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LiveWW2The Second World War, in real time
Day 62
Wednesday 1 November 1939

Molotov calls Britain the aggressor and the war for Poland senseless

From the LIVE WW2 feed

The Second World War, in real time, 87 years on.

The day in dispatches

Filed through the day, as it happened
Newest first
19:15GMT
19:15GMT
WireIRThe Imperial Review

Attlee demands higher old age pensions as Simon sets out the cost

Clement Attlee, the Leader of the Opposition, has moved in the House of Commons that the rising cost of living makes an improvement in old age pensions more urgent than ever. He demanded a real increase now, leaving the sum open.

Home front
18:45GMT
18:45GMT
WireNYRThe New York Register

House meets to debate instructions for its Neutrality Bill conferees

The House of Representatives met at 11 a.m., 16:00 GMT, to debate Representative James Shanley's motion instructing the House members of the conference with the Senate on the Neutrality Bill.

Washington
18:00GMT
18:00GMT
17:15GMT
17:15GMT
BreakingWireLSThe London Sentinel

Britain will ration bacon and butter from mid-December at the earliest

Bacon and butter are to be rationed in Britain, but not before the middle of December, W. S. Morrison, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who is in charge of food supplies, told the House of Commons today. Every consumer will receive a ration book and register with a retailer.

Home front
16:45GMT
16:45GMT
WireALThe Atlantic Ledger

Churchill tells MPs two Deutschland-type warships are reported in the Atlantic

Two German warships of the Deutschland type have been reported operating in the Atlantic, one in the north and the other in the south, Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, told the House of Commons today.

At sea
14:15GMT
14:15GMT
WireALThe Atlantic Ledger

Britain has declared no blockade of Germany, Cross tells MPs

Britain has not declared a blockade of Germany but has set up a system of control over contraband going to Germany directly or through neutral countries, Ronald Cross, the Minister of Economic Warfare, has told the House of Commons, according to British Official Wireless.

At sea
13:30GMT
13:30GMT
WireSOThe Stockholm Observer

Finland complains that Molotov has created a new and difficult situation

The Finnish Government says Vyacheslav Molotov has created a new and most difficult situation by publishing the Soviet demands just as the Finnish delegation left for Moscow with its reply, according to a Helsinki communiqué reported from London. The talks had been confidential, and his statement must naturally delay them, the communiqué says.

Baltic
12:30GMT
12:30GMT
WireLSThe London Sentinel

Queen will broadcast to the women of the Empire on Armistice Day

Queen Elizabeth will broadcast an Armistice Day message to the women of Britain and the Empire on 11 November, according to a London message. She will speak for five minutes that evening.

Home front
12:15GMT
12:15GMT
WireALThe Atlantic Ledger

British freighter Coulmore radios that she has sighted a submarine

The British freighter Coulmore has sent a radio message asking for help because she had sighted a submarine, and has since been silent, according to a New York message.

At sea
12:00GMT
12:00GMT
11:45GMT
11:45GMT
WireALThe Atlantic Ledger

City of Flint has taken a devious course through Norwegian waters

The American freighter City of Flint is steaming a devious course through the islands and fiords of the Norwegian coast, with her German prize crew apparently aiming to reach Germany almost wholly in Norwegian waters, according to a London message. A Norwegian destroyer is following her to guard against any breach of neutrality.

At sea
10:45GMT
10:45GMT
WireNYRThe New York Register

Roosevelt warns Americans against reselling scarce imports after a Soviet rubber bid

President Roosevelt has warned Americans against selling essential goods that the United States does not produce, according to a Washington message. It is authoritatively stated that the warning arose from Soviet efforts to buy 10,000 tons of rubber in America, presumably for Germany, since Russia is well supplied.

Washington
10:30GMT
10:30GMT
WireLSThe London Sentinel

Britain has suspended its refugee re-emigration offer for the war

The British Government has reluctantly suspended for the duration of the war its offer to encourage a fund for the re-emigration of refugees, if other governments co-operated, Sir John Anderson, the Home Secretary, told the House of Commons, according to a London message.

Home front
10:15GMT
10:15GMT
WireFECThe Far Eastern Courier

Wang Ching-wei has tentative Japanese approval for a new government, UP hears

Wang Ching-wei has received tentative approval from the Japanese military authorities to launch a new Central Chinese Government at the end of December, the Shanghai correspondent of the United Press of America writes.

Far East
10:00GMT
10:00GMT
WireFECThe Far Eastern Courier

Forty killed as a launch tows junks into a Hong Kong minefield

Forty people have been killed after a launch towing junks entered a minefield at the entrance to Hong Kong harbour, according to a Hong Kong message, and 11 have been rescued.

Far East
09:30GMT
09:30GMT
WireSOThe Stockholm Observer

Finland's Cabinet has met through the night over Molotov's speech

The Finnish Cabinet met immediately after Vyacheslav Molotov's speech and sat until it issued a statement early this morning, according to a London message. The speech has caused a sensation in Helsinki because it is held to break an agreement that neither side would reveal the negotiations, the Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press writes.

Baltic
09:00GMT
09:00GMT
WireIRThe Imperial Review

Italy and Greece will sign a non-aggression pact shortly, London learns

Italy and Greece will shortly sign a non-aggression pact, it is learned in London, according to British Official Wireless. Informed circles in London expect it to have a stabilising influence in the Mediterranean, and welcome it.

08:45GMT
08:45GMT
WireSOThe Stockholm Observer

Rome correspondent sees Italy's reshuffle as a drift from the Axis

Mussolini's Cabinet reshuffle appears to strengthen Italy's neutrality, the Rome correspondent of the British United Press writes. The new Ministers are experts suited to a vigorous policy of trade and diplomacy, he says, and many people see the removal of Dino Alfieri and Achille Starace as the start of a drift from the Rome-Berlin Axis.

08:30GMT
08:30GMT
WireIRThe Imperial Review

Britain's 120,000 dock workers will get a shilling a day more

About 120,000 dock workers in Britain will receive a wage increase of one shilling a day from 13 November, according to a London message. The minimum daily wage will be 14s at the large ports and 13s at the smaller ones.

Home front
08:15GMT
08:15GMT
WireSOThe Stockholm Observer

German army puts its Western Front losses at 196 dead

The German Supreme Command puts its losses from enemy action on the Western Front between 3 September and 17 October at 196 dead, 356 wounded and 114 missing, according to a Berlin message. Losses have changed little since, and 11 aircraft have been lost, it says.

08:00GMT
08:00GMT
07:45GMT
07:45GMT
WirePDThe Paris Dispatch

British fighters have downed a Dornier in their first fight over France

British fighters had their first chance to engage German bombers over France on Monday and shot one down, a Dornier, the Air Ministry announced. Two German aircraft were attacked flying high, and the second escaped into the clouds.

07:30GMT
07:30GMT
WireALThe Atlantic Ledger

Berlin admits three U-boats overdue and rejects Allied claims of heavy losses

Germany's official news agency has denied Allied statements that a third of the German U-boats have been sunk or damaged, according to a London message. It says losses are confined to three U-boats known to be overdue.

At sea
07:15GMT
07:15GMT
WireLSThe London Sentinel

Six barristers have corroborated the White Paper on the Nazi camps

Six barristers who sit on Home Office tribunals have written to The Times corroborating the British White Paper on the treatment of prisoners in German concentration camps, according to a London message. They include Sir George Bonner, Tristram Beresford, K.C., Walter Odgers, K.C., and John Thorpe, K.C., the Recorder of Blackburn.

07:00GMT
07:00GMT
WireSOThe Stockholm Observer

Molotov has asked for a Baltic-style pact with Finland

Vyacheslav Molotov told the Supreme Soviet last night that the Soviet Union wants a pact with Finland like those it has made with the Baltic states, according to a London message. Russia is interested in the Gulf of Finland, he said, but does not want the Aaland Islands and is making no demands on Sweden or Norway.

Baltic
03:30GMT
03:30GMT
WireSCThe Southern Cross

Australia will keep its air expeditionary force at home and build aero-engines

Australia's air expeditionary force, still being formed, will stay at home, Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister, announced after a meeting of the Federal Cabinet, according to a Sydney message. Australia's air plans have been recast after talks with the British Government and will depend on the Ottawa air conference.

02:00GMT
02:00GMT
WireIRThe Imperial Review

Congress ministries in Bombay and Bihar have resigned

The Congress Ministry of the Bombay Presidency has resigned, according to a Bombay message. A message from Patna says the Congress Ministry of Bihar has also resigned.

India
01:15GMT
01:15GMT
WireNYRThe New York Register

House agrees to send the Neutrality Bill to conference with the Senate

The House of Representatives has agreed to a Rules Committee resolution sending the Neutrality Bill to a conference with the Senate, the Congressional Record shows. A motion to close debate on the resolution carried by 237 votes to 177.

Washington
00:50GMT
00:50GMT
BreakingWireSOThe Stockholm Observer

Molotov calls Britain the aggressor and the war for Poland senseless

Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Commissar, has told the Supreme Soviet that Britain is the aggressor and that Germany is striving for peace, according to a London message. To continue the war for the restoration of Poland is senseless, he said.

Peace

Where things stood at the start of the day

Germany
Britain has published consular reports of brutality at Dachau and Buchenwald. Dutch newspapers have printed them in full.
Finland
Finland's delegation was due to leave for Moscow with its final answer. Soviet radio has made its first attack on the Finnish Government.
Moscow
The Supreme Soviet was called to meet to hear Molotov on Soviet policy.
Washington
The House of Representatives has taken up the Neutrality Bill after its Rules Committee overruled Hamilton Fish.
At sea
A U-boat has sunk the steamer Malabar. The City of Flint has left Tromsø under the German flag, and Washington asks for her crew's safety.
Italy
Mussolini has reshuffled his Cabinet, making Graziani army chief of staff and Muti party secretary.
India
The Congress Ministry of the United Provinces has resigned.