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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1947.
COAL SITUATION
Crisis May Mean Cut In Meat Rations
London, Feb. 18. Britons already frustrated by coal shortages, electricity cuts and slender rations, were told to-night that their slim candy and meat rations may be ent still further.
The Foud Minister, Air John Strachey, salt at a press conference that the 100% cut in electricity to industries in a wide belt of Fosgland and shut down candy factories. As result, he zald, the candy ration of 12 ounces per month to adults and one pound a month to those under 10 probably would have to be reduced.
Ministry Inter
AH-
Mr Strachey also warned that If Dominon dock stoppages con- tinued, the meat ration would have to be reduced again. The present meat ration consists partly of corned beef. The Food nounced that current ration coupons ΤΟΣ soap, ment and other food: which shops could not honour be- cause of shortages may be used in the next period, beginning March 2. Transportation delays because the freezing weather were believed responsible for the shortages.
of
IMPROVES
Power Stations
Stations Have 11 Days' Supply
London, Feb. 18.
Britain's fuel crisis is gradually lifting. Coal stocks are being built up and transport from pit- hends to power stations is returning to normal. At to-day's Ministry of Fuel press conference it was disclosed that coal stocks of electricity power stations have risen a further 36,000 tons and now stand at 11 days' supply.
Gas stocks in Londen, aren of greatest shortage, are now enough for ten days, compared with slightly over nine in the middle of last week.
Although cold weather is pernis-] ting and forecasts are that it will continue, the mavement et coal by read, rall and sen is flowing smooth- ly.
London's temperature at 5 p.m. to-day was 20 degrees Fahrenheit, one degree lower than at the same time yesterday and three, degrees lower than at mid-day.
that the Ministry of Fuel and Power were doing everything possible to ensure regular allotments and ente-Reuter.
of coal
OTHER CRISIS LIKELY.
London, Feb. 10. Political sources said to-day that the grim' situation coured by the emergency fuel cuts had caused a last-minute change in the economic White Paper to be published later this week.
The white Paper, it was believed, will warn the nation the current crisis is only one of many which may upset Britain's standard of life un-
production is increased through individual effort.
Another 14,000 workers will join the two million thrown out of work by the conl crisis when the Ford Works at Dagenham close down on COAL PRODUCTION UP Thursday. The workers will be sus pended, not dismissed, and will be Mr Strachey's news was given
pakd a allowance as well as un- one day before he was scheduled to employed insurance benefit. The de-less leave for America and shortly
be-li
elsion to close the Works was taken fore 10 Downing Street Issued to-day because of the shortage of statement that coal production hd small parts made by firms subject increased despite difficult conditions to fuel restrictions.
the emergency power restric- tlons began eight days age.
statement sald Mr Attlee would speak in the Commons on the situation und reported thut
The
more
than 230,000 tons of coal had been saved since restrictions began.
The statement said coal deliveries to Londors
by sea during the last three days had been 25% above the dally average for the winter, but, warned that severe weather Con- ditions still would make the silua- tion dimeull,
'It contained no indication when electricity restrictions would be Ifted. The weather forecast was still very cold and frosty for most areas.-Ünited Press,
STOP PRESS
TWO MILLION OUT OF WORK
London, Feb, 18. . When Premier Attlee addresses Parliament to-morrow on the fuel erials, it is expected that he will give an indication of the date and speed at which industry will resume work.
An official statement issued by the Government to-night showed that of the different the paralysis branches of industry through the koldup of coal has thrown aver 2,000,000 people out of work.
The statement was issued after a meeting of the joint committee of ministers and representatives of the Coal Bourd, the Central Electricity Board and the Railway Executive Cammitice set up by the Prime Biinister to take decisions and co- ordinate action on the coal emer- gency-Reuter,
IKIRANNTIRANAN TO LISTARAKOMARUZNIZERARA
EDITORIAL
At other factories men returned to work to-day as firms put emer- into operation. The gency plant Philco Radio factory near London, employing about 1,500 workers, re- sumed operations to-day using petrol-driven power plants obtained from the Government.
SHOPS FLOODED
A watermain burst in the City of Londun this morning, sending streamS of water swirling down the Far- ringdon Road. Shops were flooded to. a depth of six feet and БОСП afterwards the welt road begon lọ frecza
mproved weather off the east const and in the Thames estuary .enabled.colliers to arrive nimost normally, although heavy seas are kceping 15 ships in Durham.
A goods train, which was com- pletely buried in snow drifts for 15 days in the north was released to- day.
Meanwhile, Government depart ments are relaxing "red tape" rules to rd coloured nationale rehident in the United Kingdom suffering from severe cold and fuel culs. Special allocations of clothing cou- nons have been made available to and Indian, African, West Indian other Dominion and Colonial nation- uls here, but even this has not been Lumelent to ward off the effects of
cold wave. the col
of 120 clothing The allocation coupon enables them to Wear thres times as much clothing as Britons. The Colonial Office is receiving requests from Nigerian and Jamal- can students. for permanent contrai hostels, but this cannot be granted at present.
An Indian woman, who recently arrived in London, said: "I do natj know how you exist in Britain,”
healing in their
daly
The proprietors of a hostel for coloured students in London said
Kowloon Electricity Charges
M
MR F. C. Clamo made out a good case in defence of the China Light Co's refusal to reduce electricity charges when he addressed the newly formad Kowloon Chamber of Commerce. His remarks constituted ah ox- planation rather than an argument, bolstered by the promise that after new machinery had been put into operation this year, the company would do Ita utmost to meet public wishes and bring down its charges. If he had cared to be tactics, he might also have reminded his flateners, that the agitatora against existing electricity aharges have not been the domestic consumers, but, in the initial stages, restaurant owners, who probably haya .fess to complain about than most other businosammen to-day. This is not Intended to infer that Kowloon householders are happy about present electricity rates; they will welcome any relief in the form of reductions, and they will expect the China Light to fúin its promise before the year is out. Bome of the points emphasised by Mr.Clamo to illustrate the difficulties under which the company has been operating since September, 1945 HAYD long been appraolated, by the pandrat public and. hava bean primarily responsible for temparing oritiolam of electricity charges operative in Kow- foon. But the revelation that the company is being robbed of 400,000 units a month by consumers who contrive to "mlik” the current at the expense of the matras la startling and adds a new tone to the whole picture. This type of thieving is specially deplorable because it penalises a-community. It was rampant during, the occupation daya, and was then justified, because the Japanese made no serious attempt to sustain a service, and householders were thrown back' on their own resourcefulness in obtaining whatever light and power they could. This is no longer tenablo. Whatever other criticism there might, bé of the China Light; it must be acknowledged that the com. pany has performed a splendid job during the past 16 months in esservicing Kowloon with electrialty. It is the duty of the company, however, to lake every step to track down those thloves," for it in fair to gaume that the sonor theso 400,000 units now.boing" fost avery month are recovered, the sabner will a reduction be, made in electrialty charges.
The gloomy prediction followed the delay of 15 British coal ships held in North-eastern ports through heavy seas.
A spokesman for the Fuel and Power Ministry said late to-day, however, that all but three of the held-up.ships had left Seaham docks In Durham County and coal move- ments by sea had returned to the rapid rate of the past few days.
BRITAIN' SEARCHES FOR COAL MINERS
London, Feb. 18. British Government The searching Europe for coal miners, according to
Dally Mail
reporter. --------- He --- says Ministry----of-Labour....... officials have talely been in Ger-
Wan
to me from
many
recruiting for miners among displaced persons,
Kallans are also being sought for the pits.
This
Important supremely fact authoritative government quar- ters yesterday and means that the Government in devising this long-term coal policy are search- Ing abroad for skilled men in ad- dition to 309 Poles already engag- ed.
"Clearly the government aro thinking in' 'crisis' term for any large amount of labour from Europe means, of course, 1h0 p* vižlon of adequate housing and deranges still further the domes- tio programme."
The reporter says that the political implications are far- reaching.
"In the first place in means that the Government, compelled by circumstances, have decided to fight out the big issue with the United States"-Reuter,
(FORSVINNA TIME MUSEURASI
Troops and transport workers provided a brighter side to the fuel dilemma by breaking all records since the crisis began, in gelting coal from mines to industrial centres.
SAFETY LEVEL BY FRIDAY
London power stations were ex- pected to reach the safely level for
fuel reserves by Friday and other points through the country reported that reserve stocks had climbed to aver 11 days' supplies.
ADMIRAL BYRD
PALESTINE
Mr. Bevin's Statement
To Commons
London, Feb. 18. The Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, told the House of Commons to-day that Britain would submit the Palestine problem to the judgment of the United Nations with the ex- planation that her mandate was unworkable.
"We do not intend ourselves to recommend any particular solu- tion." Mr Bevin said.
He said he believed there would be great dificulty in placing the matter before the United Nations bofors the Assembly meeting next
scheduled September.
Mr Bevin mude "one further ap peal" to the United States and other countries in the world to help the British with the problem of the Jews und Arabs in Palestine,
CHURCHILL INTERVENES
Mr Winston Churchill, who repeut- edly has urged the Government to refer the Palestine question to the United Nations unless the United States
willing lo share the responsibility for peace in the Holy Land, interposed:
was
if this policy is right to-day, should it not have been announced a year ago?"
"I think it would have been a fatal policy for Great Britain, with all the leadership she has done in the world In all her history, to have gone to the United Nations without attemp- ting to solve these differences," TC- perled Mr Bevin. "I know the cost. I know the difficulty, but if we handle this well at the United Na- tions and exercise care and the end the problems of the Arabs and Jews can be settled in some way after 2,000 years of conflict, the 12 | months will not have been wasted." Mr Bevin opened his statement with a confession of the failure of the Government's
separate discus- sions in Landon with
Arab and Jewish leaders.
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Reservations
Price. 20 Gents
Tel: 27880
ADMIRAL BYRD FLIES 81 MILES BEYOND THE POLE
Fifty New Mountains Discovered
Little America, Feb. 18..
Admiral Richard Byrd, leading two planes over the South Pole, on St. Valentine's Day, flew 81 miles beyond the Pole into térritory never before-seen by man. The planes circled the world in 10 minutes, following each other in a great are 2,400 feet above the smooth, metallic snows of a high plateau 12,000 feet above sea level, which is the South Pole.
Adml Byrd, leaning from the hatch of the lead' plane, dropped a cardboard bundle of small six-inch flags of each of the United Nations, thus inaugurating the first international aspect in South Polar exploration.
As the result of his new discovery of 75,000 square miles of territory with 50 new mountains, which can now be placed on charts, Adml Byrd reported there is no break in the great ice-cap at the bottom of the world.
Visibility was 100 miles, which is, alost unparalleled Bying weather, and enabled the Byrd Expedition to make 10 flights over hundreds of unknown glaciers and mountains, a of which were carefully photo- graphed, lending Admi Byrd to say: "We saw more in a few minutes then previous explorers learned in years of struggles.".
his blatorie first light over the Pole, and again made by alr the Journey which Dr Roald Amuutsen, on De- 'cember 14, 1911 and Capt Robert
unde overland to the Polg Falcon Scott, 14 days later,
first
was 18
The temperature at Little America deg. Fahrenheit when the planes left. The sun shone brightly both at the takeoff and on landing but the flight was rigorous for the personnel of both planes. The lem perature ranged down to 40 degrees below zero outside and almost that low inside the planes-the heating systems stopped functioning in the intense cold.
SOLDIERS INJURED BY LANDMINE
Jerusalem, Feb. 19. Three British soldiers were injured when their truck was blasted by a landmine near Jeru- salem and at least five other ex- plosions were reported in the troubled Holy Land.
:
An official announceraent said one
of the three soldiers sergeant was seriously hurt and that the truck was demolished. The landmine wAS beer a crude affair made from bottles Med with explosives and I was detonated electrically from a
nearby field.
Eleven other men, flying in two mavy transports, roared across the Pole at exactly 5 am.. Little America time (11 am, EST) on February 14 at an altitude of 12,000 feet above sea level-only 2,400 feet above the snow which forms the core of the great. Ant
Antarctic ice-cap. The flags were dropped from a The two planes which crossed the height of 2,400 feet. Those inside The two other soldiers were lets Pole were the last of 10 to leave the plane were unable to see what seriously injured and the driver of
the truck escaped unhurt. Little America in a virtual parada happened to them but Admi· Byrd
Oficials said a railway line near of exploration which began on the said the box probably burst, scatter- maning of Valentine Day.
sunburst Never Ing #
ot International Nablus, north of Jerusalem, before in history have frontiers of colours
the flat plateau-damaged by another blast. Un- the unknown shrunk so rapidly. land of snow which was gleaming confirmed reports of four or more
སྙ*.
unknown
mountain
ncrog's
Ten planes flying in pairs dis- in the bright sunlight. covered and wrote into mags two
On his previous flight across the previously
Pole on November 29, masses of major dimensions.. The Byrd dropped the
1920, Adm) American and total effect of their effort is still
British flags from a tri-motored Ford being assessed and will be announc
plane.-United Press. . ed later.
PRESS CONFERENCE
At a press conference after his return, Admi Byrd commented: "Mountains that do not show on the map are everywhere, but there,"
Wants To Sell
UNRRA Holdings
Washington, Feb. 18.
was
explosions in the countryside said there was "no-loss of- Hife.”............---
Jerusalem พล battened down completely with virtually all. move- ment halted.
Officers in charge of road blocke leading to the newly-created "r¢»» sidential security compounds" stood with drawn sids-arms. The coun- pounds, taken over from Jewish re Ridents and barricaded with barbert wire, now house British citizens.
The new outbreak of violence occurred n few hours after the
British newly-appointed
milltary commander, Moj Gen MacMillan had ordered The UNRRA Director-General, Mr executions of three young Jews sen- the postponement of Lowell Rooks, this afternoon sud- tenced to death for Bearmore denly summoned the UNRRA Cen-
activity.-Associated Press. · tral Committee into session. for 3 p.m. on Thursday and it was belleved in informed quarters that the object of the meeting would be to consider the Chinese government's request At the press conference Admi for permission to sell $200,000,000 violate worth of UNRRA goods to bolster Byrd said: "We had to flying rules to make that nititude, |its tottering economy, 14,000 feet, but it was necessary. It we had stayed within
pre-
und
Two polar planes flew south to Wade Glacier, then up the glacier to the South Polar plateau and on.to. the Pole. Returning they descended from the Polar plateau at a point between Wade glaciera. It was so cold that the automatic pilots falled to work and the pilots and co-pilots were forced to steer the planes manually all the way.
scrived attitude none of our planes ever would have gotten over the mountains into unexplored territory on any fight. You cannot get through those mountains and you have got to get high to get over them,
personal
message to Admiral of the Fleet He
WILS
to
30
Adm! Byrd wrote
Chester Nimitz at the Pole,
cold be
forced 128 print the message in half-inch- high block letters on the back of a folded map and finished the message about a foot and a half Iong.
LIMITLESS PLATEAU
underground
AUSTRALIA AND REPARATIONS
day.
Canberra, FURE TOS. Members of the nine-nation Cen-
Australia is disturbed abokmezlerle Committee which has final attitude on reparauita 120m, Japan, tral authority in all policy decisions of UNRRA were notified of the meeting it was learned in official quarters, to- by telephone late to-day.
Australia wants reparations to be UNRRA sources declined to con-made an integral part of the pencer firm or deny that the Chinese re-settlement but the United States is quest had prompted the hurriedly anxious to make immediate arbitrary and Russia
called session but opined that "It was allocations, it was said. As a result America likely". It is understood that Mr
sensational are expected to secure Rooks, because of the and unprecedented nature of the share, while
out." Chinese request, believes it is a matter which only the Central Com- mitice can decide.
Australia
the lion's is "frozen
The Australian view is that she was second only to the United States in the role played by the Alles In The Chinese request which was the Pacific war. forwarded to Rooks through the Australia fully realises that Bri- UNRRA Director In China and the tain was preoccupied elsewhere and State Department secks the sale of was facing an acute manpower 3200,000,000 out of roughly $240,- shortage which left her no alter- 000,0000 remaining in the UNRRA native but to retire from participa- programme for China which is sche- tion in Pacifle offairs, leaving them duled to terminate on June 30. mainly to America, it was added. -
Admi Byrd said it was the first time in history anyone had gone any oppreciable distance beyond the Fle said, "It has become clear Pole. He went about 10 miles past that there is no prospect of reach-it in his 1920 Bight. He said: "I United Press. ing by this means any sciilement believe that a limitless plateau ex- biggest
which would be even broadly se-Lends beyond the e
ceptable to the two communities and highest in the In Palestine.!! Mr Bevin and the Jews
Bald both the Arabs
for
and
PRACTICAL PROMISE ·
of
After flying. up the length of Wade Glacier to the summit of the made had rejected the Polar plateau, the two R4Ds Government's proposals first
for the 180th meridian and rode autonomous Arab
Jewish straight down it to the Pole. After
lah government and, secondly, for veered 36 miles to the right and then cring the Foto, they continued provinces under a
Brl- central
their course B1 miles past the Pole, Arab and Jewish areas within a unitary state with a central govern-tuned back to Little America.. ment in which both Jews and Aroba Industrial-sources.aald, however. I would share. Under the latter plan, that even If many plants reopen on
Jewish immigration would continue Monday as expected, the crisis has for the next two years at the rate
of 4,000 a month, prevented Britain from reaching her 1047 export target. It was bellaved the Opposition leader, Mr Winston Churchill, would demand censure of the Government if the White Paper falled to prescriben remedy Britain's industrial' plight.
A War Oflce spokesman announced that by to-morrow morning 3,200 Army trucks manned by 2,000 sol dors would be kauling
coal from Nottinghamshire pits to power sta- tions and
gasworks. About 800 aro on the fob now.
Notti Ireland, the Ministry of In Commerce announced that electricity, cuis similar to those in force in Eng Iand would be put into effect during certain hours of the day and the uso of power for entertainment of sports boforo four p.m. would be prohibited. -United Press..
for
1
Heuter.
Dean Acheson Defended By General Marshall
Washington, Feb. 18. The United States. Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson, “spoke in line of duty”, when he dea-" cribed Rumia's foreign policy as "aggressive, and ex÷ panding", according to General George Marshall, the American Secretary of State in reply to Russia's pro- testá.
•
Admi Byrd said It there had becu aby mounthin within 100 miles of the Pole in any direction they could have seen. How- over, they HAW no break in the unending fat expanse of the Polar los-cap that comprises the world's
The largept and highest placat,
conduct of the Under-, before the U.S. Senato Atomic Mr Bevin said the second plan We could see for hundreds Secretary in answering questions Emory Committee on February 10 marked the first time the govern-miles to the loft as we crossed the frontly and in accordance with his that "Russin's foreign policy is ment had made a "practical promlic Pole and 181 miles beyond the Pole conscience, cannot be described as aggressive and expansionist. at evolution toward independence" and 188 miles to the right of the inadmissible," he added.
The Committee's transcripts, pub- "You characterise the content of ishod In by building up during the five-year Pole, Adml Byrd said."
Washington, quoted. Mr trusteeship political Institullons
his statement as rude slander and Acheson as saying "I am quite Because every direction at the roofed in the people.
South Pole is north, Adml Byrd gave hostile to the Soviet Union. Under aware of the fact that Rusin's Ho said the Arabs put forward on the directions as "right' and left" our standards restrained comment foreign polley is aggrezasive alternative proposal for a unitary from his, plaries; alternately routh- on the matter of public policy is not an expanding one. I think one of sinte which would achieve carly word and northward course atross | štander. Therefore-I
second thought: Jol will that on the great efforts which everyone is hot attri-making in the United Nations in the buto hostility brankyjelas
attempt to And a means of solving General Markjiall's reply in inter-problems of that sort. preted here as meaning a rejection "It those means and agreemente by the United States of the Soviet can be found then there is hope that Admt Byrd's two planes few protest.
there will be ́ho major clashes. I within sight of each other for the The protest accused Mr Dean they cannot be found then I think entiro.trip_and_circled the Poles to- Acheson of "blatant slander" against the situation is very. serious.”—-—- gether. Adml Byrd thus duplicated Soviet foreign polley in station ger tsuki.
Independence with permanent the Fole rather than using, compass
tt
DUPLICATES FLIGHT
Arab majority, but this was rejected' directions. by the Jews. While the Jews did; not advance any plan of their own, Mr Bevin sald, they said they were prepared to consider partition Palestine providing for a Jewish state.
(Continued on Page 4).
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and