THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 8, 1939
NEW PEACE OFFENSIVE Germany Sending Agents For Geneva Meeting
ATTEMPT TO DIVERT EYES: FROM
NAZI MENACE
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
London, To-day.
IT IS RELIABLY LEARNED that Germany may take advantage of the League of Nations meeting to launch a new peace offensive.
An army of German propagandists has been sent to
Geneva under various pretexts.
ODD FIND
ON KOWLOON STAIRCASE
A top hat contained in a card. board box, and a bowler hat, wrapped in paper, are waiting to be claimed at the Yaumati Police Station.
Both hats were found on the staircase of No. 360, Nathan Road, by the police yesterday morning, and are in good condition.
German propaganda will probably be carried on AMERICANS
along the following lines:
"The attitude of France and Britain forced Germany VOLUNTEER IN FINLAND
to make terms with the Soviet, and now the So- viet threat to the whole continent can be stopped only by a cessation of hostilities.”
Political quarters in London point, est price for betraying their newly ac-
that Germany herself, who quired friend. brought about the present conditions,
out
However, Germany appears to be is the first source of danger to Europe, really worried about Russia's advance, and denounce the manoeuvre by which and, it is reported, may propose to help against the Nazis are trying to get the high-Rumania her unofficial
Russia, in exchange for the Rumanian oil surplus, amounting to 7,000,000 tons a year.
Havas.
SHANGHAI NAZI FIRMS CUT RISKS
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
SHANGHAI, TO-DAY.
AS A SEQUEL TO THE ALLIED EMBARGO ON GERMAN EXPORTS, LOCAL GERMAN INSURANCE COM- PANIES HAVE FIXED 20,000 MARKS AS THE MAXIMUM VALUE OF
Helsinki, To-day.
A total of 230 Finnish-Americans, many of whom have never seen Fin- land, arrived here yesterday to join the Finnish Army as volunteers.
They left New York early last month, when it became apparent that the Russians were eager to pick a quarrel. News of the Soviet invasion of Finland reached the contingent while they were at sea. →→
Reuter.
UNITED STATES AND BRITISH BLOCKADE
"RIGHTS RESERVED" ON THE TWO-WAY
ISSUE
Washington, To-day.
GERMAN GOODS TO BE INSURED IT IS LEARNED THAT the United States reserves
ABOARD A SINGLE VESSEL, AND SUCH VESSEL MUST BE FROM A NEUTRAL POWER. THE PREVIOUS MAXIMUM WAS 100,000 MARKS.
The regulation is applicable to Ger- man goods transported between pan, the Philippines and China,
all rights under international law in connection with Britain's order to stop German exports be- ing made through neutral countries.
Ja- It is understood the reservation was communicated to Lord Lothian, the British Ambassador, for transmission to London.
On the other hand, it is learned that the Germans attempted to disembark at Japan German goods consigned to China and which are at present aboard German ships sheltered in Japanese ports.-Havas.
KING
ENTERTAINS PRESIDENT LEBRUN
LONDON, TO-DAY,
AN HISTORIC ENCOUNTER TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY AT A FRENCH PROVINCIAL TOWN BEHIND THE LINES WHEN THE HEADS OF THE
AND BRITISH EMPIRE
FRANCE
CLASPED HANDS.
Daladier
His Majesty the King entertained President Lebrun and M.
General Lord at lunch, at which Gort, the Duke of Gloucester and other high French and British offi- cers were present.
Cordial tonsts were exchanged, says Reuter's special correspondent with the B.E.F.-Reuter.
Mr. N. K. Littlejohn, of the P.W.D., has reported the theft of a sampan, the property of the Government, from the shores of Kung Tong yesterday.
It is said to be strictly "not in the nature of an open protest," and to be based on two points.
Firstly, the question of principle under international law (in the Great War the United States, as long as she was neutral, refused to accept the British blockade of Germany).
Secondly, the United States real- ly needs some articles she once purchased from Germany, including fine precision instruments.
It is understood Britain is willing to make a concession on such essen- tials to permit them being sent from Germany. Reuter.
AMERICAN OFFERS OF SERVICE
London, To-day.
R.A.F. RAID
ON GERMAN NAVAL BASE
IN
}
LONDON, TO-DAY. CONNECTION WITH THE R.A.F. RAIDS ON GERMAN NAVAL BASES, THE GERMAN PRESS YES- TERDAY ALLEGED THAT THE BRI- TISH 'PLANES WERE REPULSED BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND HAD TO MAKE THEIR ESCAPE OVER DANISH TERRITORY.
On the other hand, the Air Minis- try has announced that the flight was both successful, and it is denied in London and Copenhagen that British 'planes violated Danish territory.. According to the German press, German and a British machine col- lided off the Dutch Coast and fell into the sea.
0
Nothing is known about this, too, in London but a Coastal Com- mand machine reports having in- filcted damage on two Dornier flying boats over the North Sea. Neither of the German 'planes was brought down, but they were damag- ed and "swayed in their flight," in the words of the British pilot. He said it was doubtful whether at least one of the flying-boats would be able to get back to its base.-Reuter.
COTTON OPTIONS IN BOMBAY
Bombay, To-day. The Governor of Bombay, accord- ing to an official announcement, in- tends in the next day or two to make an Act- declaring void options in cot- ton, along the lines of the Ordinance issued on Sept. 22.
The Ordinance prohibited option business in cotton in view of the violent fluctuations in prices.-Reuter.
BALTIC STATES TO TRADE VIA REICH Riga, To-day. Owing to the danger to ship- ping in the North Sea, the Baltic States are arranging to transport goods destined for Holland and Belgium via Hamburg and Ger-
Reuter. man waterways.
-
BRITAIN WATCHFUL
CONTRABAND EVASION
FOR
London, To-day.
EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE last war in the working of
the system of contraband control is enabling the au- thorities to anticipate and prevent evasions. The rising tide of German threats to encourage neutrals to organise measures against the British action, is re- garded in London as indicating the measure of its ef- fectiveness with which Germany herself is unable to interfere.
It is officially pointed out here that the British control, through the sys- Mr. Harold Balfour, Under-secretary
of origin, is so of State for Air, arrived back in Eng-tem of certificates
with the Australian devised to ensure that genuine neu- land yesterday Air Minister.
tral exports will not be impeded, whereas goods of suspected German origin are carefully scrutinised,
He had flown from Canada and he said he was amazed at the united de- termination of Canada to play a full part in the war.
The authorities are fully prepared to meet cases which will doubtless Many Americans were coming for- arise of unscrupulous shippers abus- ward and offering themselves for ser- ing certificates of origin and attempt- vice with Canada, he had been told.—†ing to pass enemy goods as of neutral Reuter.
| origin.
WATCH ON ABUSE
The British Ministry of Economic Warfare has taken steps to ensure that such abuses will be detected.
Nor will neutral vessels find it
easy, when proceeding outwards from Europe through the British contraband control, to
avoid search.
The most stringent supervision is being exercised by British_warships.
In the last war neutrals found it
not to their advantage to attempt evasion: - British Wireless.