Evening star., 1939-09-29
Cabinet Studies
Threat; Talks
With French Held
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 29-Britains big
nine" inner cabinet met today for a
close study of the Soviet Russian
German "end the war" maneuver
with every outward indication of
spurning the partition of Poland as
the price of peace.
Foreign diplomatic circles said
Britain and France also jointly went
over what they called Russia's S
"veiled threat" to enter the European
war unless the peace proposal was
agreed to.
Informed sources, declaring they
viewed the move as supreme effort
to brighten" Britain and France
into quick peace, said the desired
result would not be produced, that
Britain still was determined to lend
Hitlerism."
Prime Minister Chamberlain, it
was announced, would make Brit
aims official reply Monday in the
House of Commons
Russian Armed Aid Doubted.
A Reuters British news agency
diplomatic correspondent said he
learned from authoritative Soviet
circles that Ivan Maisky Soviet Am
bassador to London. had told For
eign Secretary Viscount Halifax only
two days ago that:
q. The Soviet government intend
ed to maintain its policy of neutral
ity in the war between Germany,
Britain and France, and
%. The Soviet government was
prepared to accept British proposals
to open trade negotiations envisaged
when Hudson Robert Spear Hud-
son. British secretary of overseas
trade) visited Moscow Qast winter"
The correspondent listed four
points which he said were made in
well-informed quarters as reply
to the new peace gesture:
81. That Chamberlain in a recent
statement said Russia's action would
not influence the determination of
Britain and France to prosecute the
war until their aims are realized.
80. That while suggesting con-
sultations among friendly powers for
settlement of the state of war
the Russian German pact excludes
any interference in the Polish set
tlement.
"3, That although the pact en-
visages continuation of war it
only provides for consultations be-
tween Germany and Russia: in
other words, Germany would have to
pay for Russias eventual military
help by further concessions.
a. That although it is obvious
whom the Germans and the Rus
slams have in mind by the expression
friendly powers it would not be
easy to get many neutrals to take
the proposed initiative, as it would
amount to indorsing or at least con-
, doning the rape Of Poland"
Sugar Tax Confirmed.
Meanwhile, the House of Com
mons confirmed, by a vote of 113 to
79. the budget resolution raising the
sugar tax penny (nearly cents
pound after Sir John Simon,
chancellor of the exchequer, assert
ed the increase was adopted to
spread the tax burden to all classes.
The finance bill embodying the
budget increases was read for the
first time after the House agreed to
other changes without vote.
Simon followed up his war budget
message with promise to the House
of Commons last night that the gov
ernment would WELD the econ
omy ak
Sir John said he had instructed
all departments to avoid unnecessary
expenditures, and that an investiga-
ton Of both the organization and
the stating" of the ministry of in
formations was under way.
The chancellor, however, told the
House he was gratified by the re-
ception accorded the very severe
impositions" of the $4,000, ,OOO, 900
00,0OOOOO budget.
Russia's Aid Discounted.
OF the new trade pact between
Russia and Germany, the British
government was said in informed
quarters to believe that Russia
would not be able to export any
~AA o. ehioolioo VI ouppllCS UcCduSc
of her home needs.
Russia already had trade agree
ment with Germany, and the Brit
ish argued the new measure could
not go much beyond that in increas-
ing the two nations commerce.
Informed sources said the govern
ment had no information as to
whether Germany and Russia had
included a military alliance in their
Moscow talks.
The clause in the Berlin COM
munique announcing the new agree
ment in which Joint consultations"
on necessary measures" if the war
continues was interpreted in some
quarters here as a possible threat,
however.
British fighter planes we're report
ed today to have driven off two at
tempts by German warplanes to raid
the coast of Scotland.
For the second successive day, the
(see LONDON, Page A-4)
pieinn cne9 co~nl,;.l.