THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 4, 1988.
Page
Mingled Hisses And
Hisses And Cheers Greet Prime Minister In
Commons
their urgent needs. (Cheers). berlain said: "I entered into no “As far as we have yet been able pact and made no new commit- to ascertain the Czech Government ments. There is no secret under- has not yet addressed a similar re-standing and our conversation was
hostile to no other nation,”
LONG STATEMENT ON quest to any other Government.
MUNICH AGREEMENT
London, To-day.
"Hard things have been said The object of that conversation, about the German Chancellor to for which he had asked, was to try day and in the past, but I think the and extend a little further the House ought to recognise that it is personal contact he had with Hit- difficult for a man in that position ler, which he believed to be, essen-
•
1
The House was again thronged when the Commons to take back such emphatic declar-tial in modern diplomacy, In
reassembled yesterday afternoon, and the ations as he has already made, and friendly but entirely non-committal in consenting, although at the last conversation carried on; in my part, Prime Minister received a loud and long ova-moment, to discuss with the repre-largely with a view to seeing whe tion from the Ministerial benches who rose to sentatives of other Powers those ther there could be points in con their feet and waved their order papers.
things which he had already decid-
mon between the heads of democra- ed once and for all, was a real and tic governments and the leader of After Mr. A. Duff-Cooper, who on Saturday resign- substantial contribution."
a totalitarian state. ed his post as First Lord of the Admiralty, had
BEYOND ACTUAL WORDS "I believe there are many explained the reasons for his resignation, Mr. Chamberlain rose to speak at 3.31 p.m. The Prime Minister was received with mingled
cheers and hisses.
MUSSOLINI'S PART Regarding Mussolini, Mr. Cham-
berlain said his contribution was
certainly notable and perhaps de-
claive.
2+
who
feel with me that this declaration,
signed by the German Chancellor
than It was at Mussolini's suggestion himself, is something more that the final stages of mobilisation a pious expression of opinion.
"I believe there is sincerity and Mr. Chamberlain asked to be found in the Godesberg memoran- were
that excused from answering Mr.dum.
hours to give them an opportunity goodwill on both sides of Duff-Cooper that day, adding, “Also, Germany and Italy under- of discussing the situation, and at document, and that is why to me. "though I have nog to with- took to give a guarantee when the the conference itself both Musso- its significance goes far beyond its draw or regret.”
question of the Hungarian and lini and Count Ciano (Italian For-actual words.
"If there is one lesson we should Mr. Chamberlain proceeded: Polish minorities was settled. eign Minister) were most helpful
learn from the events of last week "Last Wednesday we sat under CONSIDERABLE EXTENT in the discussions. the shadow of an imminent "Finally, there was the declara- "It was they who, very early in it is that lasting peace is not to be menace. To-day we all join in tion from the four Powers that the proceedings, produced a mem- attained by sitting and waiting for thankfulness that the prayers of if the problems of the Polish and orandum which M. Daladier and Iit: millions have been answered. Hungarian minorities were not set- were able to accept as a basis of "It requires active and positive
efforts," "Upon members of the Cabinet tled by agreement between the re-discussion."
Mr. Chamberlain said he the strain of responsibility in the spective governments within three Mr. Chamberlain added: “Europe last few weeks has been almost months, another, four-power meet and the world have reason to be too much a realist to think that overwhelming. Some of us will ing would be held to consider them, grateful to Mussolini for his work we were going to achieve our para- carry the marks of it for the rest "Every fairminded and every in contributing to a peaceful solu- dise in a day.
DERISIVE LABOUR CHEERS of our days."
serious minded man and woman who tion.
M. DALADIER
"We have only laid the founda- takes into consideration the modi-
"M. Daladier's courage, readi-tion of a peace superstructure that to the courage, patience and wis-agree that they are of very con-ness to take responsibility, his per has not even begun. Let no one
TIME FACTOR
Mr. Chamberlain paid a tribute|fications in the memorandum, must
factor.
PAINFUL OPERATION
!
every one of those modifications
m
was
on
dom of Lord Halifax, the Foreign siderable extent.
tinacity and unfailing od hue think that because I have signed Secretary, whose lofty conception ""To
those who disliked the mour, were unfailing and invalu- this agreement at Munich, we can of his duty, not only to this coun- ultimatum and were anxious for able during the whole of the dis-afford to relax our efforts or call try but to all humanity, was an reasonable and orderly procedure, cussions."
a halt in the programme of rearma- Referring to the United States, ment at this moment. (Derlaive example to them all.
Mr. Chamberlain continued with was a step in the right direction. Mr. Chamberlain said that the mes-Labour cheers an analysis of the position, when "In giving a verdict on this issue, sages. President Roosevelt had so "Disarmament on the part of this the Munich meeting began, and we should be well to avoid describ-persuasively made showed that the country can never be Mallateral, added that time was an essential ing it as a personal or a national views of the most powerful nation We tried that once and nearly
in the world could make itself brought ourselves to disaster. triumph for anybody.
"The real triumph is that it has heard across three thousand milesIt disarmament is to come. It All the elements were present
shown that representatives of the of ocean to the minds of men in must come by steps, and with the for an outbreak which might have
four-great powers can find it pos- The strongest force,
Europe.
agreement and active co-operation precipitated a catastrophe, and it
and one of other countries. was essential therefore that they sible to agree on a way to carry which grew and took fresh shapes
ON GUARD should reach conclusion that this out a difficult and delicate operation and forms every day, was not the "Until we know we can obtain painful and difficult operation of by discussion instead of loss of life; force of any one individual that co-operation and until we are transfer of Sudetenland might be and thus they averted a catastrophe
There was an unmistakeable agreed upon the actual steps to be carried out at the earliest moment. which would have ended civilisation
sense of unanimity among the taken, we here must remain Mr. Chamberlain proceeded to as we have known it." (Cheers).·
peoples of the world that war must
guard." compare the differences between SYMPATHY WITH CZECHS
be averted and the peoples of the the terms put forward by Germany Mr. Chamberlain proceeded to British Empire were at one with Mr. Chamberlain paid a tribute at Godesberg (rejected by the say that relief at our escape from those of Germany, France and Czech Government) and the terms this peril has been mingled with a Italy, and their anxiety and intense of the agreement signed at Munich: profound feeling of sympathy with desire for peace pervaded the whole "He added: "It was on the a small and gallant nation in the atmosphere of the conference. difference between these two hour of their national grief and
"NOT THREATS documents that will depend the lo
loss.
belleve that, and not threats, Judgment whether we were suc "In the name of this House and made possible the concessions we cessful in what we set out to do, the people of this country, I say heard to-day." namely, find an orderly instead that Czecho-Slovakia has earned our After acknowledging the encour- of a violent method of carrying admiration and respect for her re-agement he had received from the "While we must renew our datar- out... ⠀ an agreed decision" straint and magnificent discipline in good wishes of the Dominion Gov-mination to fill up the deficiencies (Cheers).
the face of such a trial that fewernments, Mr. Chamberlain pro- yet remaining in AN ULTIMATUM
nations, have been called upon to ceeded by stating that ever since and our defensive precautions, 60 "The Godesberg memorandum, meet (Cheers) cl
he had assumed his present posi that we may be ready to defend although cast in the form of pro- Mr. Chamberlain was subjected tion his main purpose had been to ourselves and make diplomacy effec posals, was in fact an ultimatum to considerable interruption from work for the pacification of Europe tive, I do see fresh opportunities with a limit of time. On the other the Labour beaches and in reply to (Cheers), and to remove the sus to approach this subject of disarma hand, the Munich agreement reverts a cry of "Shame, he retorted amid picions and animosities which for ment opening up before us, and I believe that they are at least as to the Anglo-French plan and lays prolonged Ministerial cheers: "I so long had paisoned th) sir." down conditions for its application have nothing to be ashamed of.” The path that leads to appease hopeful to-day as they have been at on the responsibility of the four MONETARY SALVE?
T
to the magnificent spirit of the naval reserves, the Territorial Army and the Air Force Observers' Corps,
who had been mobilised,
He also thanked employers who incon- had accepted the inevital venience of mobilisat
RENEWED DETERMINATION
The Prime Minister concluded t
ment bristled with obstacles. The any previous time.
our armaments
"It is tol such tasks winning powers and under international sup- Mr. Chamberlain continued: "We question of Czecho-Slovakia, was the ervision of the main principle of have received from the Osech Gov-latest and perhaps the most dan-back confidence and the gradual re- that memorandu
ernment an appeal to help raise a gerous. “The Joint guarantee given un- load of 000,000 by British Gov-
to ernment tahand Gover
der the Munich
Czech Slovakia by the
French Governmen
boundary, gave the Czechá
tial counterpart which is not to be the Governmen diap
moval of hostilities. be tiong until they feel discard thel
that I wish
ritish
FURTHER PROGRESS Now we had.
might be
·past
sible. on the
and
Friday, Mr.
fely