THE PACIFIST POSITION
THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 25, 1939.
London, To-day.
MISSIONS REVERSE
Mr. George Lansbury, the well-known pacifist, who said he spoke for DECISION
more than a tiny minority in this country, called attention in the House of Commons debate yesterday to General Smuts' statement, in which the South African leader said there were people who hold that war in Europe would mean the end of the old order of civilisation.
No pacifist, declared Mr. Lansbury, could make a clearer statement on the tutility of war than that.
Mr. Lansbury added: "I believe the Prime Minister has done his very
Reuter. utmost to preserve peace." (Loud cheers).
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RUSSIA RETIRING INTO ISOLATION, OR WHAT? FRENCH CABINET ATTITUDE
Paris, To-day...
WHILE MEN WERE HURRYING to join their units all over France yesterday, the Cabinet under Pre- sident Albert Lebrun unanimously approved new military measures taken by the Premier, M. Edouard Daladier.
According to well-informed circles, members of the Government attached less importance to the text of the German-Soviet pact than to the underlying intentions of the negotiators.
What concerned them most was to discover whether the pact was an excuse for Russia to retire into isolation or a real agreement for collaboration be- tween the countries.
RIBE ENTROP HOPES
Moscow, To-day.
The conviction that the Ger- man-Soviet pact would "benefl- cially influence Soviet-Japanese relations as well as the German- was ex- Japanese friendship,"
pressed by Herr von Ribbentrop, the Nazi Foreign Minister, in a atatement issued before his de- parture from Moscow after sign. ing the pact.-Router.
THE STOCK EXCHANGE
London, To-day.
The London Stock Exchange,
The possibility of formation of a national government if the situation worsens is being discussed in Govern- ment circles following the meeting of the Council.
M. Daladier would procede with such a step by appealing for national unity.
Meanwhile, private vehicles are being requisitioned and special trains are running from all ter- mini for reservists. Long-distance telephones have been reserved for official communications.
PARIS EVACUATION
Families are evacuating Paris, and aeroplanes and trains to England are crowded.
The streets nevertheless are calm, and there is no sign of nervousness, but there is clear evidence that the country is standing unanimously be- hind the Government.-Reuter.
FLIGHT FROM FLOOD TO PEIPING
PEIPING, TO-DAY. FLOOD REFUGEES, BOTH CHIN-
following overnight news on ESE AND JAPANESE, FROM THE the international situation, TIENTSIN AREA CONTINUE TO saw prices marked lower, POUR IN AN ENDLESS STREAM with dealings only possible by direct negotiations.
INTO PEIPING, MOST HAVING
SPENT DAYS MAROONED IN UP- PER FLOORS OR ROOFS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO HIRE BOATS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE RAIL-
At about noon, minimum prices were fixed for gilt-edged securities, WAY. giving the whole list a steadier pearance.
ap-
Commodities were generally quiet, apart from fair activity in wheat and cotton and, to a lesser extent, in su- gar..
On the foreign exchango mar- ket business' was' confined to ad- Justment of positions, although U.S. dollars were still demanded against sales of gold.
RAILWAY
STRIKE CALLED OFF
London, To-day.
After a two-hour meeting with the Minister of Labour yester- day, the executive of the As30- ciated Society of Locomotive
Engineers and Firemen stated that the strike, previously an- nounced, had been definitely call- ed off.-Reuter.
Moscow, To-day. The British and French military missions are ex- pected to leave within 24 hours.
The British mission, under instruc- travel to tions from London, may Helsinki (Finland) and remain there pending developments.
applied for The French mission exit visas on Wednesday evening.
Some members of the two missions were to leave shortly after midnight this morning, while the remainder are leaving on Friday morning.- Reuter.
Moscow, To-day. Without explanation, the British and French military missions sud- denly reversed their de- cision to leave Moscow last night.
All officials of the missions would say last night was "The missions might or might not leave to-morrow.'
Reuter.
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BRITONS
LEAVING
BERLIN
Berlin, To-day. British families are pack- ing and besieging the travel agencies, where there is a tremendous run on tickets
KEEPING RUSSIA OUT for abroad.
Koenigsberg, To-day.
The British Embassy is the scene of feverish activity instead of the usual dignified calm.
The Nazi Foreign Minister,
Secretaries in shirt-sleeves have Herr Joachim von Ribben-
been working day and night for 48 trop, arrived here from Mos-hours in order to keep abreast of the cow yesterday.
Cow.
Addressing a Nazi demonstration he said: "The Fuehrer sent me to Mos- "That no doubt came as a surprise to Germans but we know what the
Fuehrer. does is for the best. "Russia was about to be brought into the encirclement front.
The Fuehrer acted quickly and has kept Russia out.
"We live in serious times but I am sure that every German will support the Fuehrer whatever happens."-
Reuter.
DEFENCE STEPS IN MOROCCO
Madrid, To-day. Spanish press reports from Morocco allege that extensive military precau-
taken in
French tions have been Morocco.
The French are said to have con- centrated about 150,000 men in the region close to the frontier of the for Spanish zone,-Trans-Ocean.
Most of the refugees are arriving with very few or no possessions, and are depending on charity here their continued existence.
The local authorities are appropriat- ing relief funds in hundreds of thou sands of dollars, but it appears cer- tain that millions will be needed. Reuter.
GUERILLA RAID
Silver advanced a
penny to 1/18d on lack of sellers and in face of a moderate demand.
Wall Street was easy.-Reuter,
19-
the
Shanghai, To-day. Chinese guerillas raided the Hung- The Air Raid Precautions Officer ao Aerodrome early yesterday morn- damaged announces that the following have ing. Several planes were passed as Members of The Despatch before Japanese reinforcements arriv- The guerillas ex- Corps: Y. K. Shum, Groene Lee, Lied on the scene. Che Min, Lam Hong Lai, Lee Hon changed fire for about 30 minutes and Wing, Chan Kit Sang, Liang Sin Tal then retreated.-Our Own Correspon-
dent, land Họ Sit Fun.
work.
The British Consulate is thronged with enquirers.
Berlin is sweltering under a heat streets do not wave and the sunny reflect the
international tension. Reuter.
LOCAL SHARES
Following is the list of changes anu enquiries in local share quotations to day:-
LANDS, HOTELS & BLDGS. H.K. Lands $312/31 sa.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Yaumati Ferries $221⁄2 sa. China Lights (Old) $7/61⁄2 sa. China Lights (New) $52/51 sa. STORES, &c.
Watsons $71⁄41⁄4 sa.
MANILA SHARES Antamoks Ps. .17 sa. Atoks Ps. .15 b. Baguio Gold Ps. .16 sa. Batong Buhay Ps. .011 sa. Benguet Consol. Ps. 9.60 sa. Big Wedge Ps. 18 sa. Coco Grove Ps.: .17 b. Consol. Mines Ps. .0015 sa. Demonstrations Ps. .08 sa. IX.L. Ps. 371% sa.
Ipo Gold Ps. 13 b. Itogons Ps. 19 sa.. Mambulao Ps. .05 b. Masbates Pa. .08% sa. Mind. Mother Lode. Ps. '.071⁄4 sa. Mine Operation Ps. .101⁄2 sa. North Camarines Ps. „191⁄2 98, Paracale Gumaus Ps. .131⁄41⁄2 ́sa. San Mauricio Ps. .74 ́sa. Surigao Consol. Ps. .19 sa. Suyoc Consol. Ps. 11% sa. United Paracales Ps. .80% sa.