The principal economic weakness of Malaya is its continued depend-fence on imported food supplies, especially rice. Nearly two-thirds of Malaya's rice consumption must be met at present by imports. possible that arrangements will be worked out for increasing supply from India and Burma although far as possible regard must be given to the preference of the population for Thatland tice, Tt 1s believed that Singapore's industries can be adopted to produce certain wartime requirements, There is, for example, the canning industry which many millions of dollars Ihave been invested, The industry normally is concerned. with pineapples for "British and Canadian, markets, but since the Ministry of Supply ceased purchases the factories have idle. The Industry might be converted to some other use, possibly the canning of other foodstuffs 10 build up awe time. reserve, The engineering works, though occupied already with defence orders, ten out 9 variety of goods and are stil high, however, and unless any of the small Chine something Is" done to ' relieve the Undertakings and found Situation" there Ie. danger of those able of a considerable range of who are at starvation corner trying to better their condition by resort "France Not Dead; tralia can use the considerable quan-titles. of scrap" iron available Malaya which in the past have been fold to Japan—United Press, Can Never Die" singapore, Jan. 17.
Declaring that "France is not dead yet and can never dle." 'M. Guy Quoniam de Chompre, head' of the: "free French movement" in the Fa:
East, told Domei that his. principal task was to keep that idea alive among.
Interviewed at his headquarters here in the Union Building, Mr. de Chompre asserted that the "ree French movement", was non-political [and did not aim t6 create a government. "It is only a legion of men who have chosen' independence or Jdeath! That's why when politicians like Leon Blum and M. Pierre Cot offered General Charles de Gaulle {their services, he politely but firmly refused by making them understand that the only way they could help would be to enlist In the free French forces if they were of military age, de Chompre declared.
Mf. de Chompre stated that the aim of the movement was to organize branches in every neutral country to "protect and defend French culture schich cannot die."
'ME. de Chompre, who was a former [French Vice-Consul in Tientsin, was ordered by General de Gaulle to remain in Singapore and to organize the movement in the Par East when Ihe proposed that he. should proceed to Britain to join the free French forces.
Mf. de Chompre in conclusion erred that: "In this desperate pre-leament, the movement is the only way in which the encouragement to five on can be given Frenchmen the China May Build Road Direct to India Chungking, Jan, 1 In order to give China an inter national highway other than the Burma Road, officials of the Chinese Government are contemplating the possibility of building a highway leading directly from China to India.
As soon as the examination Jaraft plan has been completed, the Jcompetent authorities wil send squads of land-surveyors to map out the inerary of the new road—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.