Hitler set the date of the Denmark and Norway invasion to be 9 April 1940. Two divisions were allocated for Denmark and six divisions for Norway, while the bulk of the German Navy was to support the overall operation. Coordinated support in the air from the Luftwaffe was also planned. He authorizes a 6-division operation in Norway, including 20 light tanks and 3 experimental heavy Neubaufahrzeug tanks. There also are two divisions which will invade Denmark by land and parachute. The Luftwaffe will make a major effort to provide support.
Vice-Admiral Max Horton, commander of Royal Navy Home Fleet submarines, anticipates a German invasion of Norway in the near future. He directs a dozen submarines, including two French boats and one Polish boat, to patrol the southern area of the North Sea in the vicinity of Denmark. Their mission is to intercept any German warships. HMS Sealion departs first, from Harwich, and heads to the Kattegat east of Denmark.
Oslo receives report from its ambassador in Berlin about impending German operations in Scandinavia, but no action taken.
Berlin issues a statement that it will take “suitable countermeasures” if iron ore shipments flowing through Norway are interrupted.
There is heavy German artillery fire in the Saar region on the Western Front.
Germany rejects a Vatican request to send humanitarian aid to Poland and for the placement of observers to oversee conditions there.
The BBC broadcast what appeared to be a speech by Adolf Hitler, in which the Führer reminded the audience that Columbus had discovered America with the help of German science and technology, and therefore Germany had a right “to have some part in the achievement which this voyage of discovery was to result in.” This meant that all Americans of Czech and Polish descent were entitled to come under the protection of Germany and that Hitler would “enforce that right, not only theoretically but practically.” Once the German Protectorate was extended to the United States, the Statue of Liberty would be removed to alleviate traffic congestion and the White House would be renamed the Brown House. CBS contacted the BBC in something of a panic trying to learn more about the origin of the broadcast, not realizing that it was an April Fools’ Day hoax. The voice of Hitler had been impersonated by the actor Martin Miller.
The British Home Secretary appoints 12 regional advisory committees to review and reconsider the cases of aliens in England due to the war, the treatment of whom has been the subject of public outcry.
Bulgarian police today ordered that foreigners be prohibited from visiting Bulgaria’s two principal ports, Bourgas and Varna, except by special permission. Both ports are on the Black sea. A new Russian air line between Moscow and Sofia has a base at Bourgas. Russian oil for Germany now is transshipped through Varna.
The Swedish government makes a presentation in the legislature (the Riksdag) regarding diplomatic steps taken in connection with the Winter War.
The French government proposes a major naval construction program. A government decree authorizes construction of a massive navy of 53 warships: 2 battleships, 1 aircraft carrier, 3 cruisers, 27 destroyers and 20 submarines. Such a navy typically would take at least a decade or two to complete under favorable conditions.
The French Minister of Information Frossard arrives in London to consult with Sir John Reith, legendary former head of the BBC and Minister of Information in the Chamberlain government.
The South African assembly passes a Jan Smuts War Measures Act 75-55. It provides for white troops to be sent to North Africa, while black troops serve as auxiliaries.
The fourth group of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing was established.
British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), created by Act of Parliament on 24 Nov 1939, took over the activities of British Airways and Imperial Airways.
While some of its planes already have gone on operations, today is the official establishment of No. 75 New Zealand Squadron of the RAF.
Luftwaffe engages in aerial battles with RAF and French Air Force over France.
The RAF conducts an armed reconnaissance of the North Sea on 1 April 1940 and attacks enemy patrol boats. One aircraft does not return.
Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 bombers attack British ships. One is shot down.
The German commerce raider Atlantis, disguised as the 5,114-ton Russian Fleet Auxiliary Kim and escorted by the torpedo-boats Leopard and Wolf and the submarine, the U-37 set sail into the North Sea. The Atlantis would evade the Royal Navy and make it into the Atlantic Ocean on April 8.
Norwegian coastal defense ships Norge and Eidsvold arrived at Narvik from Horten.
Destroyers HMS Somali, HMS Matabele and HMS Mashona departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to pick up the Kirkwall convoy contingent and then join convoy ON.24. Destroyer Somali would become Senior Officer of the Escort. During the night of 1/2 April, a strong gale scattered convoys ON.24, HN.23A, and the Kirkwall contingent of convoy ON.24 all eastwards of the Orkneys.
Convoy OA.121 departed Southend escorted by destroyer HMS Ardent from 1 to 4 April, sloop HMS Wellington from 2 to 4 April, destroyers HMS Windsor and HMS Versatile from 3 to 4 April, when the convoy dispersed.
Convoy OB.121 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMS Walker and HMS Vanquisher from 1 to 4 April, when the convoy dispersed. The destroyers then joined inbound convoy SL.25.
Convoy BC.31R with steamers Baron Carnegie, Kerma, Lochee, Pembroke Coast, Scholar (Commodore) departed the Loire escorted by destroyer HMS Vivacious. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the 2nd.
Convoy MT.42 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Wolsey, sloop HMS Auckland, and anti-submarine trawlers of the 3rd Anti-Submarine Group. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.135 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Wolsey and sloop HMS Auckland. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.
The War at Sea, Monday, 1 April 1940 (naval-history.net)
Destroyer ISIS, while transferring five torpedoes to submarine CLYDE after torpedo firings in Scapa Flow, lost her whalers and motorboat when they capsized in a heavy squall in Sandoyne Bay. All the men and the torpedoes were recovered.
Destroyers SOMALI (D.6), MATABELE, and MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to pick up the Kirkwall convoy contingent and then join convoy ON.24. Destroyer SOMALI would become Senior Officer of the Escort. During the night of 1/2 April, a strong gale scattered convoys ON.24, HN.23A, and the Kirkwall contingent of convoy ON.24 all eastwards of the Orkneys.
After repairs at Dundee, destroyer GRIFFIN departed Invergordon on patrol on 30 March and was already on Moray Firth patrol with destroyer JUPITER. At 1100, destroyer JUPITER attacked a submarine contact in 58 31N, 0 34W. Because of heavy weather, destroyer JUPITER proceeded to Scapa Flow, arriving at 1800/1st and destroyer GRIFFIN arrived at Invergordon on the 1st. Destroyer GRIFFIN departed Invergordon on the 2nd and destroyer JUPITER departed Scapa Flow on the 2nd to continue the patrol.
Destroyer ILEX departed Scapa Flow at 0810 for anti-submarine patrol while two sections of Hoxa Boom were being repaired a half mile to the south of a line from Cantick to the Nev. Bad weather delayed work on the Boom and destroyer ILEX returned to Scapa Flow at 2015 to anchor north of Flotta on standby notice as the weather conditions were too bad to continue the patrol. The weather eased and destroyer ILEX commenced the Hoxa Sound Patrol at 0530/2nd. The work was completed on the Hoxa Boom at 1600 and destroyer ILEX returned to Scapa Flow.
The 1st Destroyer Flotilla departed Harwich at 1300 and swept to twelve miles north of Smith’s Knoll. The Flotilla then swept northeast across the mine barrier for forty miles. The 1st Destroyer Flotilla then swept eastward reaching Smith’s Knoll at dawn on the 2nd. Destroyer CODRINGTON sighted a German aircraft at 0530/2nd, but was not attacked.
Patrol sloop PUFFIN attacked a submarine contact off Yarmouth. The contact was later assessed as non-submarine.
Submarine NARWHAL arrived at Blyth after patrol.
Submarine SHARK arrived at Harwich after refitting.
Mine destructor ship BORDE exploded two mines in the Sunk area. The ship sustained leaks forward and proceeded to Chatham for docking and repairs completed on the 28th.
The Northern Patrol between 1 and 9 April sighted 34 eastbound ships and sent twelve into Kirkwall for inspection.
Convoy OA.121 departed Southend escorted by destroyer ARDENT from 1 to 4 April, sloop WELLINGTON from 2 to 4 April, destroyers WINDSOR and VERSATILE from 3 to 4 April, when the convoy dispersed.
Convoy OB.121 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers WALKER and VANQUISHER from 1 to 4 April, when the convoy dispersed. The destroyers then joined inbound convoy SL.25.
Convoy BC.31R with steamers BARON CARNEGIE, KERMA, LOCHEE, PEMBROKE COAST, and SCHOLAR (Commodore) departed the Loire escorted by destroyer VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the 2nd.
Convoy MT.42 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY, sloop AUCKLAND, and anti-submarine trawlers of the 3rd Anti-Submarine Group. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.135 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY and sloop AUCKLAND. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.
Norwegian coastal defense ships HNoMS NORGE and HNoMS EIDSVOLD arrived at Narvik from Horten.
French armed merchant cruisers EL DJEZAIR, EL MANSOUR and VILLE D’ORAN departed Marseilles and proceeded to Oran, arriving on the 2nd. On the 4th, they departed, escorted by large destroyer BISON to return to Brest for operations off the Norwegian coast. The ships arrived at Brest on the 8th.
Light cruiser ORION departed Bermuda on patrol.
#
This is the status of the destroyer flotillas in Home Waters on 1 April 1940. Some 44 destroyers were in dockyard hands less than a week before the start of the Norwegian campaign.
Home Fleet
2nd Destroyer Flotilla (Captain B. A. W. Warburton-Lee) – HARDY (Warburton-Lee)
Division 3, HOTSPUR (Cdr H F H Layman), HAVOCK (Lt Cdr R.E Courage), HERO (Cdr H W Biggs DSO), and HEREWARD (Lt Cdr C W Greening, repairing at Portsmouth)
Division 4, HYPERION (Cdr H St L Nicolson DSO), HUNTER (Lt Cdr L de Villiers), HOSTILE (Lt Cdr J P Wright), and HASTY (Lt Cdr L R.K Tyrwhitt, damaged at Scapa Flow, taken to Dundee for repairs)
3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Captain P Todd) – INGLEFIELD (Todd)
Division 5, ISIS (Cdr J C Clouston), ILEX (Lt Cdr P L Saumarez DSC), and IMPERIAL (Lt Cdr CA de W Kitcat, repairing in the Tyne)
Division 6, DELIGHT (Cdr M Fogg-Elliot DSO), DIANA (Lt Cdr E G LeGeyt), and IMOGEN (Cdr C L Firth MVO)
4th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain P L Vian)
Division 7, AFRIDI (Vian), GURKHA (CdrA W Buzzard), SIKH (Cdr JA Giffard), and MOHAWK (Cdr J W M Eaton)
Division 8, ZULU (Cdr J S.Crawford), COSSACK (Cdr R.St V Sherbrooke), MAORI (Cdr G N Brewer, repairing in the Clyde), and NUBIAN (Cdr R.W Ravenhill, repairing in the Tyne)
5th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten)
Division 9, KELLY (Mountbatten, repairing at Blackwell), KIPLING (Cdr A St Clair Ford, repairing in the Tyne), and KASHMIR (Cdr HA King), KELVIN (Lt Cdr J L Machin)
Division 10, KANDAHAR (Cdr W GA Robson, repairing at Hull), KIMBERLEY (Lt Cdr R.G K Knowling), KHARTOUM (Cdr D T Dowler, repairing at Falmouth), and KINGSTON (Lt Cdr P Somerville DSO, repairing at Falmouth)
6th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain R.S G Nicholson)
Division 11, SOMALI (Nicholson), ASHANTI (Cdr W G Davis), MATABELE (Cdr G K Whitmy-Smith), and MASHONA (Cdr W H Selby)
Division 12, BEDOUIN (Cdr JA McCoy), PUNJABI (Cdr J T Lean), ESKIMO (Cdr St JA Micklethwait), and TARTAR (Cdr L P Skipwith)
7th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain P J Mack)
Division 13, JERVIS (Mack, repairing in the Tyne), JANUS (Cdr J A W Tothill), JAVELIN (Cdr A F Pugsley), and JERSEY (long repairs at Hull)
Division 14, JACKAL (Cdr T M Napier, repairing at Blyth), JAGUAR (Lt Cdr J F W Hine, repairing at Dundee), JUNO (Cdr W E Wilson), and JUPITER (Cdr D B Wyburd)
8th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain A F de Salis) – FAULKNOR (de Salis)
Division 15, FOXHOUND (Cdr G H Peters), FEARLESS (Cdr K L Harkness), FURY (Cdr G F Burghard, repairing at Newport), and FORESTER (Lt Cdr E B Tancock DSC)
Division 16, FAME (Cdr P N Walter, repairing at Grimsby), FORESIGHT (Lt Cdr G T Lambert, repairing at Grimsby), FORTUNE (Cdr EA Gibbs), and FIREDRAKE (Lt Cdr S.N Norris, repairing at Cardiff)
20th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain J G Bickford DSC)
Division 39, EXPRESS (Bickford, repairing at Hartlepool), IVANHOE Cdr P H Hadow), and ESK (Lt Cdr R.J H Couch)
Division 40, INTREPID (Cdr R.C Gordon, repairing at Middlesbrough), ICARUS (Lt Cdr C D Maud), and IMPULSIVE (Lt Cdr W S.Thomas)
Rosyth Command
12th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain R.Kerr, Captain D Rosyth)
Division 23, ECHO (Cdr S H K Spurgeon DSO RAN, repairing at Leith), ELECTRA (Lt Cdr SA Buss, repairing at Rosyth), and ESCORT (Lt Cdr J Bostock, repairing at Rosyth)
Division 24, ESCAPADE (Cdr H R.Graham), ENCOUNTER (Lt Cdr E V St J Morgan), and ECLIPSE (Lt Cdr I T Clark)
Miscellaneous attached
Destroyer DUNCAN (Lt Cdr C Gwinner Rtd, repairing at Grangemouth)
Convoy C (Captain R.Kerr, Captain D Rosyth Escort Force)
Sloops AUCKLAND (Cdr J G Hewitt DSO), BITTERN (Lt Cdr R.H Mills), BLACK SWAN (Captain A L Poland), EGRET (Cdr D P Evans, repairing at Rosyth), FLAMINGO (Cdr J H Huntley), FLEETWOOD (Cdr A N Grey DSO), GRIMSBY (Cdr K J D’Arcy), HASTINGS (Lt Cdr A B Alison), LONDONDERRY (Cdr Sir Thomas L Beevor Bt), LOWESTOFT (Cdr A M Knapp), PELICAN (Cdr LA K Boswell DSO), STORK (Cdr A C Behague), and WESTON (Lt Cdr S C Tuke)
Escort ships/destroyers VALENTINE (Cdr H J Buchanan RAN), VALOROUS (Lt Cdr E Mack), VEGA (Cdr C I Horton, repairing at Rosyth), VIMIERA (Lt Cdr R.B N Hicks), VIVIEN (Lt Cdr W D G Weir), WALLACE (Cdr B I Robertshaw), WESTMINSTER (Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry), WHITLEY (Lt Cdr G N Rolfe), WOLSEY (Cdr C H Campbell), and WOOLSTON (Cdr W J Phipps)
Nore Command
1st Destroyer Flotilla (Captain G E Creasy)
Division 1, CODRINGTON (Creasy), GRENADE (Cdr R.C Boyle), Polish BLYSKAWICA (Cdr S Nahorski, ORP), GROM (Cdr A Hulewicz (Hulewiscowi ?), ORP) and BURZA (Cdr W Francki, ORP),
Division 2, GRAFTON (Cdr C E C Robinson, repairing at Hull), GREYHOUND (Cdr W R.Marshall-A’Dean), GLOWWORM (Lt Cdr G B Roope), GRIFFIN (Lt Cdr J Lee Barber), and GALLANT (Lt Cdr C P F Brown, repairing at Southampton)
Dover
19th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain D J R.Simson)
Division 37, KEITH (Captain D J R.Simson), BASILISK (Cdr M Richmond, repairing at Blackwall) Destroyer BEAGLE (Lt Cdr R.H Wright), and BOREAS (Lt Cdr M W Tomkinson, repairing at London)
Division 38, BOADICEA (Lt Cdr G B Kingdon), BRAZEN (Lt Cdr Sir Michael Culme-Seymour Bt), and BRILLIANT (Lt Cdr F C Brodrick)
Portsmouth Command
16th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain T E Halsey)
Division 31, MALCOLM (Halsey), VENOMOUS (Lt Cdr J E H McBeath, repairing at Portsmouth) Destroyer and WIVERN (Lt Cdr W C Bushell),
Division 32, ARROW (Cdr H W Williams), ANTHONY (Lt Cdr N J V Thew), ACHATES (Cdr R.J Gardner), and ACHERON (Lt Cdr R.W F Northcott)
Western Approaches Command
9th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain E B K Stevens DSC), HAVELOCK (Stevens, repairing at Plymouth), HESPERUS (Lt Cdr D G F W MacIntyre), HAVANT (Lt Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), and HIGHLANDER (Cdr WA Dallmeyer)
11th Destroyer Flotilla (Rear Admiral C H Little Rtd, Captain D Liverpool)
Division 21, MACKAY (Cdr G H Stokes), WALPOLE (Lt Cdr H G Bowerman), VANQUISHER (Cdr C B Alers-Hankey), WINCHELSEA (Lt Cdr WA F Hawkins, repairing at Liverpool), WALKER (Lt CdrA A Tait), and VANOC (Lt Cdr J G W Deneys)
Division 22, VERSATILE (Cdr T E Hussey Rtd), VIMY (Lt Cdr C G W Donald), WHIRLWIND (Lt Cdr J M Rodgers), WARWICK (Lt Cdr MA G Child), and SALADIN (Lt Cdr L J Dover)
15th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain C Caslon, Captain D Plymouth)
Division 29, BROKE (Cdr B G Scurfield), WANDERER (Cdr R.F Morice), WHITEHALL (Lt Cdr A B Russell), WITCH (Lt Cdr J R.Barnes), and VANSITTART (Lt Cdr W Evershed)
Division 30, WOLVERINE (Cdr R.H Craske), WITHERINGTON (Lt Cdr J B Palmer), VOLUNTEER (Lt Cdr N Lanyon), and VERITY (Lt CdrA R.M Black, repairing at Plymouth)
17th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain F C Bradley, Captain D Plymouth from 8 April)
Division 33, CAMPBELL (Captain F C Bradley, Lt Cdr R.M Aubrey from 8 April), MONTROSE (Cdr C R.L Parry), VISCOUNT (Lt Cdr M S Townsend OBE, DSC), WESSEX (Lt Cdr WA R.Cartwright, repairing at Milford Haven), and VIVACIOUS (Lt Cdr F R.W Parish)
Division 34, WAKEFUL (Cdr R.L Fisher), VESPER (Lt Cdr W F E Hussey), VANESSA (Lt Cdr EA Stocker DSC), and VENETIA (Lt Cdr B H de C Mellor)
18th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain D Plymouth)
Division 35, ACASTA (Cdr C E Glasfurd), ANTELOPE (Lt Cdr R.T White DSO), AMAZON (Lt Cdr N E G Roper), and ARDENT (Lt Cdr J E Barker)
Division 36, VETERAN (Cdr J E Broome, repairing at Plymouth), WREN (Cdr H T Armstrong, repairing at Plymouth), WHITSHED (Cdr E R.Conder, repairing at Plymouth), WINDSOR (Lt Cdr P D H R.Pelly), and WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr J L Younghusband)
Not assigned or undergoing long-term conversions
Grangemouth – SABRE (Cdr B Dean Rtd)
London – SARDONYX (dockyard control)
Chatham – WOLFHOUND (Lt Cdr J W McCoy DSC), VERDUN (dockyard control)
Sheerness – WORCESTER (Cdr J H Allison)
Portsmouth – AMBUSCADE (Lt Cdr A O Johnson), SCIMITAR (Lt F D Franks), WINCHESTER (Lt Cdr S.E Crewe-Read), SKATE (Lt Cdr R.A Fell), VICEROY (dockyard control)
Plymouth – VANITY (dockyard control)
Today in Washington, President Roosevelt, conferred on legislative matters with Congressional leaders, announced postponement of his plans to go to Warm Springs, Georgia, and his decision to spend the coming weekend at Hyde Park, and left the White House for the first time in two weeks for a drive in the Potomac Valley in Virginia.
The Senate considered the resolution to extend the Reciprocal Trade Treaty program, heard Senator Reynolds urge that the Foreign Affairs Committee question Ambassador Bullitt regarding assertions made in the recent German White Book and recessed at 4:41 PM until noon tomorrow.
The House considered minor bills, received the Fish resolution for an investigation of the German White Book assertions, heard appeals for increased relief appropriations and adjourned at 2:39 PM until noon tomorrow.
John L. Lewis threatened today to organize labor, youth, old age, Black and farmers’ groups into a third party unless the Democratic party adopts a platform and selects a candidate “acceptable to labor and the common people.”
President Roosevelt is still recovering from an attack of intestinal influenza, the White House disclosed today in announcing his decision to postpone a scheduled trip to Warm Springs, Georgia, until later in the month.
President Roosevelt is called upon to make clear whether he intends to “involve the United States in war, against the will of its citizens,” in an open letter to him from Amos Pinchot, lawyer and publicist, made public by Mr. Pinchot yesterday.
Representative Martin Dies (D-Texas) expressed determination today to get and publish the membership list of the Communist party, the German-American Bund, “and all other organizations which our Committee on Un-American Activities finds to be subversive.”
The 1940 United States Census begins tomorrow. More than 120,000 census “historians” will set out tomorrow morning to write a new chapter in a chronicle of the United States which already fills 20,000 volumes. The story they gather from 132,000,000 Americans will fill 3,300,000 pages with population facts, 2,200,000 pages with housing statistics and millions more with inventories of 7,000,000 farms.
Extreme care must be exercised by government prosecutors in protecting the spirit as well as the letter of American civil liberties, and especially in cases dealing with so-called “subversive activities,” Attorney General Jackson told the Annual Conference of United States Attorneys today.
Thomas E. Dewey, candidate for the Republican nomination for President, was virtually assured today of capturing New Jersey’s 32 votes in the national convention. The New York City District Attorney entered New Jersey’s preferential primary Saturday. With midnight tonight the deadline for filing, Dewey had the field to himself with no indication there would be any last-minute filing by his rivals.
A huge gasoline explosion and fire gave the Wilkes-Barre area an arresting spectacle today, the third day of the battle to hold in check the floodwaters of the raging Susquehanna. Eleven people are known dead in severe flooding of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
The historic Ridotto Building in downtown Bay City, Michigan burns down in a fire.
Flames swept through an old apartment building in northwest Washington early today, killing three persons and resulting in injuries to at least five others.
With the hearty endorsement of President Roosevelt and Governor Lehman, The Greater New York Fund started its 1940 appeal at a town meeting and rally of its 15,000 volunteer workers in Madison Square Garden last night.
The Franklin Astronomy Institute issues a press release announcing that the world will end at 15:00. The report is picked up on news services and the institute receives hundreds of calls. (April Fools!)
The Grumman F5F Skyrocket (XF5F-1) makes its first flight. The type is not put into production.
U.S. Navy submarine USS Skipjack departed San Diego, California, United States for the Hawaiian Islands area for training exercises.
The soap opera “Portia Faces Life” premiered in syndication on American radio.
Second Battle of Wuyuan: Chinese 8th War Area recovers Wuyuan and Wupulangkou as Japanese forces withdraw to the east toward Anpei and Paotou. The 11th Provisional Division recaptures Wu-pu-lang-kou. The Japanese continue retreating east.
Battle of South Kwangsi: Japanese 22nd Army holding Nanning while both sides regroup and prepare for new operations.
Absolute paralysis, which is expected to precede a panic, overtook Shanghai’s local stock market this morning when quotations on all issues were listed as “nominal” in the market and not a single buying order was recorded. This tense situation resulted from the announcement late yesterday to the effect that the Japanese community was nominating five candidates with the express intention of obtaining control of the Council of Shanghai’s International Settlement. The present Council comprises five Britons, two Americans and two Japanese, and this ratio. has been maintained under a longstanding gentlemen’s agreement.
If the Japanese obtain control of the Council under next week’s election, nominations for which close at noon tomorrow, both Chinese and foreign capital, heavily invested in many enterprises within the Settlement, will be absolutely at the mercy of the Japanese. The Settlement’s wealthy Chinese community is in panic today not only because of threats to their properties and investments but because a Japanese-dominated municipal council could force the Chungking-appointed Chinese courts to cease functioning within the Settlement’s sanctuary, whereupon new Japanese-directed puppet courts would be appointed by Wang Ching-wei’s new Nanking regime.
Russia and other powers are cooperating with China in efforts to lay a foundation for permanent peace in the Far East and throughout the world, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek told the opening meeting of the fifth session of the People’s Political Council today.
Having studied Secretary of State Cordell Hull’s statement, Japanese officials have concluded that it does not portend, embargoes or any other positive change in American policy toward Japan. They, therefore, through the press advise the public to be cool while Japan calmly pursues her “constructive” policy in China.
The towns of Ota, Kuai, Sawano, and Niragawa in Gunma Prefecture, Japan were merged to form a new town of Ota.
Filipino President Quezon officially authorizes the printing and publication of the grammar and dictionary prepared by the Institute of the National Language.
Peter Fraser becomes Prime Minister of New Zealand following death of Michael Savage
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 147.72 (-0.23)
Born:
Wangari Maathai, environmental and political activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2004), in Ihithe, Tetu, Kenya (d. 2011).
Annie Nightingale, English broadcaster, 1st BBC Radio 1 female presenter, born in London, England, United Kingdom.
Died:
John A. Hobson, 81, English economist and social scientist.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Canadian Navy Bangor-class (VTE reciprocating engined) minesweepers HMCS Georgian (J 144), HMCS Nipigon (J 154), HMCS Thunder (J 156), and HMCS Burlington (J 250) are ordered from the Dufferin Shipbuilding Co. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
The Royal Navy “R”-class destroyer HMS Rapid (H 32) is ordered from the Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, U.K.).
The Royal Navy Shakespeare-class minesweeping trawler HMS Ophelia (T 05) is laid down by the Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd. (Goole, U.K.); completed by Amos & Smith.
The U.S. Navy 70-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-11 is laid down by the Electric Launch Company Ltd. (Elco), (Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.)
The Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette HMCS Cobalt (K 124) is laid down by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. (Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada).
More photographs here: https://www.facebook.com/mark.olivares.71
History Diaries 