1940-03-19 — Page 9

WEYGAND'S ARMY READY

IMPORTS OF FOOD UNDER LICENCE

London, To-day.

FRENCH TROOPS PUPPETS IN THE LEVANT

DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT the French-mandated

The Ministry of Food has territory of Syria and Lebanon are troops awaiting orders

decided to take control of im- ported foodstuffs generally,

to move.

and a general Order will be black Senegalese; Malgaches from Madagascar; Annamites Brown-skinned Algerians, Tunisians and Moroccans; published on Thursday pro- from Indo-China; units of the Foreign Legion; Air Force hibiting imports of all food-units, and mechanised troops from France, all are concen- stuffs, including feeding-trated here. stuffs for animals, except under licence.

Only exceptions are wines and spirits, fresh and cured fish and live animals.

The Order will apply to all food stuffs not already subject to licence which were despatched after March 20 and arrive in Great Britain after March 27.

Open general licences will be issued permitting, until further notice, the importation without separate licences of consignments of a number of classes of foodstuffs, including fresh fruits, jams, chutney,

bananas,

curry powder and shellfish.-Reuter.

DEALINGS IN NEW LOAN

LEAVE FOR NANKING

Peiping, To-day. Wang Keh-min, head of the Peiping "provisional gov- ernment" and other delegates morning to attend the cen- left for Nanking yesterday

tral political conference which opens on Wednesday, ment of China" is expected to at which the "central govern- be finally decided.

By courtesy of the French military along lines parallel to the French, authorities I have been privileged to with perhaps more emphasis on avia- catch a few quick but instructive tion. glimpses of this redoubtable fighting force in

Australians and New Zealanders, to-

Those accompanying Wang were tour of Syria and Lebanon, writes a nowned as mountain fighters, are in Japanese-controlled Mongolian Gov- the course of an 800-mile gether with the Sikhs, who are re- delegates, two delegates from the four other Peiping "government" | Beyrest Correspondent.

Egypt. To the north, the friends of France

Turkish soldiers who are famous for their en-office of the China Affairs Board, who

and Britain have director of the

ernment, and Major-General Mórioka, durance and stubbornness as fighters. recently succeeded Lt. Gen. Kita.

North China liaison

Turkish high commands so

If the British, the French and the

It is learned from provisional gov- decide, their combined forces in the Near East

ernment circles that the new govern- and Asia Minor will get together and ment organisation will closely follow confront the enemy--the Germans and that of the Chungking Central Gov- the Russians-with a formidable front. ernment which it is intended to sup- So far, of course, no decision has been

plant. Reuter. reached. The Allies and Turkey seem content to walt and see.to see what happens in Finland and to see if the blockade leaks in the Balkans can be

Figures are taboo here. I am able to state, however, that what I saw was impressive--and there was much of it. Since September last French Colonial troops and units from France have been sent here to build under the supervision of Gen. Wey- gand, 'the Army of the East, and to strengthen the permanent army of the Levant established in the mandated territories after the last war.

GREAT ACTIVITY

up,

During the past few weeks supplies of extra materials and mechanical spare parts to equip on the spot any additional troops suddenly despatched to the Near East have diminished to a mere trickle.

LONDON, TO-DAY. BUSINESS ON THE STOCK EX. CHANGE YESTERDAY WAS RES- TRICTED BY THE UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING THE DIPLOMATIC It is impossible to stroll through

MOVES IN

EUROPE AND

THE

SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FIXING OF NEW MINIMUM PRICES FOR GILT-EDGED SECURI-

TIES.

Most sections eased but offerings

were only moderate.

Indian bonds and gold-mining issues were depressed on unconfirmed re- ports of a Mysore tax on the proceeds of gold sales.

Dealings started in the new War Loan at par to 1/4 discount and the loan closed at 3/8 discount.

Wall Street was easy. - Reuter.

TWO MORE SHIPS LOST

LONDON, TO-DAY.

18 AN-

TWO MORE SHIPS, IT NOUNCED, HAVE BEEN LOST, ONE OF THEM AN ITALIAN VESSEL.

The Newcastle steamer Tiberton (5,225 tons) is a month overdue and is believed to have been lost with all hands.

stopped. So far the only enemy is of the Army of the East. Germany, and Germany is out of reach

NO DATE BET

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA- MAIL")

Shanghai, To-day. Invitations and passes were extend- But this is for London. Paris and An-tral political council meeting in Nan- Russia may become an enemy, too. dents in Shanghai to attend the cen- ed yesterday to foreign correspon-

kara and Moscow to decide.

ACT OF AN

sections of the various towns without surprisingly running into something", military; rows of trucks lined up in the shadow of the palm trees or beside ancient walls; rows of tanks squatting under sheds; cannon of various call- bres, and tractors and anti-tank guns casually concealed in old stables or courtyards.

are

ISOLATED

FANATIC

While waiting for orders from the Supreme Command the officers keeping their men in training. In the

London, To-day.. stand dunes around Beyrouth, Moroc- When Lord Zetland, Secretary for can sharpshooters puncture their tar-India and Burmah, took his seat in gets every afternoon, while the Sene- the House of Lords yesterday, Lord galese practise mounting and un- Snell, leader of the Labour Opposi- mounting machine-guns.

tion, expressed their relief and thank- Recently, a whole division held fulness at his escape from death last manoeuvres in the region of Damas-week. cus, while over Beyrouth the recently

In reply, Lord Zetland said that the reassembled pursuit 'planes went act of an isolated fanatic would not through their paces. With the rainy season almost over, and the weather process of adjusting itself to the ear- mostly clear, the population is in the

ly morning booming of the anti-air- craft guns at practice.

BRITISH CONCENTRATIONS In Syria, and on The Italian collier

the islarid of Tyna Primo Cyprus, the British have been con- (4,853 tons) broke in two following centrating forces from the Empire an explosion off the south-east coast yesterday. Thirty-six of the crew were saved; one was drowned. *Router.

NEW INDIA BOARD

New Delhi, To-day. On April 1, the Government of India will establish a Board of Scientific Industrial Research, which will advice the Government about the lines on which such research should be con- ducted to ensure the development of Indian Industry.

Particular attention will be pald to the effect of war conditions. Reuter.

RUBBER SHIPMENTS

Singapore, To-day.

non-Empire the

Rubber shipped from countries does not come under new exchange control and may be sald for free sterling provided it is not transhipped.

If the shipment is to Canada via listed countries the consignee must obtain the Canadian control's permis- sion for payment in free sterling. Reuter.

have the smallest influence in any way on the judgment of the Govern- ment on affairs in India.

king and the inauguration of the Wang Ching-wei government, though no fixed date has been set for either solemnity.

Some 20 journalists will leave for Nanking by special train this morn- ing. Havas,

SPARED SIX

WAR MONTHS

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Brussels, To-day. M. Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, told a meeting of Socialist and Trade Union organizations yesterday that the Government's policy has spared them six months of war and he hoped it would be able to keep them out of war entirely.

From his personal point of view, bis affection and admiration for things India and the Indian peoples were far too deeply laid to be in any jeopardised by something which has no M. Spaak, who is a Socialist, criticis bearing on the general relations be-ed the activity of the Belgian Com- tween the peoples of these two coun-munists and praised the recent law tries.-Reuter.

[restricting their: propaganda.—Hayas.

He gave a resume of the problems facing the labouring man and told his audience of the measures taken by the way Government.

Rose Room PENINSULA HOTEL

From 9 p.m.

To 1 a.m.

TO-NIGHT

• Dinner Dance

WITH ART CARNEIRO & HIS MUSIC

TEA DANCE 5 to 7 p.m. SUNDAY NEXT

THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS LTD.

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