FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 43 4th March, No. 1940 GERMANY: GERMAN PRESS CHANGES ITS TUNE. Professor Koht, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, who met with a favourable reception in the German Press at the time of his protest against the freeing of the Altmark's prisoners, has now been attacked in all the German newspapers for his remarks in the Storting on the subject of Germany's methods of conducting sea warfare. The general tendency of the Nazi argument, as expressed in messages published in the newspapers, was that Norway had, in some inexplicable way, been persuaded by Great Britain to voice sentiments unfavourable to Germany. The NATIONAL ZEITUNG, Marshal Goering's organ, under the heading "Koht Twists the Facts", began its review of the situation on Saturday by recalling the conversations of the Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Sweden and Norway at Copenhagen and alleged later that Britain had used "all the means at the disposal of her deplorable policy of might, after the setback in South-East Europe, to mature in the North of Europe her plans for extending the area of the war." Norway's part", the After referring to the "strange conduct on paper stated: "It is however, true that Professor Koht gave a picture of the at without who to blame. When he talks about No rway's war sea saying was and shipping losses, he should remember that England declared this war proclaimed a sea warfare in which it is possible for Scandinavian ships to sail to England only in the gravest danger. If the Norwegian Foreign Minister overlooks these facts and bends his knee to British world power he obviously forgets the lessons of recent times. For the Germany of 1940 is not the Germany of 1914, and not all protests ban be brought with success to Berlin, even if they are conceived in London." The KOELNISCHE ZEITUNG declared: "When Koht states that he and the two other Foreign Ministers have agreed to take steps with the parties at war to end the 'illegal mine warfare', it can only be presumed that the British Government has utilised the Cossack case and the dispute arising therefrom to bring pressure to bear on Norway to raise the question of 'illegal mine warfare' so that the real problem of Britain's breach of international law may be lost sight of." The WESTFAELISCHE LANDESZEITUNG headed a message from its Oslo correspondent on this subject "Koht Brings Unintelligible Charges- Strange Tones from Oslo." 4.3.40. 2 The Nazi "British Campaign against the plutocrats" continues unabated in the German Press. Referring to British Railway Statistics, the WESTFAELISCHE LANDES - ZEITUNG stated: "The earnings of British Railways last year were gigantic, as was shown at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Railway, whose profits were the largest in the last 15 years." The paper also complained that the meeting of the Great Western Railway revealed that the 24 Directors held a large number of directorships in Other companies. "The mass of the people is, of course, not interested in these matters," concluded the paper. "It just pays the increased fares." An article in similar vein was printed by the VOELKISCHER BEOBACHTER. This alleged British M.P.’s, held of paper that as well as Ministers, a number directorships and, after giving details at some length, the writer of the article promised his readers a further instalment in which the "connections of the Prime Minister and the British Governing classes with the armaments industry" would be dealt with. U.S.A; DISAPPOINTMENT AT MR. WELLES' RECEPTION. Mr. Sumner Welles' reception in Berlin has caused some disappointment in the U.S.A., and the NEW YORK TIMES, in a vein of irony, writes today: "Hitler to have been in modest mood when seems a characteristically he talked to Mr. Welles. He simply demanded a free hand for Germany, How reasonable and how adroit it must seem to the Germans to tell America that Germany only wants a Monroe Doctrine for Eastern Europe. The Monroe Doctrine presumably gives us the right to occupy the Argentine and Brazil, shoot their leading civilians, close the Universities, con- script labour, uproot thousands of women and children from their homes and impose our ideas on Latin America at the point of the bayonet." In the NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE, Dorothy Thompson writes: "The anti- Nazi tirade arising from the Welles visit, emphasises that the people, and not the Governments of the Allies are fighting 'not Capitalism, not Socialism nor any other old bogey’ but the brutal, naked, criminal power of a run-away state. They have seen that power spreading, octopus-like - they have seen people and individual human beings, caught by tentacles, disappear into its maw. "This power has divided families, broken into the family cash-boxes, engaged in every criminal activity including murder, arson and infanticide, bent men's backs to men's told them to murder labour, put guns in hands and their brothers. "The of the democracies not fighting about Geography, people are Colonies, or the balance of power. They are not fighting to prevent Germany from being strong. They are fighting to prevent the spread of something that threatens not only their nations, but their individual existence. They are fighting for human rights." to the reported German guarantee to Roumania, the CINCINNATI Referring INQUIRER declared: "King Carol will have to recall that Hitler's Germany frontiers paper ensuring the guaranteed the independence of Austria, signed a pact with of a slightly reduced Czechoslovakia and made a non-aggression Poland. This record does not inspire confidence in such commitment as Berlin makes." 3.3.40. 3. FRANCE: HITLER’S PEACE TERMS. Speculation on the information acquired by Mr. Sumner Welles has continued in the French Press, and M. Kerillis in the EPOQUE rejected in advance what he assumed to have been Hitler’s peace terms. "It seems however possible to state that Hitler would accept a plebiscite in Austria, a free Czechoslovakia and independence for a Poland amputated and reduced, to three or four districts, a general limitation of armaments, and finally a colonial distribution based on the return of the former German colonies. "All this constitutes a crude camouflage for a tremendous trap set for England and France. It must be rejected en bloc and without discussion...." "An Austrian plebiscite would be worthless when the patriotic elements have been exterminated, and, moreover, since an independent Austria is as much a necessity for the peace of Europe as independent Belgium in the last century Austria cannot was an necessarily be allowed to determine her own fate. Austrian independence in some form or other either with or without a federation with Hungary is indispensable to the peace of 150,000,000 Europeans and cannot therefore depend on the wishes of 7,000,000 Austrians. Czechoslovakian liberty is also essential, but Czecho- slovakia is the great natural fortress which bars Germany's road to the East One can conceive of a united. Czechoslovakia either as a free nation or in federation with the countries forming the old Austria-Hungary; one can conceive Czechoslovakia as a free nation united with Poland or forming part of some new system. One cannot accept a Czechoslovakia occupying a valley entirely surrounded by Germany. "The question of colonies can be dismissed at once. Neither the English nor the French are disposed, to allow Hitler to set up aerial and submarine bases along their imperial maritime routes, and both are well aware that the regime which re-armed in spite of the clauses of the T reaty of Versailles would re-arm in spite of the clauses of any other treaty". LE JOURNAL stated yesterday: "England is not taking the blockade lightly. German coal? England does not want Germany to use her coal, her in to foster relations coke or her lignite order new and procure financial resources or in exchange products of which she is sorely in need. That we will not see. "Nothing is more logical or more intelligent. Let us be quite clear - if we allow the passage of German coal we shall only make the war longer, impose more strenuous effort on ourselves and cause more French and English blood to flow, but a firm brutal and severe blockade will enable us to strangle the enemy". 4.3.40. 4 " SWEDEN: "BOWS TOWARDS NAZISM. An ironical tone was adopted by DAGENS NIYHETER, referring to the second confiscation of the Swedish edition of Dr. Rauschning’s book "Hitler Speaks." This paper stated: "This ceremonial confiscation was carried out to the accompaniment of bows towards the South - towards Nazism. But the Swedish people do not like to see their leaders play the part of humble servants." Concluding, DAGENS NYHETER declared: "Criticism Dictatorships is of the an indispensable part of the Democracies’ spiritual defence. Opposition must not be silenced in the name of neutrality." On the same subject, NYAMGLIGT ALLEHANDA stated: "Switzerland has ordered the confiscation of this book and it will be interesting to observe the behaviour of other Scandinavian countries. It is natural that there should be opposition to the confiscation, but it cannot be denied that the book is unobjective and contains libel on the head of a foreign state. Furthermore, Germany regards Rauschning as a traitor " After describing British war aims, DAGENS NYHETER wrote sarcastically: "Such is the terror of the plutocratic clique, which Hitler promised to break. Hitler, for years, urged a pact with Britain, and did not mention the British plutocratic terror until after the Polish Campaign.... After many vain attempts peacefully to assimilate the Nazi idea of European law and order, Britain is determined to meet force with force and prevent Hitler’s expansion. Mr. Chamberlain declares, on behalf of the entire British Empire - 'Until freedom is secured, we will fight with all our might and all our strength.'" The Berlin correspondent of STOCKHOLMS TIDNINGEN summarised the conversations between Herr Hitler and Mr. Sumner Welles as follows:- Bohemia, Moravia and Poland to remain Protectorates; Britain Great not to cause trouble in Scandinavia; British "pirate-nests" in Malta, Gibraltar and Singapore must disappear and British rule of the seas must cease; Germany's influence on the Continent- must be given a free rein; the possibilities of improved American-German relations must be discussed. Reviewing "In the Footsteps of Czarism" by Kurt Stechert, the SOCIAL DEMOCRATEN declared that Stalin had bound his fate with Nazism for the Fuehrer’s defeat would be Russia's defeat. "Russia's position is becoming unpleasant because she can scarcely believe in a Nazi-Communist victory, especially since the Russian Army’s feats in Finland have shown something rotten in Stalin's State," it was added. "A too active help for Russia from Germany would be dangerous for Stalin and a Hitler victory with Russian help would also be dangerous for Hitler still dreams of defeating Russia." 4.3.4P, 5 EGYPT; FUEHRER’S UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM REJECTED. Herr Hitler's claim to have conquered unemployment in Germany has been rejected by the Cairo newspaper AL AHRAM. This paper stated: "Hitler merely screened unemployment by employing workers in armament factories where they were paid from national taxes. Thus, the unemployed have been living at the expense of others, Germany's wealth is mot increasing. Hitler's policy is world domination. What a great difference there is between this method of solving unemployment and the real economic solution. The labourer should work: to increase his own wealth as an individual and the nation's wealth as a collective unit. Economists were right when they said Hitler was leading Germany to ruin. Once armaments are ready the workers must be dismissed - but whither? Naturally, to the war and this is precisely what Hitler has done." Denouncing Herr Hitler's attempt to impose the use of force on the world AL MASRI wrote: "Hitler allowed himself to be dazzled by the momentary triumph usually attending the use of force at the outset and he was led on by a cheap victory over a weak nation unable to resist his huge armies. The world, however, soon formed a single front to resist those who mocked at right and justice. In the face of this strong feeling which sprang up among all peoples, Hitler began to retreat step by step. His propaganda is now devoted to representing him as in the right and as a victim, thus hoping that some simpletons would believe lies. H owever, the his no one but short-sighted believes in the policy of force. "Every nation wishing to live in peace and prosperity should take a warning from present events for Hitler’s dictatorship has proved ridiculous in the eyes of the world and all his pomp and circumstance have evaporated to nothing." Commenting on the recent successful Moslem pilgrimage in which official statistics revealed that of the total of 32,152 pilgrims, 30,413 came from overseas, AL MASRI stated: "This great number of Moslems were able to fulfil their religious duties owing to the Anglo-French command of the seas. "Most of the pilgrims were transported by British ships. The British Government in India specially relieved the mercantile fleet of war duties in order to assure the safe transport of the pilgrims. Similarly, French and Egyptian vessels carried Moslems from Africa, There can be no doubt that Britain's command of the seas rendered the pilgrimage safe. "In contrast, German piracy attempts to render the seas unsafe. We are nobody have been inclined to believe that if Germany ruled the waves would able to go to Hedjaz." BRAZIL: JUSTICE PREFERRED TO GESTAPO. jurisdiction of "These men are invoking Brazilian justice against the the Gestapo operating through the German Consulate." This statement was made by the CORREIO DA MANHA, commenting on the report that five German sailors in a Uruguayan town had refused to return to Germany. 4.3.40. 6 O JORNAL, referring to Mr. Sumner Welles's visit to Berlin, said that the trip would prove useless if Germany remained intransigent regarding the Allied demands. "With typical German mentality no reason will persuade them of peace while they are convinced of the superiority of their arms% declared this journal. "Welles's conversations might be valuable if the material weight of America were behind to decide the struggle." PALESTINE: LAND REGULATIONS FAVOURABLY RECEIVED. The Arab Press has accorded a favourable reception to the new land transfer regulations and AL-SIRAT AL-MUSTAQE.I declared: "We feel that this step is symbolic of the unparalleled determination and resolution on the part of the British Government. We can take it as an indication that they are determined to carry out the provisions of the White Paper without hesitation or fear". FALASTIN reported from Nablus that the regulations evoked satisfaction in that town and in the neighbouring villages. "The war news is inconspicuous in comparison with the announcement of the land transfer regulations", stated AD DIFAA. "This is not strange since the problem of land sales has been one of the two fundamental problems which caused instability in the country". Emphasising the government's careful study of reports by experts before framing the regulations the paper affirmed; "The latter represent a big step towards effecting a reasonable solution of the Palestine question. Until now the problem of land sales has been an obstacle in the way of political, economic and social stability. There is no doubt that the government has now decided to adopt the experts’ recommendations and without hesitation embark on a just policy. Naturally a solution of the country's two fundamental problems would greatly facilitate a solution of the secondary ones". VENEZUELA: ALLIES' "DIGNITY" COMPARED WITH DICTATOR'S "GANGSTERISM". The Venezuelan Press has continued to comment on the speeches by Mr. Chamberlain and Herr Hitler. A leader in AHORA praised Mr. Chamberlain's speech and asserted that it conformed perfectly with the attitude adopted by Britain during the present war "one of dignity and human liberalness against the horrible gangsterism of the totalitarians". This paper stated that the most defeatist passage in Herr Hitler's speech was when he said he could not he convinced that his people were destined to succumb and must find men to preserve them from such a fate. Commenting on Mr. Churchill's speech this paper stated: "For Mr. Churchill's attempts to entice the neutrals to make up their minds to join the Allies he should he prepared to offer them all kind of guarantees 3.3.40. 7 His job would be much easier were the Nazi abuses against the neutrals to become such as to lead them to believe that their independence was definitely threatened by the Nazis once and for all". ITALY: COAL QUESTION FEATURED. The question of the holding up of coal destined for Italy has been featured in the Italian Press. Several papers yesterday printed London messages giving an assurance of Britain’s good intentions and the absence of political manoeuvre against Italy. Paris correspondence cited Press insistence upon the necessity of the British measures if the blockade was to prove effective, but reported anxiety lest the incident might lead to tension between Italy and the Allies. The necessity for the British move was stressed in Amsterdam messages but it was pointed out that Holland would stand to suffer by the measures. BULGARIA: WAR IN THE NEAR EAST? The view that the Allies will create a new front in the Near East has been expressed in the Bulgarian Press. In a leading article OUTRO stated: "Russia will not attack Norway and Sweden as it would not suit Germany - therefore the Allies, to help Finland, will seek a new front against Russia in the East in order to paralyze commercial relations between Germany and Russia, in the Black Sea. All measures are being taken for an early intervention. In the North peace is indicated - in the East and in Middle East there will be war sooner than peace". In an article entitled "Nervousness regarding military activities in the neighbourhood of the Black Sea" it was stated in SLOVO: "In the direction of the states bordering the Black Sea an attempt will be made to find means to conclude the war which cannot be found on the Front. This the Western is creating nervousness in the Balkans where impression is that neither Germany nor Russia is interested at this moment in marching on the Balkans. "Any act of war in the direction of the Balkans will be met by Balkan enmity. The Balkan peoples have nothing to gain through war and will not ally themselves voluntarily”. YUGOSLAVIA: ITALIAN RESISTANCE TO COAL MEASURES. The Italian protest to Britain in connection with coal deliveries has been featured in the Yugoslav Press, and the Rome correspondent of the POLITIKA reported that Italy would resist "all economic threats to control her foreign policy". This correspondent quoted the CORRIERE DELLA SERA's threat of Italian hindrance to the Mediterranian communications with the Allies’ Near East forces. 4.3.40 8 ROUMANIA; BRITISH RESISTANCE TO NAZI "BLOCKADE". A tribute to Britain's resistance to the so-called German "blockade" is paid in today's Roumanian Press. L'INDEPENDANCE ROUMAINE writes: "The balance of Great Britain's imports and exports during January is significant in showing the lack of effect of the Reich's naval measures against supplies destined for the British Isles. "In January of this year, Great imported various goods Britain amounting to the value of £105,000,000 whilst during January 1959 Great Britain's imports only reached the value of £75,600,000 and in 1938 £85,000,000. With regard to exports from the British Isles, the month of January of this year shows a surplus of £44,700,000 against last year. "Although some of these figures may have been affected by the rise of prices during the war period one cannot say that Britain's trade is hampered by a loss of tonnage or the dangers from magnetic mines, enemy aircraft or German submarines". BELGIUM: GRAVE VIEW OF AIR INCIDENT. Commenting on the loss of a Belgian aeroplane in the "dog fight" with German machines the PAYS REEL asked: "Is our aviation sufficients strong? Let our aviators be instructed to bring down immediately the first foreign plane showing signs of disobeying injunctions". LA GAZETTE DE CHARLEROI, the Liberal organ, referred to the incident as "very grave and unprecedented since the beginning of hostilities". LA METROPOLE stated: "This event seems to be the most grave and most regrettable that has hitherto occurred in violation of our neutrality. It is hoped that these aggressive methods do not con- stitute a regular system and are not the result of new orders which will henceforth make them habitual. The diplomatic demarche made in Brussels will clear up this painful incident. In the meanwhile one must abstain from worsening it while energetically protesting against its repetition. " XXme SIECLE declared: "Our ears still resound with the noise of German indignation against the Cossack incident. Then it was a question of international law and pirate morals. The sorry fellow of Stuttgart spoke of honour without the word burning in his mouth. Are there two kinds of international law, one for the Norwegian fjords and the other for the Belgian sky?" 4/3/40 - No.1. OXYGEN AND NITROUS OXIDE CYLINDERS. Earlier appeals which the Ministry of Health have made to hospitals, private individuals and industrial concerns to refrain in the national interests from hoarding oxygen and nitrous oxide cylinders met with an excellent response. As, however, increased demands for these cylinders are again taxing the available resources, it is necessary to issue a further reminder that the quantities held should not be in excess of actual requirements and that empty cylinders should be returned to the suppliers without delay. Only if this is done can the limited supplies available be used to the fullest advantage. MINISTRY OF HEALTH. 4.3.40 - No. 2. THE LONGEST TREK OF THE . WAR NORTHERN RHODESIAN TROOPS IN KENYA. News has just been received of an astonishing journey made by British Soldiers in Africa, the continent which is the classical origin of "something new". Last month Northern Rhodesian Units arrived in Nairobi, where they were greeted by the Governor of Kenya and by Major General Dickinson, G.O.C., East African Forces. The arrival of the contingent, after a 2,000-mile mechanised safari from Lusaka in a fleet of new lorries equipped by the Northern Rhodesian Government at a cost of many tens of thousands of pounds, marked the end of what is probably the longest trek of the war; and completed the concentration Kenya of in troops from every British East and Central African Territory. Six units composed the contingent: the 1st Battalion the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, at full war strength; the Battalion’s First Line Transport; a Bus Company, an Ammunition Company, and a Supply Company of the Northern Rhodesia Army Service Corps; and a Company of the Northern Rhodesian Field Ambulance which now takes itsplace in the 2nd Field Ambulance in East Africa with units from Nyasaland, Tanganyika, and Zanzibar. Carrying all its own equipment, stores, ammunition and petrol the column was entirely self-supporting throughout the 2,000-mile trek. Of the 200 vehicles which left Lusaka, the Capital of Northern Rhodesia, only one "fell out" on the way - a fact which tells its own tale of the efficiency of the drivers, all of whom were Africans, and many of whom had learned to drive since the outbreak of war. Seventy-five per cent. of the Officers and British N.C.O's, in the 1st Battalion were in civilian occupations before the war, although some of them had attended one period of training with the Regiment. District Officers, specialists and others in Government Service, University men and high-salaried mining and railway experts, flocked to join when the call came. Africans volunteered in such numbers that recruiting had to be stopped after a few weeks, as not only had the Battalion reached full war strength, but the 2nd Battalion which was to take its place in the Colony was also fully manned. All without previous Commissioned, Europeans service joined the Regiment Sergeants, and have been learning their jobs under as Regular Officers and N.C.O’s. from British Regiments. Every non-Regular Officer, British N.C.O., and African in the Regiment has volunteered for service overseas in any part of the world. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 4/3/40 - No.3. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (MORNING.) Paris , Monday March 4, 1940. The following official communique was issued from French G.H.Q. this morning:- A relatively quiet night on the whole. Two of our outposts, east of the Moselle, repelled a local attack. These last days have on the whole been marked by a decided renewal of activity on the part of the contact units and also of the patrols and reconnaissances on the entire front between Rhine and Moselle. During the day of March 3 numerous aerial fights took place in which two enemy fighters were probably brought down. All our crews returned safely to their bases. A German scout was brought down over our outpost line by the Royal Air Force. 4/3/40 - No.4. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Reports from Amsterdam that His Majesty’s Government has given sanction for the passage of further ships carrying German coal to Italy are without foundation. No request for any further exemption has been received from the Italian Government and, as was announced on March 1st, any German coal found in ships leaving port after midnight that night will he subjected to detention under The Reprisals Order in Council. MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE. 4th March, 1940. No. 5 M.A.F.162. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT SPEED THE PLOUGH Questioned in the House of Commons today about the effect of adverse weather conditions on farmers’ ploughing operations, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, Minister of Agriculture, said that it was true that weather conditions this winter had been very unfavourable but the Government attached the greatest importance to the fulfilment, in the national interest, of the programme of ploughing up 2 million acres in the United Kingdom in time for the coming harvest. The Prime Minister stressed this when he addressed the Chairmen of the County War Agricultural Executive Committees, and the Minister assured the House that these Committees, to whom has been entrusted the organisation of the programme throughout the c ountry, fully realised the urgent nature of their responsibilities. He was confident that, as weather conditions make ploughing operations possible, farmers would use every endeavour to make up for lost time. 4TH MARCH , 1940, NO.6. M.A.F. 161. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT SHEEP WORRYING. The Ministry of Agriculture desires to warn dog owners to keep their dogs under proper control when in the country during the lambing season. Much damage can be caused to sheep flocks in lamb when t hey are chased by little Deaths even dog.* have been known to result, both sheep and lambs, from among apparently trivial cases of harrying. It may not be necessary to stress this matter with dog owners who live in the country, but the Ministry would ask them when they notice the occasional absence of their dog from home to make sure that it has not developed the dangerous habit of sheep worrying. Those most concerned in this warning, perhaps, are dog owners who take their dogs into the country for walks during the week-end and at other times. The dogs should be kept on the lead whenever they are in the vicinity of sheep flocks. 4/3/40 - No. 7. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. NOTICE TO TRADERS AND OTHERS. For Tuesday's Papers. 1. The Board of Trade announce that they have made an Order, called the Trading with the Enemy (Specified Persons) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order, 1940, which contains certain additions to and deletions from the list of persons specified in the Trading with the Enemy (Specified Persons)(Amendment) (No. 4) Order, 1939, as varied by the Trading with the Enemy (Specified Persons)(Amendment)(No. 1) Order, 1940 and the Trading with the Enemy (Specified persons)(No.2) Order, 1940. The new Order comes into force on 5th March. 2. The fourth amending Order of 1939, which revoked all previous orders, and the first and second amending Orders of 1940 included 683 persons, including banks, firms and their branches, carrying on business in various foreign countries. The new Order includes 106 additions and one deletion. 3. Traders, Shipowners and others are accordingly warned that, as from to-day, it will be unlawful to transact business or to have other dealings with any person specified in the Order without permission from the Trading with the Enemy Branch (Treasury and Board of Trade), Alexandra House, Kingsway, W.C.2. Offenders will be liable to heavy penalties. 4. Correspondence with enemies on business matters will be permitted in approved cases, but communications will not bt passed by the censorship authorities except with the prior approval of the Trading with the Enemy Branch (see below), or in the case of communications regarding patents, designs or trademarks, with the prior approval of the Patent Office. Persons who desire to communicate with an enemy on business matters should therefore forward the communication to the Trading with the Enemy Branch, or to the Patent Office (enclosed in a stamped, open envelope addressed to an intermediary in a neutral country), under cover of a letter explaining the circumstances in which it is desired to send it. 5. The Order is being published by His Majesty’s Stationery Office on 5th March, under the title of The Trading with the Enemy (Specified Persons)(Amendment)(No. 3) Order, 1940, (Statutory Rules and Orders, 1940, No.267), Copies may be obtained (price 2d.) from any of the Sale Offices of His Majesty’s Stationery Office, or through any bookseller. Board of Trade, 4th March, 1940 4th March, 1940. No. 8 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE NEWS SERVICE FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS, No.16. ONION AND CARROT FLIES Recent Experiments May Result in Better Crops. Onion fly should be tackled by treating the seed. The maggots eat into the bulbous part of the onions and cause many of them to collapse and die. Most damage is done in the spring and early summer when the plants are small. Larger plants fail to reach maturity or rot in the store. This pest overwinters in the soil; the flies begin to appear in late April and become abundant in May. Further generations appear in July and late August but damage from the August generation is less serious than from the earlier generation. Recent experiments have shown that onion fly can be successfully controlled by means of Calomel to be obtained from any chemist. It can be applied either to the seed before sowing or along the rows after germination. To apply the Calomel the seeds are first moistened with a dilute solution of flour paste and then Calomel, equal in weight to that of the seed, is added, and the whole well stirred until all seeds are uniformly coated with powder. The treated seed can be sown at once or allowed to dry. Another method of control consists of applying a dust containing 4% of Calomel along the rows of seedlings. One application should be put on when the seedlings are about 1" high and a second some ten days later. At each application a contin- uous hand of dust, about 2” wide, should he applied along the rows by means of a hand duster or drill at the rate of 1 lb. per 50 yard row. Weeding in the rows should be carried cut before treatment and the dust should be disturbed as little as possible after application. 1. In the case of Carrot Fly the maggots bore into the roots and they also attack celery, parsley and parsnips. There are two generations every year, the winter being passed in the soil. The first generation is most abundant in early June and the second during August. By sowing carrots at the end of May or early in June it is often possible to reduce the damage caused by the first generation so that a fairly clean crop can be lifted in early September. For those who wish to sow their carrots earlier, the damage by the early maggots can be much reduced by three applications of Napthalene (drained creosote salts of flake napthalene are the most economical). This should be sprinkled along the rows or broadcast on the plants at the rate of 1 1/2 - 2 ounces per square year at intervals of ten days commencing about May 20th. No satisfactory method of controlling the second generation of maggots is known. Some of these feed right through from September to February. Six applications of Napthalene made at weekly intervals commencing at the end of July, gave a good control in experiment's, but at the present price of Naphthalene this is not likely to prove economical. Thin sowing, to reduce the amount of thinning necessary, is advisable. When thinning carrots the removed plants should not be thrown on the ground but should be cleared away as soon as possible and the soil hoed up to the rows. It is a good plan to examine late crops in October, and if injury is at all common they should be lifted immediately as later on many of the carrots will be so badly damaged that they will be useless. PROGRESS IN NORTHAMPTON Tackling the Allotment Drive Systematically by Publicity and Demonstrations The allotment movement has "been active for some years in Northampton and keen interest has been shown in the 2. Grow More Food Campaign both by the Borough Council and the Allotment Societies. There are about 3,500 allotments in the town and 40 acres of Council Housing Estate land is to be made available to meet any applications for further plots. In addition 5,000 council houses have good gardens each of 400 square yards, and the Council’s Housing Estate Office has been opened as an advisory centre. The Parks Superintendent and his staff are carrying out a systematic inspection of allotments and helping holders with advice. Competitions for the best cultivated allotments and private gardens are to be organised. Publicity for the Grow More Food Campaign has been effected by means of posters and local press and cinema screen notices. One cinema proprietor has offered 20 feet of space in the cinema vestibule for propaganda exhibits. In addition, 20,000 copies of a special leaflet have been distributed to householders by boy scouts and girl guides. Four Demonstration Allotments are being cultivated and public demonstrations are given on Thursday and Saturday afternoons. Courses of lectures are also being held at the Institute of Technology and at schools in various parts of the town. There is in addition a course for School Teachers on the Cultivation of an Allotment. YOUTH ACTIVE Youngsters for Victory' Minded” At Atherton, Lancashire, one acre of land has been taken by boy scouts and they are cultivating it as allotments. The boys attending various schools at Bolton have been provided with allotments by the Education Committee. Land adjoining a new elementary school at Sale, Cheshire, has been made available for cultivation. The 3. scholars are handling one plot and their parents have accepted an offer to allow them to cultivate the remainder. It will be good preparation for the future playing field to which the land is to be devoted. Growing for Their Country. The younger generation will also be doing national work of first class importance at Bredfield, Suffolk, where a boy's club has been organised to " dig for victory”. It is open to all boys in the parish between the ages of 10 and 18 who will undertake to work together in teams during their spare time on uncultivated allotments and waste land. Each team will be under the control of an older person experienced in managing the soil. Land available will be divided among the teams and each will other will begin by sowing potatoes: later, vegetables be and small cup awarded to the team producing the best grown a crop. When Sir Robert White addressed the first meeting in Bredfield School he explained how a central committee had been formed to supply seeds, dispose of produce and provide agricultural advice. One suggestion was that workers should receive a share of the produce up to 50 per cent, and the and in need. The remainder be given to hospitals other bodies boys, said Sir Robert, must be prepared to give all they grew to the country. Every boy at once responded and it was possible to make up four teams of seven boys. Work will begin immediately. 4. MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice 9/4.3.40. SCHEDULE OF RESERVED OCCUPATIONS. The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces that, since the publication at the beginning of September, 1939, of the edition of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations which is at present on sale, there has been a large number of amendments to the Schedule. These have been communicated to the press from time to time. A new and up-to-date edition of the Schedule is now under preparation, and this will be placed on sale by H.M. Stationery Office in the course of the next few weeks. Meanwhile, arrangements have been made for the present edition to be withdrawn from sale. Pending the publication of the new edition of the Schedule, information on the subject of the reservation of workpeople may be obtained from any local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. Press Office, Ministry of Labour and National Service, Montagu House, Whitehall, S.W.1. Telephone No: Whitehall 6200. H.Q.68-530 C.J. 20,000 2/40 T.S. 677 (5367—1429) Wt. 47177—7024 NOTICE TO THE PRESS. The next communique issued by the Ministry of Labour and National Service on unemployment will relate to the position at 11th March, 1940, and will he available on the evening of Thursday, 4th April. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED EITHER BY BROADCAST, OR ON THE CLUB TAPES, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY BEFORE 9 P.M. ON MONDAY, 4TH MARCH. 1940. 10/4.3.40. THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE ANNOUNCES: - Although weather conditions had in general improved by 12th February, when the count of the unemployed the effect of long-continued was taken, frost and snow in causing temporary unemployment was still more marked at that date than when the previous count was taken in January. Outdoor work was still hindered in many areas and short deliveries of materials or inability to transport output had dislocated working conditions in a large number of cases. There was, nevertheless, a drop of 80,145 in the number wholly unemployed and casuals between the two dates, but the number temporarily stopped increased by 65,349, leaving a net reduction of 14,796. During the fortnight following 12th February the continuance of better weather enabled much of the dislocation to be remedied, and there was a large drop, estimated at about 200,000, in the numbers registered. Unemployment decreased between 15th January and 12th February in tailoring and dressmaking, hotel and boarding house service, the distributive trades, Local Government service, printing and bookbinding, motor vehicle, On the other hand, cycle and aircraft manufacture, and laundry service. there were increases in the numbers temporarily suspended from work in agriculture, horticulture, etc., coal mining, building and public works iron and steel and tinplate manufacture, the brick and tile contracting, and textile bleaching, industry, stone quarrying, ship building and repairing, dyeing, &c. As compared with 13th February, 1939, unemployment was lower by 392,618. Detailed figures are given in the attached Appendix. 4th March. 1940. 1 APPENDIX. Numbers unemployed on registers at 12th February, 1940, with figures for a month before and a year before Persons normally in Persons Date. regular employment. normally in Total. casual Wholly Temporarily employment unemployed. Stopped. 12th February, 1940 Men 759,164 253,533 45,802 1,058,499 Boys 33,387 5,653 102 39,142 Women 298,808 52,666 1,748 353,222 Girls 49,999 3,220 18 53,237 Total 1,141,358 315,072 47,670 1,504,100 15th January, 1940 Men 805,026 184,960 47,472 1,037,458 Boys 38,427 3,086 77 41,590 Women 319,691 58,191 2,099 379,981 Girls 56,359 3,486 22 59,867 Total 1,219,503 249,723 49,670 1,518,896 13th February, 1959 Men 1,149,737 188,494 64,186 1,402,417 Boys 49,231 5,793 167 55,191 Women 287,517 91,024 2,123 380,664 Girls 52,027 6,369 50 58,446 Total 1,538,512 291,630 66,526 1,896,718 Divisional Changes The following table shows the differences between 12th February, 1940, and 15th 1940, in the total numbers unemployed the registers in the various January, on administrative divisions LONDON - 26,859 EASTERN + 6,879 SOUTHERN 3,817 SOUTH WESTERN 7,558 MIDLANDS + 8,751 NORTH MIDLANDS + 8,181 NORTH EASTERN + 961 NORTH WESTERN 12,776 NORTHERN + 7,430 SCOTLAND 764 WALES + 4,776 2 Industrial Changes. Figures are given below which indicate the changes in the numbers of insured persons, aged 16-64, unemployed at 12th February, 1940, as compared with 15th January, 1940, and 13th February, 1939, in the industries which showed the most marked changes during those periods. Industry. Increase (+) or decrease (-). Comparison with 15th January, 1940. Tailoring - 6,017 Hotel, boarding house, etc. service - 4,243 Distributive trades - 2,863 Dressmaking and millinery - 2,606 Local government service - 2,215 Printing and bookbinding - 1,999 Motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft - 1,856 Laundry service - 1,557 Agriculture, horticulture etc. +10,236 Coal mining + 7,787 Building + 7,581 Iron and Steel + 4,367 Brick and tile making + 4,109 Public works contracting + 3,937 Stone quarrying + 2,825 Tinplate manufacture + 1,935 Ship building and repairing + 1,725 Textile bleaching, dyeing etc. + 1,554 Comparison with 15th February, 1959. Cotton -54,355 Distributive trades -51,770 Coal mining -47,351 Engineering, etc. -38,224 Metal goods manufacture -26,828 Woollen and worsted -21,716 Ship building and repairing -21,456 Public works contracting -17,448 Iron and steel manufacture -14,428 Shipping service -13,483 Road transport -15,329 Dock, harbour, etc, service -10,487 Building +63,075 3 4/3/40. - No.11. SIR WALTER MONCKTON'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND. Sir Walter Monckton K.C., Director General of the Press and Censorship Bureau will visit Glasgow on Tuesday the 5th March at the invitation of the Scottish Newspaper Society to discuss the censorship problems of the Scottish Newspapers on the spot. Sir Walter, will he the guest of the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mr. P.L. Dollan, at lunch on Tuesday the 5th March. PRESS AND CENSORSHIP BUREAU. 4/3/40 - No.12. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST BEFORE THE MORNING PAPERS OF TUESDAY, 5th MARCH, IN ALL COUNTRIES. TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE EXACT TERMS IN WHICH IT IS GIVEN. The King has been graciously pleased to approve the appointment of Mr.Charles William Orde, C.M.G., His Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Riga, Tallinn and Kovno, to be His Majesty’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Santiago in succession to Sir Charles Bentinch, K.C.M.G., who is shortly retiring. FROM FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT. 4/3/40 - No. 13 PRESS NOTICE Engineer Captain H.Toop, R.N. (Retd.) has been awarded a Greenwich Hospital Pension of £5O a year in the vacancy caused by the death of Engineer Captain R.B. Ayers, M.V.O.,R.N., (Retd.) on the 12th January, 1940. ADMIRALTY. S.W.1. 4/3/40 - No. 14. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. THE PRICES OF GOODS (PERMITTED INCREASE) ORDER, 1940. An Order has been made by the President of the Board of Trade adding to the first item of the First Schedule to the Prices of Goods Act, 1939, (viz. "Cost of the provision of materials, whether raw or semi-manufactured, and of stocks of goods, requisite for the carrying on of the business”), the following words: "and, subject to such conditions and limitations (if any) as the Board of Trade, on the recommendation of the Central Price Regulation Committee, may by regulations from time to time prescribe, liability under valid contracts for purchases at fixed prices for future delivery of such materials and stocks of goods”. By Section 4 of the Act the permitted increase in the price of goods to which the Act applies means such increase as is reasonably justified in view of changes in the business in relation to the matters specified in the First Schedule taken as a whole. The effect of the Order is, therefore, that in determining the for be the permitted price any article, regard may had to cost not only of stocks or materials actually in the possession of the seller at the time of the sale, but also, subject to any conditions which may hereafter be imposed by regulation, to the cost of such materials and stocks as the seller may have on order under at fixed contracts prices for future delivery. The Order is retrospective in effect. Board of Trade, 4th March, 1940. MINIS TRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. 4/3/40 - No.15. AGREED STATEMENT ISSUED A FTER MEETING BETWEEN CHAIRMEN OF THE RETAIL BUTCHERS BUYING COMMITTEES IN THE LONDON AREA AND THE MINISTRY OF FOOD OFFICIALS. A meeting of the Chairmen of the Retailers Buying Committees for London held at the Butchers Hall on Monday March 4th under the chairmanship of Mr. Kenneth Gain was addressed by officials of the Ministry. The reasons why certain difficulties had arisen in recent weeks in the allocation of particular kinds of meat to the London butchers were explained. It was pointed out that these difficulties which were fully appreciated by the meeting, s were already the subject of discussions with the constitutional representatives of the butchers, namely the London Meat Traders Association and the National Federation of Meat Traders Associations. A proposal was put forward that the Chairman of the Committee appointed by the Chairmen of the Retail Buyers Committees should be appointed to the Ministry in an honorary capacity as liaison officer between the Ministry and the buying committees. It was stated that before the Ministry could agree to change their channel of communication with the London butchers there would have to be consultations with the butchers 1 organi- sations in question, but the Ministry undertook to give the proposal careful consideration. In the course of the meeting it was announced that there was no question of any postponement of the introduction of the rationing of neat. This would start on Monday, March 11th as already announced. MINISTRY OF FOOD. 4/3/40 - No. 16. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (EVENING) REDUCED ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY. 4/3/40 - No.17. NEWS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND. Northern Ireland and War Work. Lord Craigavon, the Northern Ireland Premier, in reply to a deputation representing Trade Unions which he received in Belfast today on the question of war work in Northern Ireland, said, "We are agreed that the amount of war work coming to Northern Ireland is not proportionate to its capacity to cope with such work. Mr. Burgin is coming to Belfast towards the end of this month and representatives of the workers will have an opportunity of meeting him and raising problems in which they are particularly interested." "Northern Ireland," said Lord Craigavon, "could not expect to escape any hardships that might arise out of food control and they would continue to share their agricultural products with other parts of the United Kingdom." Unemployed Position in Ulster. Not to be published before Horning Papers of March 5th, and not to be broadcast before 7 a.m. March 5th. No Club Tapes. The number of unemployed in Northern Ireland on 12th February, 1940 was 81, 784. This was 1, 871 fewer than on 15th January, 1940, and 7,800 fewer than in February, 1939. The total of 81,734 comprised 58,156 men; 2,950 boys, 19,021 women and 1,657 girls. The decrease in the numbers unemployed was due mainly to the resumption of employment usual at this season, although in some localities outdoor work was restricted by continued severe weather. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN 4/3/40. - No. 18. U-BOAT BOMBED IN SCHILLIG ROADS The Air Min istry announces:- An enemy submarine was attacked in Schillig Roads this afternoon by an aircraft of the Royal Air force, and is believed to have been destroyed. The aircraft was on reconnaissance duty when the submarine was sighted in shallow water on the surface. Four bombs were dropped, one of which registered a direct hit between the conning tower and the stern. After the attack the submarine was seen to be enveloped in a cloud of greyish-black smoke, with only the upper part of its conning tower visible above the water.