Evening star., 1939-09-02
Chamberlain DELAYS
War Speech; Believed
Awaiting Nazi Reply
New Conseription Bill
Posses Second Reading,
340-7; Cabinet Meets
By the Associate Press.

By the Associs ted Press.
LONDON, Sept. 2. - Passed
Through British Censorship Great
Britain, fully armed and ready, de-
cided today on at least a slight delay
in telling Germany and the world it
was going to war to defend Poland.
When the House of Commons met
at 2:45 pm. (8:45 am. E. s. IT,.
Prime Minister Chamberlain did not
appear. deferring his vital state
ment until later in the day, and
Commons was told by Sir John
Simon. chancellor of the excheQuer.
that it would meet again at noon
There was no official explanation
for the delay. but it was presumed
that Mr.. Chamberlain still awaited
an answer from Germany to his last
warning to halt the Reich armies
and get them out of Poland.
The National Broadcasting Co.
announced at $50 am. E. S. T.
that Parliament adjourned at
that hour and would reconvene
at 5 pm. moon E. S. T).
When the House of Lords met at
g pm. % am. E. S. t. Viscount
Halifax, foreign secretary, said he
was not then in a position to make
a statement, but that he might be
able to "a little later on The House
of Lords adjourned until pm. u1
am. E. S. t.
War Declaration Expected.
Before Parliament was called to
its second emergency session in two
days. the majority of Britons ex-
pected a declaration of war would
result.
However, it was stated on good
authority that the British and
French, desiring to act together,
might delay such declaration un-
til after the meeting of the French
chamber scheduled also for today.
Before adjournment the House
of Common passed through the sec
oilu ACddIIS tAAN llCW
bill which will make all men between
the ages of 18 and Al liable to mill
tary service. The vote was $40 to 7.
Ernest Brown. minister of labor, In
explaining the bill, said it did not
apply to Northern Ireland.
Men in the designated age brack-
cts will be called up from time
to time by proclamation, he said,
but no considerable group" of new
conscripts would be summoned at
the outset.
Cabinet Is Called.
Opposition to the man-power con-
scription bill was voiced by James
Maxton. spokesman for the small
independent Labor group, who
urged conscription of private prop
erty. Laborites generally urged
that the working classes not be
forced to carry the burden of war.
War Secretary Leslie Hore Bel
isha, answering criticisms of the
bill, indicated 18-year -old youths
would not be called up first. He
also said there would be no diff
ferentiation between married and
single persons except in case of
exceptional hardships."
While the House of Commons was
speeding the bill-which was passed
through the important second read
ing stage by vote Of $40 to 7
American Ambassador Joseph P.
Kennedy went to 10 Downing Street
to meet Mr.. Chamberlain, Sir John
Simon and Foreign Secretary Lord
Halifax. Mr.. Kennedy remained at
Downing Street only minutes, how
ever, and Immediately after he left
the cabinet held a session.
Confer With Chamberlain.
Forty minutes after Commons met
both Sir John and Foreign Secretary
Lord Halifax motored to 10 Downing
street to be with Mr.. Chamberlain.
Up to noon no reply had been re-
ceived from the German govern
ment to Mr.. Chamberlain's last
warning"
During the morning Lord Halifax
received Polish Ambassador Count
Edward Raczynski and Chamberlain
received Arthur Greenwood, leader
of the Labor opposition.
Mr.. Greenwood earlier in the
House had criticized the age limits
of the CONSUMPTION bill, but said he
would support it. He also demanded
that "profiteering be stopped" and
added that "he who seeks personal
(see LONDON, Page A-60