THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 4, 1938.
MR. DUFF COOPER--
MUNICH TERMS STUCK IN THROAT
No Faith In Word Of GENERAL Herr Hitler
ELECTION PROSPECTS
LONDON, TO-DAY,
London, To-day.
Mr. A. Duff-Cooper, the retiring Lord of the Ad- miralty, was cheered by the Opposition when he rose in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon to explain the reason for his resigna- tion from the Government.
THE GOVERNMENT MOTION Mr. Duff-Cooper declared that British foreign po-
CONFIDENCE IS BEING
licy should be made plain to other countries. This it had failed to do in recent weeks.
OF DEBATED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TO-MORROW (WED- NESDAY) AFTER THE GEN-"We have been drifting day by day into war with ERAL DISCUSSION IS CON- TINUED TO-DAY.
The vote concluding the de- bate is expected to be taken to- morrow evening.'.
The Munich agreement will be attacked from the Opposition and to some extent also from the Ministerial side, but the risk to Labour of moving anything in the nature of a vote of censure is that the Government may reply with the offer of a General Elec- tion.
ORGANISERS IN FAVOUR.
Germany.
"We never said until the last moment, and then in uncertain fashion, that we were prepared to fight. Yet we knew that information to the op-
ATTEMPT TO FORESTALL MOTION
London, To-day. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, John Simon and Mr. Malcolm Macdonald yesterday gave notice of a motion “"that the House approves the policy of His Majesty's Government whereby war was averted in the recent crisis, and supports their efforts to secure lasting peace..
In submitting the motion, the Government
posite effect was being poured into the ears of initiative oku
the German leaders.
the two-day
the
with
on the
crisis, attempting to forestall a motion which the Opposition is believed to be contemplat-
Reuter ing.
"The Government has not useds Cabinet colleagues, with his allies, language that Dictators under-with the Dominions or with the stand. The language used by the assistance of expert and diploma- Prime Minister and Sir John tic advisers, was not the way in Simon means nothing to the which the foreign affairs of the mentality of Hitler and Musso Empire should be conducted.
For the first time they were com- lini."
mitted to defend a frontier in Eden, to leave the Cabinet,he said that although everybody was Central Europe.
If that was so, they should now naturally relieved by the sudden ̈ maintain. an army on the cone turn of events; he doubted whether tinental basis; they should quicken there was any cause for self-con- the rearmament scheme a gratulation over what had occurred. He had always considered it to broader basis,
be one of the cardinal principles of British foreign policy to take up an unequivocal stand in its attitude towards other countries.
Mr. Duff-Cooper charged the Prime Minister with not making the British position plain at Berchtesgaden and Godesberg.
VACILLATION
on
A
It is well known that Ministerial Party organisers favoured an early Election on the principle that the Prime Minister has saved peace, but Mr. Chamberlain, is said to be reluctant to take a snap election
NO FAITH IN HITLER on the present situation, as he does
Mr. Duff-Cooper concluded: "Mr. not regard his task as finished..
of Chamberlain believes he can rely It had come to the people On the other hand, it is possible that if criticism in the House is Czechoslovakia as a shock of; trea-on the good faith of Hitler, who carried to
"
When the British Government did send a message stating its attitude, it contained at least three qualifying clauses.
had turned
BRITAIN'S BIGGEST. DEFEAT the length of formal chery and perfidy that with enemies he thinks is only interested in
Germans.
It was the duty of the British censure, and the Prime Minister facing them Britain
"Mr. Chamberlain believes he Government to let there be no doubt contemplates further important against them.
las to where Britain stood and as to steps towards a lasting peace which
can come to a reasonable settle- might not be universally approved,
ment of all outstanding questions what Britain would do when con- fronted with certain circumstances. he might decide to submit the
That the British Government had whole issue to the country, Reuter.
reglected to do this during the past
CHENONCEAUX GROUNDS NEAR LYEEMUN
The M. M. liner Chenon- ceaux, met with a mishap in the early hours of the morning when attempting to enter the harbour.
The Chenonceaux which had just arrived with mails from Shanghai, Japan and Europe. via Siberià, ``grounded” at a point between Waglan and Lyeemun and damaged her propellor, and rudder.
No apprehension was ever felt for the safety of the pas
s or crow but a tus despa
scene and:
Th
щор
Not until the mobilisation of the British Fleet had Herr Hitler taken seriously into account the possibility of Britain's armed intervention. When at last Hitler began to Ishow signs of relaxing his position, Hitler already knew of mobilisation of the British Fleet.
with Hitler.
"He may be right. I hope and pray he is. But as I cannot be lieve that, it is better that I should go." Reuter.
*** FULL ACCOUNT. All the British Government had
The Prime Minister's speech which received in return for "sweet reasonableness" was the Berchtes for the first time in history, was relayed to the library of the Upper [gaden ultimatum.
Later the Prime Minister return-House, was a full account of what ed from Godesberg with nothing had happened since he had address- but an ultimatum in terms which ed Members immediately prior to only a cruel and revengeful enemy the adjournment of the House last would have dictated to a beaten Wednesday. foe after a long war.
FLEET WARNING Only the mobilisation of the Bri- tish Fleet had convinced Hitler that Britain would fight.
A similar account of these mo- mentous happenings was given in the House of Lords by Lord Hali" fax
The main interest of both Houses, however, was focussed on the state
months and weeks had led:
biggest defeat Buddy
foreign policy in
the
Had Britain been involved in war last week it would not have been because it had taken up
would have gone to war to praver behalf of Czechoslovakia, Britall
a big Power from succeeding the application of brute force and by the disregard of international
in gaining hegemony over Europe.
THE ONLY LANGUAGE It had often been said that one should not do anything to displease Adolf Hitler.
t - The order to mobilize the British. fleet was given by him some days "I tried to swallow the Munichment made by Mr. A. Duff Cooper ago because, he declared, in hie terms but they stuck in my throat." in explanation of his action in re-opinion that was speaking the only The German Government, having signing his post as First Lord of language which Hitler understood. got their man down, were not to be the Admiralty. deprived of the pleasure of kicking him, and the German Army was not to be deprived of its loot,
CHAMBERLAIN'S ONE-MAN
METHODS
to the Mr.
Char
** REFERENCE TO EDEN
The debate was opened by
forth the
:
The British Prime Minister had returned from Godesberg with nothing but an ultimatum. The
Duff Cooper who, a personal change in the German attitude had
reasons occurred on Wednesday morning,
nent,
led to distrust the for The former First Lord of the policy of the present Govern- Admiralty contend
After reference to t which had caused the
jchange of, attituds had tos
with