1939-08-21 — Page 9

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THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 21, 1939.

PREMIER'S RETURN

TO

Page

SUDDEN

LONDON

Not Indicative Of Change In The Situation

COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA FOR CABINET

London, To-day.

THE PRIME MINISTER'S sudden return to London 24 hours before he was expected does not denote any sudden change in the international situa- tion.

In view, however, of the tendency of the tempo of events to increase, both in the East and West, whereas the meet- ing of Ministers arranged for Tuesday was expected to be a comparatively small gathering with a limited programme, it is now probable that in accordance with the policy followed for some time past of being ready for all emergencies and for instant action if necessary, the majority of the Ministers will attend and the pro- gramme will be comprehensive.

It is, therefore, probable that Mr. Chamberlain accelerated his return to London in order to give due considera- tion to the fuller. agenda and, necessary, to consult his colleagues to-day.

Meanwhile, Lord Halifax's re- turn to Yorkshire yesterday may be noted as indicating the absence . of any immediate emergency from -the situation, which continues to be viewed calmly in the highest political circles.-Reuter,

GERMAN TACTICS

if

ITALIAN COMMENT ON CRISIS

Rome, To-day.

The gravity of the inter- national situation is "em-

As regards the tactics of official phasized"

The British and French Mission' foP the three-Power Staff talks in Moscow leaving" London. Photo,showa. M. Maisky, Russia Ambassador, shaking hands with the French leader, General Doumenc.

BRITISH ARMY TO HAVE COMMANDER OF FORCES IN MIDDLE EAST

THE GOVERNMENT, it is officially announced, has by "Giornale decided to appoint a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief thing is being done to create the im-d'Italia," in an article signed to command the British land forces in the Middle East, pression that war is imminent, with by the fiery Virgionio. Gayda.

Germany, it is possible that

every-

the intention of forcing Poland into making concessions.

Danzig, according to Signor Gayda, writes by Major-Gen. A. C. Temperley, “Daily Telegraph”

is no longer a question of the denial

That does not of necessity mean that Germany is prepared to start above all a pretext for a clash with a European War.

of Germany's national rights but Military Correspondent:

The German Press campaign has just started, and has not yet reach- ed its peak. The view prevails in London that this peak will be reach- ed before the Nuremberg party con- gress opens on September 2.

The speech which Hitler will make at Tannenberg next Sunday may, under the circumstances, bear a de- cisive character.-Trans-Ocean.

NO NEW DECISIONS

London, To-day.

Germany which is desired and is be- ing prepared y the encircling pow-

ers.

Gayda stresses that the present hour is grave and that the peace of Europe is in imminent peril. But, he attributes the responsibility for this situation "to the policy of

His functions will be, in peace, to supervise preparation of the defence plans of those forces and, in the event of war, to co-ordinate their action.

Lt.-Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell, to be' General Officer Commanding- encirclement" said to be pursued by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, in-Chief, Southern Command, in suc- London and Paris.

Southern Command, since April, 1938, cession to Sir Archibald Wavell; and Italy must be ready for all even-has been appointed to this command.

Major-Gen. Sir Frederick A. Pile, tualities he says, adding that "the He will leave England shortly to take Commander, 1st Anti-Aircraft Divi- war of nerves" has made no impres-up the post.

sion, Territorial Army, to be General The decision to create a Middle East Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Anti- Command is clearly necessary, for the Aircraft Command,. Territorial Army, various commands in the Mediter- in succession to Lt.-Gen. A. F. Brookė. ranean are inter-dependent, changes All the appointments took effect as in garrisons may be required at short from July 28. notice, and co-ordination is necessary.

Ision on her!

not

The usually well-informed Diplo-

The article goes on to address a matic Correspondent of the "Sunday warning to Poland, who should Times," dlɛcussing the increasing forget what Danzig "implies for her, gravity of the European situation, by her geographical position between says that at Tuesday's Cabinet meet-Germany and the Soviet Union." ing there can naturally be no talk of Trans-Ocean. arriving at new decisions.

British policy remains unaltered. Negotiations between Germany and Poland would be welcomed. But if Poland became involved in a war with Germany, Britain and France would come immediately to her assis- tance.

•

MOMENT'S NOTICE

of this

Reich - makes it impossible for Ger- many to extricate herself from the affair without loss of prestige.

LORD HALIFAX ARRIVING IN LONDON TO-DAY

London, To-day. Lord Halifax, who was at the For- eign Office till an advanced hour on Military plans for action kind have been drawn up and can be ial for the report he will make to his Saturday evening, preparing mater- put into effect at a moment's notice.

Cabinet colleagues on Unlike last year, there is no need

Tuesday, tra- to rush through political and diplo-velled back after all to Yorkshire by matic decisions of any sort, as these the night train.

have already been taken and provide He was again travelling through last for all emergencies.

night, to arrive in London' early this The machinery of defence is work-morning.

ing at high spoed.

EXPERIENCE IN REGION

No better choice for the appoint- ment than that of Sir Archibald Wavell could have been made. He has great} experience of the Middle East; having served under Lord Allenby in Egypt in the Expeditionary Force and com- manded in Palestine quite recently.

The post was temporarily creat- ed for Gen. Sir Edmund Ironside, now Inspector-General of Over- seas Forces, during the crisis last September, but was abollshed when the emergency was over. The Command's headquarters were then at Cairo.

It is understood that the Command will include Palestine, Egypt, 'Sudan Another member of the Cabinet and Cyprus, and that its headquar : The correspondent then deals with who is travelling from a distance to ters will probably again be at Cairo. the policy pursued by the German attend Tuesday's ministerial consulta- The King also approved of the fol- Press. He calls it the most dis-tions, which were arranged several lowing changes in high appointments, .quietening factor in the present situa- weeks ago, is the War Secretary, Mr. to take effect in July, 1939! -tion, as the demand of the German Hore-Belisha, who was reported yes- Press which amounts to the un- terday to have left Cannes, where he conditional return of Danzig to the has been staying-British Wireless..

Lt.-Gen. A. F. Brooke, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Anti- Aircraft Command, Territorial Army,

COMMANDER IN PALESTINE Sir Archibald Wavell, who is 56, commanded the British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan from August, 1937, to April, 1938.

Lt. Gen. Brooke is 56. He was Director of Military Training in 1936- 37.

Sir Frederick Pile, who is 54, was Assistant Director of Mechanisation

at the War Office from 1928 to 1932.

EVEN CO-O-L CO-O-L QUEEN'S

is feeling the effects of TOO HOT

TO HANDLE

A ROMANTIC :

· THRILL-SCORCHER