"This action was taken because of the danger that organizations of which the persons concerned were leading members might be used in execution of acts prejudicial to the security of the state (cheers), not on account of any opium held or expressed by them or on account of their propagandist activities.
"It is not to be assumed that action taken this morning under these new powers represents finality. Further action must be and will be token as circumstances arise."
Sir John Anderson also announced special steps were taken to increase arms available for use of the police.
While there was no intention to turn police into a combatant force, it was desirable that many of them should be armed for their own protection and for purposes connected with duties to guard certain places, The Home Secretary was asked whether, for purposes of home security and having regard to what happened in certain neutral countries, it now had been decided to ban all Communist and Fascist societies and if necessary to intern their members.
This and other similar matters, said Sir John Anderson, were receiving attention due them in the present circumstances but it would be contrary to the public interest to announce beforehand steps which were being taken to deal with any person whose activities were calculated at any time to impede the national war effort.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.