Evening star., 1939-04-18


new DEGREES tighten government
control of armament supplies.
ITALY SEEKS TO TIE Hungary
closer to axis powers: Duce's pa
per says Roosevelt plea rejected
by Italian national conscience"
RUMANIA DENIES WAVERING
on opposition to allowing Soviet
troops on her soil; France, Britain
seek commitment on acceptance
OF Russian aid.
BY the Associated Press
LONDON. April 18.-Prime Min
lister Chamberlain told a cheering
House of Commons today that Great
Britain welcomed with great salts
faction" President Roosevelts ap-
peal to Chancellor Hitler and Pre-
mier Mussolini.
In a brief statement on foreign
affairs, the Prime Minister said Brit
aln was continuing conversations
with Soviet Russia to widen the
British-Frenchp peace front, but add
ed he had nothing new to report.
A British pledge of help to Tur-
key had been expected. but was be-
lieved held up pending the outcome
Of the British-Soviet negotiations.
Mr.. Chamberlain said, amid pro-
longed applause:
Il should like to take this oppor-
tunity of informing the house of the
great satisfaction with which his
nlajesty's government have well
coined the recent initiative of the
President of the United States Of
America"
Danzig Coup Rumored.
In reply to a question he stressed
the British interest in the independ-
ence of the Netherlands, Switzerland
and Denmark, but stated that Great
Britain had entered into no specific
engagements to assist any OF those
countries.
Mr. Chamberlain indicated that
Britain was considering the estab-
Eshment of some sort of supply min
istry.
"Steps are being taken to accele-
rate and widen the basis of pro-
duction in Britain's war industries"
he said.
While runors circulated in Lon
don that German troops might
raarch tomorrow into the Free City
Of Danzig from East Prussia, For
eign Affairs Undersecretary R. A.
Eutler told the House that the
League of Nations. which has a
commissioner in that Nazi-domi-
mated Baltic port, would have to
consider any change in the status
of Danzig.
Asked whether existing Polish
rights in Danzig were covered by
recent British guarantee" to Po-
land, Mr.. Butler refused to add to
f1r. Chamberlain's declaration,
rledging British-French aid to
maintain Polish independence.
Britain has indicated, however
that the question of whether Britain
decides to fight for Poland rests en-
tirFy on Polands willingness to go
to war over Danzig.
Talks Reported Progressing.
The Turkish Ambassador called at
the foreign Office this morning, while
the Bulgarian and Soviet envoys left
for their home capitals for consulta-
ton.
Reports were current as Parlia-
nent assembled after an interrupted
Easter recess that negotiations were
progressing smoothly in efforts to
bring the Soviet Union into the stop
Hitler" alliance.
Involved in the discussions with
Russia, it was said were Rumanian
objections to allowing Russian
troops to cross Rumanian territory.
Diplomatic quarters said Rumania
was wavering in her original stand
that no Russian troops would be
permitted on her soil in an emer-
gency to defend her western from
tiers against aggression. Waving
OF Rumanian objections would go
far toward smoothing the way for
Russian cooperation.
Soviet Russia's participation was
said IN diplomatic quarters to have
been secured already to the extent
that the Soviet had promised Britain
and France "at least material aid"
In event they were drawn in a war
IN their efforts to stop aggression.
Britain Reassured.
Meanwhile. Britons were reassured
by reports of the country's prepar-
edness.
Close to Italy's toe" the British
Mediterranean fleet was assembled
at or near Malta and at other bases
in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Sixteen French warships guarded
the western inlet to the sea at
Gibraltar, or patrolled the Gibraltar
Strait.
Hurried defense measures on the
Crock" itself had been taken by
British soldiers following reports OF
Spanish troop movements near the
boundary.
Planes continued to patrol the
east coast of England nightly to give
warning in event of any surprise at.
tack. and Royal Air Force bomber
pilots were reported to be sleeping
beside their planes.
Hungary Restricts Jews
BUDAPEST, April 18 (R.-Leg-