MR.
CHAMBERLAIN'S
SPEECH
BRILLIANT
Taken By Surprise By Hitler's New Demands
Fears Any New Mediation Effort Would Be Wasted
BUT WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TILL LAST
LONDON, TO-DAY.
DE VALERA APPEAL FOR CONTINUED PEACE BID
Geneva, To-day.
Mr. Eamonn de Valera, Premier of Eire, has sent a
daunt you
or deflect you in your effort to secure peace.
"Tens of millions of innocent
THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. NEVILLE CHAM-telegram to Mr. Neville Cham- BERLAIN, IN HIS BROADCAST TO THE EM-berlain stating "Let nothing PIRE LAST NIGHT, SAID HE WOULD MAKE IN PARLIAMENT TO-DAY (WEDNESDAY) A FULL STATEMENT OF THE EVENTS WHICH LED UP TO THE PRESENT OUS AND CRITICAL SITUATION. He referred to those who had written to him or to his wife in these last weeks to express gratitude for his efforts, and to assure them of their prayers for his success.
ANXI-people on both sides, who have
Most of these letters had been from British women, but there were countless others from France, Belgium, Italy and even Germany.
It was heartbreaking to read of doubt Herr Hitler feels about the the growing anxiety they revealed intentions of the Czech Government and the intense relief when they to carry out its promises to hand thought, too soon, that the danger over the territory, I offer on behalf of war was past.
of the British Government to guar- He had felt his responsibility antee their words, and I am sure heavy before. To read such letters the value of our promises will not made it seem almost overwhelming. be underrated anywhere.
HORRIBLE, FANTASTIC
HOPE NOT GIVEN UP
With obvious emotion, Mr. Cham- "I shall not give up hope of a berlain said: "How horrible, fan-peaceful solution or effective efforts tastic and incredible it is that we for peace as long as any chance for should be digging trenches and try-peace remains.
who are in danger of being hurled against each other with
no cause against each other but
no alternative to mutual
efforts may find a way of sav- slaughter, are praying that your ing them from this terrible
.
doom."-Reuter,
PRAGUE KEPT BLACKED-OUT EVERY NIGHT
Prague, To-day.
A complete Black-Out" has been ordered for Prague un- til further notice. Consequently the Czech capital will be plunged into complete darkness every even- ing after nightfall, ·
The inhabitants have been warn- ed that not the slightest ray of light must be allowed through the windows or doors. Guards of the Civil Air Defence will be stationed at all buildings..
The Czech press reports that the state of "Defence Preparedness" authorises the Government to issue decrees which will have force of law and which require merely the signatures of President Benes for Lenactment.
This authorisation does not, however, apply to constitutional matters and Parliament retains the right of control since Government must submit the decrees issued to the two Chambers within 14 days tween nations is a nightmare to me, of their enactment. If a simple and if I were convinced that any majority of the two Chambers re- nation had made up its mind to do-jects the decrees, they cease to be minate the world by fear of its in force automatically. Trans- force, I should feel it must be re- Ocean. sisted..
"In such domination, life for people who believe in liberty would not be worth living.
MUST BE VERY CLEAR "But war is a fearful thing, and ing on gasmasks because of a quar- "I would not hesitate to pay even we must be very clear before we rel in a far away country between a third visit to Herr Hitler if I embark on it that it is really great people of whom we know nothing. thought it would do any good, but issues that are at stake. That we "It seems still more impossible at this moment I see nothing fur-should risk everything in that de that a quarrel already settled in ther that I can usefully do in the fence when principle should be the subject of way of mediation."
Mr. Chamberlain pointed out that volunteers were
still wanted for A R., the fire brigade, police and territorials.
war.
UNDERSTANDS CZECH DECISION
"I can well understand the reasons why the Czech Government felt un- able to accept the terms of the Ger- man memorandum.
all the consequences
CHAMBERLAIN
BROADCAST IN GERMAN
Immediately.
are weighed, is irresistible.
London, To-day. "For the present I ask you to
after the Prime wait as calmly as you can for Minister's speech, a translation events of the next few days. As together with a news bulletin, was long as has not begun there broadcast in various European lan- is always hope that it may be guages, including German. APPEAL FOR RECRUITS
prevented, and you know I am The broadcast of news in Ger- He said he knew that all of them, going to work for peace till the men and women alike, were ready to last moment.” Reuter. "I feel that after my talks with play their part in defence of the Herr Hitler, if only time were country, and he asked them to of allowed, it should be possible for for their services if they had not arrangements to be made.
{already done so, to the local "You know already that I have thorities. done all that one man can do to compose this quarrel.
au-
·
Mr. Chamberlain said they should. not be alarmed if they heard that
"After my visits to Germany I men were called up to man anti- realise vividly how Herr Hitler feels aircraft defences or ships.
he must champion the cause of the * He said these were only pre- Germans,
TAKEN BY SURPRISE
cautionary measures such as the Government must take in times like this, but it did not necessarily mean
AUSTRALIAN CABINET IN LONG SESSION
JA
fter my first visit to Berchtes-that we were determined on war or Lyons announced yesterday that gaden, I did give to the Czech Gov- that war was imminent.
FIGHTING ISSUE
Mr. Chamberlain said:
"How-
situation.
man, which is the first ever made from London, contained various items which have so far not ap- peared in the German press, such as President Roosevelt's message to the heads of various European
Governments,
Herr Hit- ler's-British Wireless,
LEAGUE PRCLES
DISCO
Reaction incl the State Premiers have been est developments
faction since it was, ernment proposals which gave the
ummoned to Canberra on Thursler in his speech wou substance of what Herr Hitler want- ed, and I was taken completely by surprise when I got back to Ger ever much we may sympathise with day to discuss the international directly with many to find that he insisted that a small nation confronted by a big the territory he wanted should be and powerful neighbour, we cannot handed over immediately and im- in all circumstances undertake to mediately......... occupied by German involve the whole British Empire troops, without previous arranges in war simply on her account.
ents to safeguard non-Germans "If within the territory.
fon:
The Cabinet sat almost
esterday. tinuously throughout.
Hit:
ranch:
plan
His repeated personal Dr. Bones are also it is believed this will
aoks on
d since
compll-
riendly
Hitler
Finten-
Ger
A meeting of the Loan Council câte negotiations. Cir hag bien called for Friday to atto Czechoslovakis
internal conversion has at least 1
ve to fight, it must be ranked inter lane than that. der myself am a man of peace to unreasonable. If it arises from any, the depth of my soul. Confilet be-
#must say.
4 And this attitude
to be cancelled tion to march market uncertainty. man districter
vents or