' I Believe"

N U "I believe that 1939 will be a more tranquil year than . 1938," Mr Chamberlain is reported as saying in a New Year message. He said much the same thing at the beginning of last year. However, the three most famous seers of Paris. Old Moore's Almanack, Cavalcade, and the Daily Express, all agree that there will not be a European war this year. So 'that's all right.
When the Bag was Opened . . .
U As foreshadowed exclusively in the CATHOLIC HERALD, the Spanish Nationalists suspepted British authorities' complicity in the Consular Bag mystery, and arrested a British pro-consul. Official circles in London are reported to be " much surprised " and if the affair continues they may well, after the holidays, issue a Strong Note.
A.R.P. Moves On
I I People in England are still
interested in A.R.P. Everyone except the authorities, it seems. Sir John (" Hercules ") Anderson, charged with the cleansing of the ARPian stables is holidaying in the Alps. Meanwhile trenches in the London parks fill with mud and a masterly evacuation plan for London, drawn up by experts, lies a-mouldeting in Whitehall. It is claimed that Germany is building twice as many aeroplanes a month as we are. However, if 1939 is more peaceful than 1938 it will not matter.
All Party Group
• U Mr Sandys, M.P., Mr Ran dolph Churchill, and Captain Liddell Hart are forming a Ginger Group whose aims have been aptly summed up as banding together bs many citizens as possible against Mr Chamberlain, and as many nations as possible against Germany. Their finepoint programme is (1), Reversal Chamberlain's foreign policy; (2), Arms for (Government?) Spain; (3), Building a bloc of Peaceful Powers to resist aggression; (4), Efficient Rearmament; (5), Adoption of T.U.C. Charter for Youth. 40-hour week for young workers, etc.
Prefer France
M. Daladier, France's mourn ful looking Prime Minister is visiting Corsica and Tunis. At a banquet in Tunis he said, " France will Stand by her Empire." Of more interest to Frencmen is that apparently the Empire will stand by France. Not that the natives care much. either about the French or the Italians. though they slightly prefer the former.
Subs. and Submarines
R Germany has intimated that she intends to build many many more submarines. England is perturbed, because, already we are much inferior in submarines to Germany, and also we will now have to build more anti-submarine vessels. Germany says she needs these new submarines to counter the Russians who also have lots And lots of them. To ,ncreese our fleet will mean further taxation or Government borrowing.