WAR LOOMS! Parliament today has passed a Bill that they assure the people will help to stem the flow of the unstoppable German war machine! Proposed by Winston Churchill himself and backed by the King Himself, the newest Bill will allow for lending, selling, and sharing of any and all pieces deemed "Defense Articles" by His Majesties highest Generals and Admiralty. The Bill, now being called the "Contribution to Liberty" Act was passed with no votes against it, and, as I write this some thirty odd ships that had been laden with cargo days prior are leaving ports across England for a threatened Yugoslavia across the Mediterranean as their pleas for assistance and dire need of supplies has not fallen upon deaf ears! Rejoice People of Britain! Today we take a step toward the protection of Freedom and Democracy the World over![hr] [quote]A BILL Further to promote the defense of the United Kingdom, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the House of Lords and the House of Commons and Lower House of the United Kingdom, That this Act may be cited as "An Act to Promote the Defense of the United Kingdom and her Protectorates". SEC. 2. As used in this Act - (a) The term "defense article" means - (1) Any weapon, munition. aircraft, vessel, or boat; (2) Any machinery, facility, tool, material, or supply necessary for the manufacture, production, processing, repair, servicing, or operation of any article described in this subsection; (3) Any component material or part of or equipment for any article described in this subsection; (4) Any agricultural, industrial or other commodity or article for defense. Such term "defense article" includes any article described in this subsection: Manufactured or procured pursuant to section 3, or to which the United Kingdom or any foreign government has or hereafter acquires title, possession, or control. (b) The term "defense information" means any plan, specification, design, prototype, or information pertaining to any defense article. SEC. 3. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the Prime Minister may, from time to time. when he deems it in the interest of national defense, authorize the Military Secretary, the Naval Secretary, or the head of any other department or agency of the Government - (1) To manufacture in arsenals, factories, and shipyards under their jurisdiction, or otherwise procure, to the extent to which funds are made available therefor, or contracts are authorized from time to time by Parliament, or both, any defense article for the government of any country whose defense the Prime Minister deems vital to the defense of the United Kingdom. (2) To sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government any defense article, but no defense article not manufactured or procured under paragraph (1) shall in any way be disposed of under this paragraph, except after consultation with the Chief of General Staff or the Admiralty of the Navy, or both. The value of defense articles disposed of in any way under authority of this paragraph, and procured from funds heretofore appropriated, shall not exceed £1,000,000,000. The value of such defense articles shall be determined by the head of the department or agency concerned or such other department, agency or officer as shall be designated in the manner provided in the rules and regulations issued hereunder. Defense articles procured from funds hereafter appropriated to any department or agency of the Government, other than from funds authorized to he appropriated under this Act. shall not be disposed of in any way under authority of this paragraph except to the extent hereafter authorized by Parliament in the Acts appropriating such funds or otherwise. (3) To test, inspect, prove, repair, outfit, recondition, or otherwise to place in good working order, to the extent to which funds are made available therefor, or contracts are authorized from time to time by Parliament, or both, any defense article for any such government, or to procure any or all such services by private contract. (4) To communicate to any such government any defense information pertaining to any defense article furnished to such government under paragraph (2) of this subsection. (5) To release for export any defense article disposed of in any way under this subsection to any such government.[/quote][hr] A man dressed in a long dark coat and with a cigarette in his mouth stood next to a telephone booth in Dover Harbor. He stood casually, staring off at something on the water line as he slowly dragged on his cigarette. It had been a long day, although a surprisingly easy one given how much time he had spent at his craft. He took the cigarette between two fingers and lowered it from his mouth, the small smoke of the burning tobacco rising up past his face from below and being taken by the cold Autumn breeze as it passed his head. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled a small envelope from it. He fingered the edge for a moment, ensure that it was still tightly sealed before he slipped it back into its place. "Great day for a swim ain't it?" came a voice from his side. He didn't turn to look at the person talking, merely replied. "Straight across the Channel, aye." he spoke softly. There was a slight pause before the man stepped forward from behind him and stared off across the Channel with him. "Surprisingly easy task I'd say." he said as he pulled the envelope from his pocket once more, this time bringing his hand down to his side with it in his grasp. "How so?" the other man asked as he discreetly took the envelope from him. He sniffed in the cold, "The Dock Foreman, he didn't even ask for any identification or paperwork, simply gave me the manifest a little bit after I asked." he stated as he placed his hands back in his pocket. "Ho ho? That easy huh." the other man replied, "Seems we'll need to tell the Admiralty they need better checks in place." "Seems so." the man replied before stepping down off the curb and walking across the street, not bothering to look back and see where the man he had given the envelope to had gone off to. [quote] Dry Freighter [i]Columbia[/i] Shipping Manifest Meats - 2,000 tonnes Clothing - 900 tonnes QF 3.7-inch Mountain Howitzer - 110 Guns Pattern 1913 Enfield - 1200 Rifles Other Assorted Defense Articles - 5000 tonnes [/quote]