British Secretary of State for the Colonies Malcolm MacDonald told the House of Commons that the question of restoring colonies to Germany was not under discussion and “not now an issue in practical politics.” A motion calling for the creation of an international pool of colonies under a general mandate was voted upon, but it was defeated 253-127.
Geoffrey le M. Mander, stormy petrel of British politics, tonight blew the lid off the attempts of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s government to exploit newspapers and newsreels and to stifle opposition to its foreign policy. The occasion was a debate in the House of Commons on the political censorship tendencies of the government. The debate arose from recent disclosures that Joseph P. Kennedy, United States ambassador to London, was prevailed upon to make himself useful to the British government by causing censorship of a Paramount newsreel during the war scare in September.
Mander, a Liberal, in outlining the subtle workings of the government’s news gag technique, clashed with Sir Samuel Hoare, home secretary. Mander refused to be muzzled and said that even if the penalties of the Official Secrets Act were applied against him, he intended to finish his speech. The Official Secrets Act is primarily employed against spies, but it has been charged that its terms have been stretched to restrict the freedom of speech and of the press. Despite Mander’s exposé and his introduction of a motion deploring any government action toward setting up a political censorship of the press, movies, and public meetings in Great Britain, Chamberlain’s government managed to scrape its way out of a ticklish situation by a narrow margin. A government amendment to Mander’s motion was introduced. It declared that members of Parliament were satisfied that the British tradition of liberty of expression had been maintained. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 171 to 124.
Fascists in Naples, Italy, demonstrate for the “return” of Tunisia. Fascists paraded today in Naples, Florence, and Perugia to shouts of “Long live Italian Tunisia!” — continuing clamorous demonstrations of so-called “solidarity with oppressed brothers” in French territory. One thousand visiting members of Germany’s Strength-Through-Joy organization joined the demonstration in Naples. The Germans, just arrived from Genoa, marched with Fascist students to the German consulate, where they cheered for Reichsführer Adolf Hitler and Premier Benito Mussolini. Classes were suspended at the University of Naples.
Several hundred Italian students also marched to the French consulate where strong police guards turned them back. They waved flags and mingled acclaim for Il Duce with cries for Tunisia, Corsica, and Djibouti. Other Italian demonstrations occurred in Messina and Trapani on the Italian Island of Sicily. More than 3,000 students paraded to the French consular agency in Messina and sang Italian island of Sicily. More than 1,500 students, headed by professors, went to Fascist headquarters and placed a bouquet on a monument to Fascist dead.
Spanish rebel war planes struck at government coastal points today in a continuation of extensive raids. Five rebel planes bombed the port of Alicante, government dispatches said, damaging the British freighter Lake Geneva and killing several civilians. The raids are in fulfillment of the rebel threat of six days ago to bomb 198 military objectives. Barcelona reported that 4,018 persons were killed and 6,171 wounded In Catalonia in air raids since the start of the war.
The second group of American volunteers to leave government Spain since Barcelona began demobilization of its international brigades is expected to enter France tomorrow. This contingent will number about 200.
Media in Berlin continue their stories on Rumania, predicting a revolution, accusing the government of murdering fascists, and implying that King Carol’s mistress, Madame Lupescu — who is Jewish — orchestrates the killings.
The governor of Memel, Lithuania, resigns. Nazis in the territory are pushing for greater autonomy and ultimately union with Germany.
Jews working at construction sites in Vienna must wear a yellow star armband.
The United States asks Germany for assurance that American Jews’ rights and property in Germany will be respected. The United States again has cautioned Germany against any infringement of American rights through the Reich’s anti-Semitic decrees. Sumner Welles, Acting Secretary of State, disclosed today that the American Embassy in Berlin made representations immediately after the publication of a decree providing that a large part of property remaining in German-Jewish hands shall be taken under trusteeship. Acting under standing instructions, the Embassy declared the United States assumed that rights of American citizens will be fully protected and exempt from such decrees. The German government has not replied to this communication nor to an earlier protest concerning alleged discrimination against American interests in settlement of Austrian debts.
Senator James F. Byrnes, Democratic leader, said tonight that “if we adopt as our national slogan ‘as long as it is going to be spent, we may as well get ours,’ the public debt can become dangerous.” Senator Byrnes declared that relief work has been a burden in the south. He declared that the system of distributing federal funds must be changed and that congress must provide the formula. Byrnes is a Democratic senator from South Carolina and is chairman of the special committee to investigate unemployment and relief. He spoke before the anniversary dinner of the Southern society. “Small businessmen of the south,” he said, “feel that the government, like an individual, cannot continue indefinitely to spend more than its income without facing bankruptcy.”
Political expediency and a shrewd reading of public interest in world rearmament rather than any direct or implied threat at American security have dictated President Roosevelt’s program for immediate construction of 10,000 fighting airplanes and expansion of land and sea forces. This estimate of the President’s plans was made here today by civil and military authorities who are in the best position to know the needs of the nation and the probabilities that a huge American air force will be needed for national defense within the next few years.
Civil aviation leaders, more outspoken than the military experts, declared that the President is planning to use his rearmament program to turn aside condemnation of widespread public spending. Voters at the last election, they said, repudiated alphabet spending so the President has turned to this new method of pump priming. They maintained this position despite the President’s denial of such a motive during his press conference yesterday. Any sudden commitment to a program of aircraft construction on a wartime basis, they insisted today, will be extremely expensive, wasteful and entirely needless. The military authorities, refusing to be quoted, indicated nevertheless that they already are opposed to any grandiose schemes for sudden expansion. While happy that much needed funds may come their way, they said that they are prepared to oppose any large scale airplane construction plans.
“Just how much expansion the army will recommend,” said a general staff officer from the war planning division today, “we cannot tell at this time. This question is the subject of intensive study. But it is obvious that the United States need not compete with European nations that are cheek-by-jowl, surrounded by hostile neighbors, and have vital industries always within reach of attack from half a dozen directions.”
The President writes to Alabama Governor Bibb Graves, asking him to pardon the Scottsboro defendants.
Rep. Thomas of the Dies Committee says he will start impeachment proceedings against Labor Secretary Perkins, because she has not taken steps to deport Harry Bridges, a Communist and West Coast labor leader.
Anna Marie Hahn, convicted of poisoning an old man for his money, died in the electric chair at the Ohio state prison tonight. She was the first woman to be electrocuted in this state. She went to her death pleading that her life be spared for the sake of her illegitimate son, Oscar, 12 years old. The current was turned on at 7:09 p.m., local time, and she was pronounced dead six minutes later. The Cincinnati slayer, who repeatedly had expressed confidence that she never would be executed, collapsed at the door of the execution chamber and had to be carried to the electric chair.
“Don’t do this to me,” she cried. “Think of my boy. Can’t you think of my baby? Is nobody going to help me? When no one answered she beckoned to the prison chaplain, the Rev. John A. Sullivan, and murmured: “Father, come close.” Attendants quickly fastened the clamps, pulling up one leg of the blue pajamas in which she was clad. In a moment all was in readiness. Anna was intoning the Lord’s Prayer when the current coursed through her body.
W9XZY broadcasts facsimile of St Louis Post-Dispatch by radio.
Philip Barry’s play “Here Come the Clowns” premieres in NYC.
Workers walk out of the world’s largest silver mine, the Real del Monte, in Pachuco, Mexico, demanding higher wages. The United States Smelting Company, the mine owner, says it cannot pay their price.
Wang Ming, representing the Communist Party of China, says the Japanese are trying to drive a wedge between Communists and the party of Chiang Kai-shek, the Kuomintang.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 148.73 (+0.40).
Died:
Anna Marie Hahn, 32, German-born American serial killer (executed by electric chair).
Naval Construction:
The U.S. Navy Dixie class destroyer tender USS Prairie (AD-15) is laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corp. (Camden, New Jersey, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy “T”-class submarine (First Group) HMS Trident (N 52) is launched by the Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, U.K.).
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History Diaries 