplementary occupation must be one in which person notifying it was "fully trained by actual practice or experience as a means of livelihood," A supplementary return should NOT he made of skill deriv d solely from pursuit of a hobby. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No 12. 25/9/39- For Publication in Tuesday Morning papers only DEFENCE (FINANCE) REGULATIONS, 1939. Securities (Restrictions and Returns) By an Order made "by the Treasury under the above Regulations and dated the 26th August, 1939, the owners of certain specified securities were directed to make a return of their holdings to the Bank of England within one month from the date of the Order, i.e. by the 26th September, 1939. By an amending Order the period during which returns must be made has now been extended to the 9th October, 1939- The securities specified in the original Order were the. following: - Securities in respect of which the principal, interest or dividends are payable in the currency of any of the following countries:- Argentina Belgium Canada France Holland and the Dutch East Indies Norway Sweden Switzerland United States of America or in respect of which the holder has an option to require the payment of principal, interest or dividends in the currency of any of those countries. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No. 13 25/9/39 THE KING WITH HIS AIRMEN Visit to Headquarters of Coastal Command. The King stood yesterday in the grounds of a quiet country house somewhere in England. And the King’s presence there was the most remarkable thing about it, for you come across such pleasant houses, looking snugly retired and modestly prosperous, in scores up and down the land. But this was a very remarkable and secret house If the enemy sent a bomb through its unobtrusive roof, they would have something to boast about at last. For here, in this remote innocent-seeming spot, are the headquarters and keenest brains of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command. The King, attended by Sir Kingsley Wood, the Minister for Air, suddenly arrive to be shown the sort of home that the R. A.F. has chosen for much of its most vital work - and as usual he missed nothing. Looking as hard and well as the fittest of his serving officers. King George was received by the Officer Commanding the Coastal Command, and the second-in-command* They plunged at once into the warren of corridors, lined heavily with cables and wires, and the honeycomb of small, active rooms into which a once-spacious house has been transformed. The King went to the doom, in which girls of the W. A. A.P. sat over clicking machines, and next passed to the Cypher room, where women’s brains were once more dexterously busy. A select group of half-a-dozen were decoding messages from aircrafts ships, and the headquarters of all three 2 Services, or alternatively rapidly turning into cypher-figures en clair messages waiting to go out. "You find it interesting?" asked the King. A voluble and technical explanation of how it is done descended on him. "I couldn’t learn it in a day’s match," confessed the King "We are getting rather good at arithmetic" smiled the head of the Section. "You centainly should know your multiplication tables," said the King, laughing. He left the house to inspect trenches and shelters which are being dug; said a word to the canteen girls, who blushed delightedly among their piles of chocolate and buns; glanced in at the Sergeants’ Mess; asked about the comforts of the men in one of the dormitory huts and then stepped again into the mellow afternoon sunshine. There was no sound except of a football being punted in a neighbouring field. Blackberries hung ripe on one of the garden hedges; a line of Irish yews below the terrace stood with their placid immemorial air, and the maples burnt overhead in fiery autumn colour. It was hard to realize there was a war on. And then one suddenly had a vision of all the fighting commands with which this pleasant place is linked and of the sleeping air squadrons that at any hour or second would roar at a signal into wakefulness and begin their swift intercepting climb. The phrase used to he "the wooden walls of Old England". To-day the wall that helps maintain this land inviolate has changed to the thin steel and stays of the modern war-plane. But these patrollers of the sky - so frail and yet so deadly - watch our coasts alertly as any frigate under Nelson. The one factor which does not change is the men. They still are hearts of oak - loyal and ready hearts; and some of them were mightily cheered yesterday hy this glimpse of their supreme Commander, the King. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. No. 14 - 25/9/39. COMMERCIAL ROAD VEHICLE EXTRA FUEL RATIONS. The Ministry of Transport asks through the Ministry of Information goods vehicle group organisers who are in a position to estimate in advance the requirements of the operators in their groups for supplementary ration issues for the week beginning Saturday, September 30, to lodge applications with the appropriate sub- district manager as early as possible this week. Similar appli- cations should be made each week in future as early as possible. Applications must indicate how the basic ration will be used and explain the need for additional fuel. While it is desired to keep in operation all necessary road transport, due regard must in every case be paid to economy in the use of fuel and the possibilities of alternative means of transport. PROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, No. 15 - 25/9/39. ARMY CHAPLAINCIES. The following information, announced by the War Office, should be carefully noted by clergymen and ministers of religion. Candidates for Army Chaplaincies must be ordained ministers and must be prepared to serve overseas. They should be under 40 years of age and should apply as follows:- Church of England and ( Through the Bishop Roman Catholic ( of the Diocese. Other Churches ( Through the recognised ( Committee appointed by ( the Church of which the ( applicant is an accredited ( minister. Applicants must not apply direct to the War Office, either in person or in writing, No. 16- 25/9/39 FLASH NEWS. THE ROYAL SCEPTRE MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS The Admiralty requests that the following corrections may he made in the list of casualties to officers and men of "Royal Sceptre” issued under the Ministry of Information Flash No. 8 - 25/9/39. (1) Place of residence of LESLIE SHARP A.B. is Southwick, Sussex, and not Wrotham (2) For PATRICK R. MIDDLECOMBE of Ashurst, Southampton, read FRANK BIDDLECOMBE of Ashurst, Southampton. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. NO. 17. 25/9/39 . REVISED SUGAR PRICES. FLASH NEWS, The Ministry of Food have issued an Order amending the Sugar (Maximum Prices) Order, and providing for an increase of per pound in the prices of granulated and soft brown sugar. The effect of this is to increase the margins between the wholesale and retail prices for sugar prescribed in that Order. The opportunity has been taken to include in this Order some additional varieties of sugar (e.g. preserving, icing, Demerara and Barbados) and to provide for the exceptional transport conditions which arise in certain remote areas The revised, maximum retail prices per pound are as follows:- Granulated .... ... ... ... 3 1/2d. Cubes ... ... ... .... 4d. Caster. ... ... ... ... 4d Pieces. ... ... ... ... 3 1/4d. Soft Brown ... ... ... ... 3 1/4d. Preserving. ... ... ... ... 3 3/4d. Icing.. ... ... ... ... 4 1/2d. Grocery West Indian:- Grocery crystallised, including) Demerara. ... ... ... ) 3 3/4d. Grocery Muscovado. ) Grocery Syrups. Barbados... ... ... ... 4 1/4d The new prices coma into force on Tuesday, 26th September ) FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO. 13 25/9/39 FLASH NEWS BUSINESS ADVISER FOR Mil MALCOLM MACDONALD The Secretary of State for the Colonies has invited Mr. Clifford Figg to be his honorary Business Adviser for the period of the war. Mr. Piggy who assumed his duties at the Colonial Office on the 25th of September, will advise the Secretary of State on business problems created by the war in connection with Colonial commodities. (Mr. Figg is one of the re presentatives of the Colonial Empire on the Imperial Economic Committee and is the Ceylon representative on the International Rubber Committee and the International Tea Committee. He is Deputy Chairman of the latter body.) A.M. Bulletin. Air Ministry Casualty Communique No.2. No. 37. Royal Air Force. The Air Ministry regrets to announce the following casualties on various dates KILLED. 39964 Pilot Officer D.S.M. BURRELL, 40116 Pilot Officer M.L. HULTON-HARROP, 552026 Aircraftman Second Class W.A. O'BRIEN. Previously Previously reported reported "MISSING" ’’MISSING” now reported "MISSING BELIEVED KILLED". BELIEVED KILLED^ 565602 Sergeant D.E. JARVIS. MISSING. 365199 Flight Sergeant I.E.M, BORLEY. 40598 Pilot Officer G.W. BRANT. 524802 Aircraftman 1st Class S.A. BURRY* 516460 Sergeant R.C. GROSSIE. 618765 Aircraftman Second Clans R. 566050 Sergeant A.O. HESLOP. 580896 Sergeant C.A. HILL. 564670 .Sergeant O.L.D. HOWELLS. 37884 flying Officer H.B. LIGHTOLLER. 580160 Sergeant G. MILLER. 617586 Aircraftman Second Class J. MURPHY. 39748 Pilot Officer W.J. MURPHY. 26117 Squadron Leader S.S. MURRAY. 509143 Sergeant S.G. McK. OTTY. 567315 Aircraftman 1st Class P.F. PACEY. 524855 Corporal G.W. PARK. 548974 Aircraftman 2nd Class E. PATEMAN. 39585 Pilot Officer A.B. THOMPSON. 561939 Flight Sergeant A.J. TURNER. 564477 Sergeant L.R. WARD. Air Ministry, Press and Publicity Branch, King Charles St., S.W.l. 25th September, 1939, FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. FLASH HEWS. No.20. - 25/9/39, Following is a translation of latest leaflets dropped by British airmen over Germany on the night of September 24th. A C H T II K Gl A C H T U N G.' TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE. Germans, note that, in spite of the German blood which has been shed in the Polish war! 1. Your Government’s hope of successful Blitzkrieg has been destroyed by the British War Cabinet’s decision to prepare for a three years’ war. 2. The French Army crossed the frontier into Germany on the 6th September, or four days before German official sources admitted it. In the West, British troops are already standing shoulder to shoulder with their French allies. 3. The British and French fleets have swept German merchant shipping from the oceans. Therefore your supplies of a whole range of essential war materials, such as petrol, copper,nickel, rubber, cotton, wool and fats are almost gone. You can no longer rely, as you did in the last war, upon neutral supplies because your Government cannot pay for them. 4. Night after night the British Air Force (englische Luftwaffe) has demonstrated its power by flights far into German territory. GERMANS NOTE. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, No, 21 - 25/9/39. PASSED BY FIELD CENSOR. FLASH NEWS. NOT FOR BROADCAST BEFORE 8 a»m. Tuesday. BRITISH ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS IN FRANCE. TOUCHING TALES OF FRENCH WELCOME TO BRITISH TROOPS. FLOWERS. KISSES AND SHOWERS OF PRESENTS. ’BERLIN OR BUST’ BY "EYEWITNESS" S omewhere-in-France. The first British guns to be sighted for Anti-Aircraft purposes in France are guarding Headquarters not a stone’s throw from where this is being written. The Anti-Aircraft Headquarters are in an old French chateau. Its owner, a courtly old aristocrat, potters about amiably watching his British guests with indulgent interest. He, too, was once in the Army, Once of his longest rooms has been turned into a telephone office. Prom it the Commanding Officer can talk to the French Air Defence Authorities and can also communicate with his batteries ? cunningly concealed in the surrounding countryside. The orderlies sleep in a little house, and the Commanding Officer has a tent on the lawn. NOT A SINGLE ALARM, So far there has not been a single alarm, and the gunners have little to do but remain constantly on the watch and enjoy the September sunshine. They fill in the time by thinking out new ways of improving their emplacements and camouflage, One battery has just perfected an ingenious home-made handle for turning the gun round more easily* 2 This AA unit was among the first British troops to reach France, and they tell touching tales of their welcome by the French. Whole towns turned out, they say, to greet them with flowers and kisses. Pre.sents were showered on them, Mayors offered them the best billets, and they were honoured like heroes. Even now presents of flowers are very common. Along the country roads the big British lorries hum past with a hunch of dahlias tied to the radiator cap, and another behind the drivers ear. Some men have discovered that a fine floral effect can be produced by thrusting choice blooms into the little loops on the covers of their tin hats, LORRIES HAVE THEIR NICKNAMES. Most lorries have their own nicknames chalked on them, and a fashion has sprung up for slogans and inscriptions in French. In one little town I saw "MORT A'HITLER!" "HITLER PAS BON* and "VIVE LA FRANCAISE" on three successive vehicles. An orderly's motorcycle parked by the curb nearby was inscribed front and back "BERLIN OR BUST" FROM THE MINISTRY. OF INFORMATION, FLASH NEWS, N0.22 - 25/9/39. PASSED BY FIELD CENSOR. (NOT FOR BROADCAST BEFORE 8 a.m. TUESDAY) A VISIT TO BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE. PRAISE FOR HOSTS’ KINDNESS. WARM FRENCH TRIBUTES TO OUR MEN’S CONDUCT. LANGUAGE CLASSES HELD BY FRENCH INTERPRETERS BY "EYE-WITNESS" SOMEWHERE. IN FRANCE. Today I visited some recently-arrived British troops in their present quarters. Billeted in little villages, farms and castles, the troops are living buried unobtrusively in the depths of the French countryside. So well are they distributed that you could almost drive through the whole area without noticing any unusual concentration of troops. Everywhere I went men told me of the kindness of their French hosts. Nothing seems to be too much trouble o They will give their guests anything. Equally the French pay very warm tributes to the conduct of the British. "It’s remarkable”, aji old peasant remarked to me as I stood with him in his orchard, ”1 don’t believe I’ve lost a single apple. And they even give me cigarettes." TWO-DAYS-OLD NEWSPAPERS ARE WELCOME. Headquarters are housed in schools, former convents and other suitable buildings in a sunny little market town. It is a sleepy place where usually the chief traffic consists of the cure roaring past on a vehicle halfway between a push bike and a motor cycle„ Now the children stand all day watching the hustle of British lorries and speedy officers’ cars. By a great stroke of business the local newsagent is managing to get British newspapers only two days old, and is doing a roaring trade. 2 In some units the official French interpreters are already giving language classes in the afternoon. ALL QUIET ON THE BRITISH FRONT. Officers who fought in the last war remark on the fraternising between the French and British troops as one of the most marked differences between 1914 and 1939* They drink together in cafes, stop one another in the streets, share their cigarettes and generally try to get to know one another to an extent never .approach- ed in the last war. At a little village inn I found one of our Generals having lunch, and asked him what there was to say about the war* "You can say we are well and happy", he replied, "but not much more than that. I watched some of my men bathing in the river this morning enjoying themselves as though Hitler did not exist. For the present all is absolutely quiet on the British Front, and we must not anticipate the future." Some miles away I came upon a Headquarters. It was an idyllic scene beside a little stream. THEY CALL IT "THE LOUNGE". Batmen were boiling water over bonfires in a huge cauldron 1 and laundering the officers socks. The cook was cutting up vegetables for a stew. A sergeant was arranging a supply of straw for bedding in an outhouse. In a dark little hut known as "The Lounge" two privates were writing home. Transport was arriving, and everyone was wondering whether there would he any cigarettes or mail. In these remote country parts, those are the two chief anxieties. 3 PLEASANT BUT RATHER DULL. It was pleasant here, a private from Dorset told me, but rather dull. There was a village a mile away where there were two "Pubs" but no cinema. They went there in the evening to have a drink, but found the beer a little thin and flat in comparison with that they got at home. I drive further on through a village where the billets were still being settled. The inhabitants were making brave efforts to understand British army "French" We stopped to help one or two people who were in trouble and found that it was often over-anxiety that caused the trouble. The French were so eager to meet the Tommy's wants hal£way_tjhat—th.ey were apt to jump to conclusions. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NO. 23 25/9/39 FLASH NEWS In Connection with the loss of the merchant ship "Hazelside" announced to-day, reports from Royal Air Force patrols describe the efforts made by aircraft to assist the rescue work, A metal canister was dropped from a reconnaissance air craft to the occupants of the ship’s lifeboat giving the position of other survivors seen on a raft and clinging to wreckage. The U-boat was sighted a few minutes later. It tried to submerge hurriedly but as it did so, it made a good target for bombs. Observation was kept on the spot for some time. Nothing further was seen of the submarine. FRO I.! THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION Z-U FLASH NEWS. No 2 3- 25. The Admiralty state that;- No report has been received of a naval engagement off the Norwegian coast, as would have been the case had one taken place.