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"THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 20, 1939
ACUTE SUSPENSE IN BERLIN
Copelthagen, Yesterday.
BERLIN SPENT THE DAY in acute suspense and
feverish activity yesterday.
Telephone calls to news sources in Berlin revealed that Hitler's conference with Ribbentrop and Goering continued on and off all day.
A crowd of 200 people stood curiously outside the
NO SECOND MUNICH Paris, To day.
Opinion in well-informed French circles is that there is still a ray of hope as long as Britain and France stand firm and continue their prepara- tions.
wain
It is repeated here that there will be no second Munich, and if it is necessary to fight, France and Britain will do so. -Reuter.
Chancellery, watching the official cars arrive PROFITEER
and depart.
German Foreign Office officials are -still talking of the possibility and
even the probability-of
a peaceful. solution, but base their opinion on the expectation of Poland giving way.
Foreign circles, however, do not see how a compromise is possible. Everyone is waiting for the return of Sir Nevile Henderson, British Am- bassador to Berlin, hoping he will not be held up by the new decree turning Germany into a prohibited area for : aircraft.
HITLER TO SPEAK
The report is current to the effect
that Hitler will address the nation when he receives the British reply.
The Polish Embassy in Berlin is urgently preparing its evacuation.
Railway stations are packed with reservists proceeding both east and west.
People are going about their daily tasks with grave faces, but there are no signs of panic or Reuter.
nervousness.
EXTREME TENSION
Berlin, To-day. "The outcome, of the London dis- cussions on the message which Sir Nevile Henderson, British Ambassa- dor to Berlin, took from Herr Hitler is awaited here with extreme ten- sion.
Deputies of the Reichstag, re- gional leaders and all other high party officials are in Berlin' and can be summoned at a moment's notice to an extraordinary GCS- slon of the Reichstag If that should be deemed desirable.
ITALIAN OPINION NON- CHALANT
Rome, Yesterday. Italian public opinion is ac- cepting the idea of war with considerable nonchalance, but remains confident it may be averted.
The newspapers stress the possibi- lity that diplomacy may yet find a peaceful solution and that divergencies between nations may be settled by negotiation rather than war.
Both in the press and in public opinion, it is held that the solution, by whatever method it is reached, can only be acceptable and lasting
if founded on a recognition of German and Italian claims. — Reuter.
STEADY CONTACT
Paris, To-day. Hitler last night sent Mussolini an- other telephone message, the third since Friday afternoon, according to a Havas despatch from Rome.
German Ambassador in Rome, and
EMERGES IN MACAO
Profiteering has already started in Macao, landlords: and others with premises to let taking full advantage of the minor exodus to that port from Hong Kong of Germans and other nationals who would prefer not to be on British territory in the event of war.
→
GERMANY TAKING
NO RISKS
Berlin, Yesterday.
risks in preparing for all That Germany is taking no eventualities is evident from a number of announcements yesterday evening.
The railways inform the public that from Sunday (to-day) railway traffic will be restricted and a number of trains have been cancelled.
suspended for ten days for soldiers in the Army and the Air Force who are not in barracks.
It is announced that the mails are
One German, who makes periodic decreases, told the "China Mail" that trips as the crisis heightens and then he is forced to pay the equivalent of Hong Kong $14 a day for the use of a small room, without food! This Other prices have soared proportion-bidden by a decree issued by General was not in a modern hotel, either. All air traffic over Germany is for-
ately.
Quite a number of Germans, particularly women and children, have gone to Massa during the past few days, he said, for Macao la the nearest haven of refuge. As they found Jast September, there are certain difficulties in the way of going to Manila.
A large number of Chinese have also gone to Macao, he said, but their the past. day or so. number has dropped off slightly, in
Goering, with the exception of military aircraft, government aeroplanes and air traffic planes over regular routes. It is doubtful, however, how much longer air traffic planes will be able to fly.
All aeroplanes except military ma- chines. must not fly higher than 1,500 feet. -: Reuter.
of alightly in FIRE ON
BOARD THE NAGPORE
The message was sent through the MORE BOATS Mussolini, who was accompanied by PUT ON THE back a negative reply, it is surmised Count Ciano, the Foreign Minister,
Should Sir Nevile Henderson bring
in foreign circles here that Hitler gave the Ambassador his reply Reu- MACAO RUN
„
may make an immediate pronounce-ter.
ment.
If the reply is in the affirmative,, it
is believed that the discussions may
continue.
SOME THING IN AIR
The German public, although un- aware of these reports and specula- tions, nevertheless senses that some- thing is in the air.
Meanwhile, preparations for all eventualities ... are progressing calmly, and according to plan. The streets and railway stations of Berlin and other towns bear quite a military appearance.---Reuter.
PARTY CONGRESS OFF
Berlin, To-day, The Nazi Party Congress at Nur- -emberg will not take place, according to an official announcement.-Reuter. DANISH FRONTIER CLOSED
Copenhagen, To-day.
and
The German railway authorities have announced that passenger goods traffic across the Danish fron- tler at Padborg is to be suspended as from 10 p.m. last night-Reuter.
NAZI PROMISE TO SWISS
Berne, To-day.
W£8
German assurance that in the event of war the Swiss frontiers will not be violated by Germany, given to the Swiss, Foreign Minister,” Dr. Motta, by the German Minister to. Switzerland.—Trans-Ocean.
ITALY MAY
NOT ENTER AT ONCE
Rome, To-day.. Saturday's wave of optimism in Italy has almost vanished, and it is
will And Hitler's proposals accept- greatly doubted here whether Britain
able.
Some circles are of opinion that if war. begins, Italy will not enter the war immediately but will wait until she is attacked.-Reuter.
Rome, To-day.
While the gravity of the situation is realised by the Italian people, they
remain completely calm although life in the streets is quieter than usual.
The mobilisation of several classes of recruits has shown Italy that the situation is extremely critical.
Traffic is below normal as lorries have been requisitioned by the mill- tary:-Trans-Ocean.
COPING WITH THE DEMAND FOR PASSAGES TO MACAO, ADDI- RIVER-BOATS HAVE ON THE HONG KONG-MACÃO RUN.
TIONAL BEEN PLACED
There are now 14 boats plying be- tween the two ports.
It is estimated that some 10,000 Chinese left the Colony for the Por- tuguese port during the week-end.
THAELMANN. REPORT DENIED
Berlin, To-day. Foreign press reports that Ernest Thaelmann, the German Communist leader, will be released from concen- tration camp on the demand of the Soviet Government, are not true.
There will probably be some cur- tailment of school sessions from to- day since many teachers have been called to the colours.
MUSSOLINI AS MEDIATOR P
Ocean.
Madrid, To-day.
an earnest desire for peace is flected in the Spanish press, which gives much prominence, to the peace uppeals IGÁBADOS Y
SHOW CALLED OFF
Hamburg, To-day. Yesterday's scheduled Tailors' Con- gress and Fashion Show was called off because of the crisis.-Trans-Ocean. "Trans-Ocean.
The press suggests that Mussolini will, act as mediator in the dispute,
ABOUT 1,000 BALES OF CASSIA, A KIND OF CINNAMON, WERE DESTROYED IN A FIRE WHICH, -BROKE. OUT IN THE NO. 3 HATCH OF THE P. & O. FREIGHTER NAG- PORE, CAPTAIN A PARKER IN COMMAND, WHEN SHE WAS ON HER WAY DOWN TO SAIGON ON SATURDAY FROM HONG KONG.
The ship immediately put about and eventually anchored at Yungshuwan, on the western side of Lamma Island, where No. 1.Firefloat, summoned by wireless, came alongside and extin- guished the fire. The tug Henry Keswick also arrived and stood by.
When the fire had been put out, the Nagpore entered. Hong Kong Harbour, anchoring in Kowloon Bay to dis- charge her cargo. It was found that about 1,000 bales of the cassia had been damaged by fire and water.
CAUSE UNKNOWN
The cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained. Although it is not believed that the Nagpore itself suf- fered any damage, she will, course, have to be surveyed before she of
can put to sea again. Her sailing- date, therefore, has not been fixed.
The Nagpore, which was built in 1920, is a vessel of 5,203 tons gross and 8,226 tons net. Built by Earle's Co., Ltd., at Hull, she is 400 feet long, with a breadth of 52 feet and a depth of 28% feet.
LONDON (DECISION
earned that the cancella- censorship of telegramS red on instructions from