NOT NOTE OF NEW DRIVE
London, To-day.
THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 5, 1940
Some parliamentary comments on the Cabinet changes regret that something more has not been done to strike the note of a new drive, while others are pre- pared to give the changes an opportunity to justify themselves.
The changes, generally, have not caused a stir, much greater interest being displayed in the forthcoming secret session as affording an opportunity for free
Reuter. expression in favour of a more vigorous policy.
THETIS DISASTER INQUIRY REPORT: ALMOST VICTIM OF "CONSPIRACY" AMERICAN
London, To-day.
The Tribunal which inquired into the loss of the sub- marine Thetis, with a loss of 99 lives last June, issued its report yesterday..
It is generally unable to assign definite reasons for the dis- aster, but tabulates six facts, which in sequence, pro- duced the disaster.
Firstly, the complete blocking
the test cock in the, rear
door
of
of
number five torpedo tube with bitu. mastic enamel.
Secondly, the opening of the rear door of number five tube when the bow cap was open.
to
bulkhead
Thirdly, the fallure effectively close the port watertight door.
Fourthly, the failure of the crew to refloat the submarine.
Fifthly, the fallure
of assistance
UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE
FUND PROFITS
London, To-day.
EXPORTS
LONDON, TO-DAY.
MR. RONALD CROSS, MINISTER OF ECONOMIC WARFARE, SAID
YESTERDAY THAT IN
THE
FOUR MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER LAST, UNITED STATES EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KING- DOM AND FRANCE SHOWED
AN
FROM PARTY ANGLE
END MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEANS
London, To-day.
An interesting discussion arose at the annual meeting of the Central Council of the National Union of Conserva- tive Associations yesterday, at which a resolution calling for national unity was put for- ward by the executive com- mittee.
The resolution called for the support of all parties and said that while cri- ticism, In a democracy, could be of- fered freely it should not be designed to undermine the authority of the Government, which was responsible for the conduct of the war.
During his speech, Mr. Chamber- would lain earlier had said that he welcome the cessation of party strife- for the time being..
"I do not, of course, claim that the Government should be exempt from criticism," he went on.
AMENDMENT APPROVED During the discussion, the Conser- vative Member for Hull, Mr. Law, said that the resolution confused uni- INCREASE OF $22,000,000 AS COM-formity of parties with uniformity of PARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD judgment. They had had this sort of not political truce in Germany, but IN 1998. *
here, and that was one of the reasons why we were at war.
Adams proposed Mr. Vyvian
an
The value of U.S. exports to Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Scandina- via was $68,000,000 higher than for amendment stating that they hoped the 1938 period:
that every party should not try to ex- He gave assurance that the dim-plolt party feeling.
"I don't care what British, Govern- cult question of imports into neutral countries passing to Germany was ment conducts the war," he said, "pro- under constant review. It could not viding it brings about the defeat of noon that the income of be assumed that an increase of ex-Germany and the end of Nazi tyran-
Germany over a short period neces-
It was stated in the House Sixthly, the failure of the crew to of Commons yesterday after-
from outside.
escape from Thetis.-Reuter.
SIX FACTS IN SEQUENCE
"The six facts acting in sequence produced the full extent of this dis- aster" says the report of the Tribunal, which sat under the Presidency of Mr. Justice Bucknill.
The precise moment when the bow cap opened is the critical and most case. The obscure point in the Tribunal expresses the opinion that there is no evidence to show how or why the bow cap opened. Several theories are suggested but the report dismisses these as mere guesswork.
dropped.-Reuter.
the Unemployment Insur-ports to any country contiguous to ny."
The amendment. was widely sup- ance Fund for the year ended sarily implied a leak in the blockade, ported and the original resolution was December 31st, 1939, exceed--Reuter. ed expenditure by £16,601,578 and there was a net balance of £57,555,222 at the end of the year.
Fund
Although the state of the was very much better than the Un- employment Insurance Fund Statutory Committee had anticipated, the debt of the Fund was just over £77,000,- 000 at the same date.
In the Committee's view, it was very probable that there would be severe unemployment after the war
ITALY REASSURED
ON THE
"MAP QUESTION"
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL”)
PARIS, TO-DAY.
and it has recommended that £37,-| THE PREMIER, M. REYNAUD, HAS HAD A CON-
On the failure of those in sub- marine effectively to close the port water tight door In the bulkhead between the torpedo tube compart mont and the torpedo storage.com- | 000,000 of the balance be allocated partment, the Report says that the to repayment of debt, thereby freeing £1,100,000 yearly, would prevent from the Fund pressure of water even the most determined
while preserving borrowing powers.
The committec also recommends reaching the door after a short time but every effort was made to close it the increase of the benefit rate from and, Indeed, one turnsorew - Was forced home before the water forced the men back.
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS
man
VERSATION WITH THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR IN WHICH HE GAVE ITALY ALL THE NECES- SARY REASSURANCES IN CONNEXION WITH THE “MAP QUESTION.”
three to four shillings weekly respect- The map appeared in a photograph taken during
ing children, and from
thirty-three
to thirty-five shillings in respect of agricultural contributions.
LABOUR OBJECTS
The Government has decided to Com- accept the proposals and the mons was asked to approve.
Mr. Sumner Welles' visit to the Finance Minis- try in Paris, and, contrary to reports abroad, only showed the frontiers of Europe prior to German aggression and not new frontiers plan- ned by the Allies after the war.
The failure of those outside the Thetis contri- to render effective ald was buted to by the fact that observers in the tug Grebecock had no sufficient reason for thinking there had been
The Labour Opposition moved an
Political observers point out that the Treaty against Germany and are now a serious accident and because, when amendment asking for the applica- anchored, she was four miles
from tion of the balance to increased be- first reactions to publication of the trying to drag the United States into where the Thetis sank and so was nefits and contended that it was Gov-map were certainly inspired by Ger- the war through Mr. Sumner Welles-
say Berlin circles. unable to see the smoke candle or ernment's duty to prepare a plan for man propaganda. the indicator lights or the buoys re- the transition from war to peace leased from the submarine.
misled The position of the tug H.M.S. Brazen and the s.s. Vigilant and "by some persistent. ill-fortune they were misled by a report from an aeroplane of a buoy miles from the actual position of the Thetis.".
un
economy and to avoid sevère. employment after the war. British. Wireless,
lose Thetis in a sea of trouble."
STERN OUT OF WATER
The report finds there were only
-
This is a result of the publication of The falsity of the allegations› was. clearly demonstrated by M. Reynaud a photograph which shows Mr. Welles, to the Italian onvoy, and it was the M. Reynaud and the American Charge more important to clear up the mis-d'Affaires standing before the map in understanding now that Allled aoM. Reynaud's office, which attracted
Italian attention. tivity in south-east. Europe will soon develop · with a view to tightening the blockade of Germany. The Tribunal comes to the conclu
The same observers point out that sion that there was delay in organiz- 93 Davis escape sets available, 29 the control of Italian trade in the Me- ing the search for the submarine by others being stowed in the forward alterranean which is exercised by the sea and air but the delay was not compartment which was flooded.
French Navy has not given rise to any caused by lack of vigilance or at- The Triburial is of opinion that: tention by the responsible shore staffs. more lives would have been saved incident, and the tightening of the blockade must be exercised without Those ashore, the report adds, had if efforts had been concentrated on endangering. Franco-Italian relations. no reason to know the Thetis was un- keeping the submarine's storn out of able to use her underwater signall-water and cutting a hole and suggests ing apparatus and so get in touch that this was not done because, those with Brazen. :
responsible expected most of the
to escape by Davis apparatus. Itish Wireless."
:
That was one of the many mis- chances which almost conspired"
"
The United States is to be cheated again, as the map proves that the
the re Allied war alm to dismember Ger- 'many, say Berlin circles--Reuter.
FANTASTIC NONSENSE
Washington, To-day. Mr. Sumner Welles yesterday, des- cribed as fantastic nonsense the Ger- man charges that he and the French Premier, M. Reynaud, had discussed a map depicting
lans to whittle down Germän Berlin, To-day. MY: Welles
that" during Britain and France are trying to interviews - in
all the evils of the Varanilles I was made-to
Havas.
NAZI PROPAGANDA
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