THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 14, 1988
PREMIER
HIS
AGAIN DENIES
PRO-FASCIST SYMPATHIES
London, To-day.
REVIEWS POLICY
The aims and actions of the Government since he assumed the Premiership last year, with special reference to foreign policy, were the subject of a weighty speech by Mr. Neville Chamberlain at the dinner of the Foreign Association in Lon- don last night.
The dinner was attended by 550 guests, including many members of the Cabinet, Ministers and Ambassadors.
BRITISH
AIR SUBSIDY
London, To-day. British airlines in England are to be subsidized by the Govern- ment in future, it is reported by the "Daily Telegraph."
Such support has hitherto been accorded only to overseas lines but the Government has now de- cided according to an official an- nouncement to appropriate £3,- 000,000 as a subsidy fund from which £100,000 annually will be allotted to service in, the British Isles, Trans-Ocean.
anti-German propaganda.
The paper added that such would The Prime Minister, who was received very cordial-make his visit to Rome superfluous.
ly, asserted that his aim had been consistently
-Reuter. the same from beginning to end.
INSUPPORTABLE
Two courses were open; one wasfberlain said: to make up our minds that war was inevitable and to throw the whole of the country's energies into preparing for it;
The other was to make a pro- longed and determined effort to eradicate possible causes of war and try out methods of personal contact and discussion, while at the same time proceeding with the rearmament necessary to restore the power of defence.
He chose the latter alternative. Mr. Chamberlain, referring to the first course, depicted how in modern warfare the most numer- ous victims were the civilian popu- lation.
PREMIER ASTONISHED He was astonished at the pessim- ism which seemed to possess some of the Government's critics.
They professed quite sincerely that they wanted peace above all things, "but if you want peace you must seek and rescue it."
Mr. Chamberlain proceeded to recall the agreements made in the past year
with Eire, Italy, Ger- many, the United States (which although a trade
agreement was symbolic of the existing good rela- tions) and the Franco-German Agreement.
"The complete subordination of individual independence to some- thing which is called the state but which really only means those who for the time being rule the state, would be insupportable in this country because it runs counter to all of our most fundamental con- ceptions of the framework human society.
of
"But I fully recognise that those ideas are not held universally, and it seems to me neither useful nor desirable to criticise others because they prefer systems which would not suit us but do suit them..
"History taught us that no form of government ever remains the same."
to
in-
The Prime Minister, turning the British military preparations, said they did not in the least dicate that we were war-minded.
But we were bound to fill up the deficiencies in our defences.
We had obligations, not only at home, but to those to whom we are responsible in the British Empire,
and to our allies.
DARK AND PERILOUS WAYS
FRANCE HOPES TO SMOOTH OUT TUNIS "CRISIS"
Paris, To-day.
.
re-
Quarters close to the Foreign Office last evening denied reports that the French Resident-General in Tunis, M. Labonne, had been recalled to Paris in order to port on the 'situation in Tunisia. It is stressed that complete order prevails throughout Tunisia and that not a single person has been seriously injured during the recent demonstrations.
It is admitted, nevertheless, that the situation in the Mediterranean is causing anxiety.
The French Government, holds the view that the treaty signed by After declaring that they would M. Laval and Signor Mussolini in face all Dictators in the world with 1935 is still a valid instrument. less apprehension than that name- It is pointed out that the Italians less power
called the press, Mr. secured important advantages Chamberlain continued: "Memories through this
treaty and that are short in days when great denunciation would deprive them of such rapidity that it is difficult to events succeed one another with these advantages. view them in their proper perspec-goodwill on both sides, the present It is hoped, however that with
crisis will be overcome and normal Mr. Chamberlain doubted whe- relations restored.-Trans-Ocean. ther any of his predecessors in the last 100 years had had to contend with more trying and anxious con-i ditions than those encountered in
tive."
the past eighteen months, and it
GERMANS
was too much to expect that any- BOYCOTT BANQUET
one in his position, forced by cir- cumstances to walk continually through dark and perilous ways, should escape criticism.
NOT DISHEARTENED
"If I were to fail, it would afford else to be able to say, I had fol little consolation to me or anyone lowed advice instead of relying on my own judgment.”
The goal was not only peace but confidence that peace can be main- tained.
"I never imagined that this goal could be attained in the twinkling of an eye without checks and set- backs. I have had them all, per- FULTILITY OF AMBITION
haps in greater measure than I "Our preparations have now pro-anticipated, but I am neither dis- ceeded far enough for us to say with heartened nor deterred. As lon. Surely the conclusion of three confidence that we are in the posi- as I am where I am, I will never major international agreements be- tion to fulfill those obligations." leave off trying." tween democratic and authoritarian He declared that nobody more Referring to the visit of himself states in the last year
was an gladly than he would join in inter-and Lord Halifax to Rome, Mr. achievement calling for satisfac-national disarmament.
Chamberlain said they would dis- tion rather than pessimism.
His years had taught him the fu-cuss with the head of the Italian tility of ambition if it led to a de-Government and his ministers, all sire for domination.
matters of common interest
#
concern.
and
London, To-day.
The German Ambassador, his staff and German journalists did not attend the foreign press Asso- ciation dinner last night owing to certain sentences in Mr. Chamber- lain's speech which, they declared, made it diffcult for them to attend.
It is understood that the passage objected to is that referring to the German press attack on Lord Bald- win.
The German places in the dining hall were hurriedly filled by other guests or chairs removed at the last moment.-Reuter.
TOKYO TALKS UNOFFICIAL
ROME TALKS Referring to the assertions made in some quarters that the Munich
History teaches that attempts at
London, To-day. Reuter understands that the Agreement was a defeat for the domination were never long suc-
BETTER UNDERSTANDING interviews democracies, the Prime Minister cessful, and have never added to
in Tokyo between
said:
the happiness of the nations which the winner or loser in these talks and
"Speculation as to who will be the Japanese Foreign Minister the British Ambassador "We should rather remember what have attempted it.
is not the spirit in which we pro- were entirely unofficial, and was the alternative that Munich
The ever present pas-pose to undertake the journey.
hence no .official cognizance can averted, namely, revision of the sion for national self-expression "Rather is it our hope that we be taken of them. Versailles Treaty by force instead makes domination precarious."
might find an atmosphere in which It is also pointed out that in of by discussion."
Mr. Chamberlain concluded with it will be possible by the personal, spite of profuse hints by Japan- Mr. Chamberlain said he was an appeal through his audience to interchange of thought, better to ese speakers and articles in the convinced that the British and Ger- all the nations they represented to understand each other's viewpoint Japanese press, the Japanese man people never wish to go to war realise that the aim of all should be and, by establishing greater mutual Government has hitherto not again.
happiness by laying aside suspicion confidence, to co-operate in one communicated any explicit state- He and Lord Halifax (the For-and prejudice.-Reuter.
way or another in further stepsment of their desire to repudiate eign Secretary) 'would not go to NAZI PAPER'S COMMENT towards a general sense of stability | the Nine-Power Treaty. Rome in the spirit of who would be
Berlin, To-day. and security." Reuter.
ter. the winner and who the loser, in The "National Zeltung," com- the forthcoming talks.
Answering charges that
he advocated coming to an
Reu-
menting yesterday before Mr.
Berlin, To-day.
Mrs. F. Schreiber, of No. 47, because Chamberlain had made his speech at Herr Adolf Hitler has telegraph- Grampian Road, has reported that under-the fiftieth anniversary of the For-ed to King George VI, conveying at.7 p.m. on Monday, she lost two standing with the dictator coun-eign Press Association, declared it congratulations and good wishes finger rings, valued at $90, some- tries, he must therefore be in favour would not be opportune for the Bri- on the occasion of His Majesty's where on the Star Ferry wharf, of Naziism or Fascism, Mr. Cham-tish Prime Minister to indulge in birthday, Trans-Ocean.
Hong Kong.