By the time these lines appear in print Herr Hitler will have made his speech in which it is believed he would indicate his peace terms. The prospect has created no particular sensa-in either Great Britain or France, for both es have got so accustomed to his outpourings, that he can now make very little contribution towards an improvement of the s. There are indications that the peace plan which he has prepared does not have the support of Signor Mussolini, whose government has remained strangely silent since the visit of Count Ciano to Berlin. If its terms are no different from those reported to be current in high German quarters it is not surprising that Il Duce refuses to have anything to do with them, for they are foredoomed to rejection at the hands of the Allies. There is some specu lion as to how Herr Hitler will present his peace plan. Some believe that he will indicate his intentions in general terms and await reactions before being more explicit. That speculation will by now have been set at rest by the actual speech itself, but it is fairly safe to gest that, unless in his offer Herr Hitler very closely approximates what are already known as the essentials without which the question of peace cannot even be considered by the Allies, his speech will have been nothing but a meanngless gesture so far as the outside world is concerned, though it may stil be fraught with considerable domestic significance, There is about this latest speech one gratifying feature, and that is that it has been awaited without an; anxiety whatever. There is no longer much concern as to what Herr Hitler is going to say next or how his policy is going to be affected. Committed as he now is to war, by reason of his own actions, the ending of it rests entirely with himself. Immediate peace can be obtained ata price which involves his own removal from office and the eradication of the form of government which he has set up. Merely his own resignation would not be sufficient, His accomplices have to go as well and Germany given an opportunity of securing that freedom which is cherished by the democracies, and in which alone a country can be expected effectively to work out its own destiny. Perpetuation of the Nazi system under Marshal Goering would not meet Allied requirements, for the peace of Europe demands that those who have busily wen engaged in destroying it shall have no further opportunity to repeat their ghastly'
iment, War-time at the Zoo London's famous Zoo is suffering the influence of war-time conditions. With air raid precautions, high cost of maintenance of the animals and @her extraneous problems, including the possible escape of the poisonous snakes in the event of bombing, the law of the jungle has teen intensified by the man-made laws of war necessities. One of the first steps taken by the Zoological Society authorities was to destroy; the magnificent collection of poisonous snakes-a step which, according to "The Times" which rarely indulges in sentiment, declared resulted in the fact that "the keepers, some of whom have spent 25 years with the reptiles, were visibly affected." A number of constrictor snakes and "ther reptiles, which may have caused trouble in case an attack en the Zoo may result in their escape, have also beer destroyed, but the big pythons have been saved and now recline in streng wooden boxes in the centre spece of the reptile house. Emergency measures have been token regarding the fish many of which have been released into the ponds and supply tanks. All the elephants, with the exception of a young African bull elephant two-thirds grown, have been removed to the reservation at Whipsnade and so have the giant randes, Li circumstances warrant there will b thinning out of the lions in order to reduce the enormous meat bill and the goa-lions pelicans and penguins, consumers of fish, may ye to change their diet and swallow m moored with cod liver oil in an effort te give it a fish tests. Other he Society regrets, something else will to be dene, Smalle Zoos throughout the country have already re duced the burden or threat to human life by destroying animals. All the wild animals at the Kursaal Zoo, Southend, have been destroyed. and appropriate measures have been taken elsewhere, It is a pity that this action has occurred for it takes time, money and long experience to create and maintain such institutions, but in the great sacrifice everybody must suffer. While hundreds of thousands of children hav-vacuated from London to the safer the chimpanzees and their afternoon tea party—which have. delighted thousands visiting Regent's Park, must be feeling lonely and unappreciated, but when better times come again they may feast to their heart's delight safe in the knowledge that they, too, did their bit in the great national task.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.