THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 16, 1938
Page
MacDonald's "Will Empire Fall To Pieces" Speech
Attracts Attention Of Dominions And House
Mr. Shinwell Asked To Read Speech As A Whole
London, To-day.
There was a minor reaction in the House of Com- mons yesterday to the startling speech made by the Dominions and Colonial Secretary, Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, at the Constitutional Club. the previous day.
Mr. Macdonald, it will be recalled,
stated:
some suggest that the Empire will fall to pieces. I sometimes wonder if, before I leave the Dominions Office, I shall not find that the people who prophesied that are right.”
up to facts which it would be worse than foolish to ignore.
-NAZI YOUTH CONVICTED OF PANAMA ESPIONAGE
Cristobal, (Panama), To-day.
Hans Heinrich Schackow, one of four Germans, including a girl, arrested near Fort Randolph near the entrance to the Panama Can- al recently, was found guilty yes- terday of espionage following a charge of photographing fortifi- cations.
Sentence was not pronounced pending motion for a new trial.
The other three Nazis will be tried in January.—Reuter.
VALENCIA HEAVILY BOMBED
Valencia, To-day. Valencia was yesterday bombed by five Franco planes dropping more than 100 bombs.
Five were killed and seven dan- gerously wounded,
Forty bombs fell close to British ships unloading in the harbour, without, however doing any damage.- A number of godowns and ware- houses were hit and set afire. Trans-Ocean.
of a stall in Wu Nang, owner the Western Market, lost $320 from his jacket pocket, while it was hanging besides the stall.
JAPANESE ACTION AGAINST FRENCH CONCESSION
Yesterday in the House, an echo of this speech was heard when Mr. Macdonald was replying to a sug- The newspaper maintains that the gestion that he appoints a commis- speech was remarkable for its moral sion to visit all parts of the courage, commonsense and candour, Colonial Empire and mandate ter- which never comes amiss when in- ritories to ascertain what depen-,spired by a spirit of friendly co-A dencies were capable of further operation, mutual help and an ear- development.
nest desire to avoid dangers which, unless clearly realised beforehand, might bring disaster.-Reuter.
Mr. Macdonald declared that while he was in sympathy with the objectives of the question, he did not feel the appointment of such a commission was an effective method of achieving them.
REVISED IDEAS?
Mr. Ernest Shinwell (Labour, Seaham) "May I ask whether the Minister has revised his ideas about the future of the British Empire?"
Mr. Macdonald
"I hope Mr.
INTERESTING HAMBURG INVENTION
Hamburg, To-day.
Hankow, To-day.
serious situation is developing regarding the French Concession, with the Japanese stopping the entrance of food to this area, in addition to refusing to turn on the water supply. It is alleged that the Japanese demand for the French to hand over anti-Japanese elements among Chinese refugees in the Concession, which had been refused, has caused increased retaliation by the Japanese.
The Concession, which is only from the river, this is insufficient half a mile square, at present is to meet the needs of sanitation, and packed with Chinese who cannot consequently the Japanese mea- come out on account of their inabil-sures are creating most pressing ity to obtain the necessary Ja-problems.
It is understood that local nego- The first mobile ice-making panese passes. Shinwell will read the latter part,
Supplies are reported to be run-tiations proving unavailing, the as well as the former part, of my machine, believed destined to re-
ning low. Furthermore, while a French would forward the matter speech delivered yesterday." (Min-volutionise the whole system of re-limited water supply is being ob to Paris for Government action.- isterial cheers).
Towards the end of his speech, frigeration, has been perfected by tained from Mr. MacDonald declared that while a Hamburg inventor, F. W. Fechner. there were disintegrating forces at work, there were also vital forces knitting all parts of the Empire closely together. Reuter.
DO NOT KNOW THE PHRASE
Adelaide, To-day.
Basing his idea upon the fact that when water freezes the ice crystals that separate first are practically free from salt or impurities, and that it is possible, by keeping the freez- ing water agitated to remove even bacteria, Fechner made experiments which proved that water which per
wells and pumping Reuter.
JAPANESE THE
FORCES NOW ON DEFENSIVE
Chungking, To-day.
unit contained 582 bacteria, treat-"Having failed in their southward push towards
ed in this way yielded ice with no more than 24 bacteria per unit.
The chief uses of this new machine will be on ships at Bea: "Let us hear less of the defeat- above all on those engaged in deep ists' hopelessly one-sided picture sea fishing, where great economy of the Empire threatened and the should be realised if drinking Navy unable to cope with defence," water could be made from salt declared the Australian Premier, water, and where a constant supply In
Mr. J. A. Lyons, addressing a spec-of ice would enable any quantity of tacular defence rally yesterday. fish to be kept fresh by refrigera-
While emphasising the need for tion.-Trans-Ocean. recruits, he added: "Because of the depth of our faith in democracy we do not know the phrase 'Decline of the British Empire.'"-Reuter.
"FACED UP TO FACTS"
NAZI ACTION ON SUEZ DENIED
Berlin, To-day.
Foreign reports stating that in a long conversation between the
Changsha and in their westward drive on Hsiangyang, the Japanese forces are now on the defensive in Central China,” declared the Chinese military spokesman reviewing the week's military developments. North China, the spokesman declared, the atten- tion of the Japanese seemed still to be forcuss- ed on China's communications with Russia, though so far no action had been taken.
In South China, the main Japan line along the Sui River north of ese forces were massed on the West Nanchang remained unchanged. River front, where they were mak- In South China, the Japanese ing every effort to push into Kwang- forces around the West River had si, but "Chinese resistance is so been further increased, particular-
been ly to the south-east of Shaoching. strong that no progress has
SEVERE FIGHTING : made ”·
Severe fighting was proceeding at bentrop, and the Egyptian Minister the spokesman said that the front Kaoming, 30 kilometres to the in Berlin, Dr. Mourat Siid-Ahmed Hear Yochow, on the Hunan-Hupeh south-west of Shaoching, and also Dec. at Hoshan, 30 kilometres in the Pasha, questions connected with border, had been quiet since The "Star," in an editorial, as the Suez Canal were discussed, are 9 when the Japanese attack along same direction. serts that Mr. Malcolm Macdon-pure invention states an official the Haintsiang River, 45 kilometres
Johannesburg, To-day.
Reichs Foreign Minister, 'von Rib- Discussing actual-engagements
Senhui, 10 kilometres south-weat ald, in his speech on the Empire communique Issued last night: south of Yuchow, had been repulsed. of Kongmoon, was also the scene?
In no Kiangsi, the Chinese1of pitched fighting. Router. at the Constitutional Club, faced Trans-Ocean. ·