Premier Adopts Firmer Tonew
(Continued from Page 1) ister, the blame for the fate of Czecho-Slovakia must rest on his shoulders. That is an entirely unwarrantable conclusion.
DESPERATE SITUATION "I went there first and foremost because in what appeared to be an almost desperate situation, that seemed to offer the only chance of averting a European war.
length to Hitler's assurances at Munich that the Sudetenlands were his last territorial ambitions in Europe, which he confirmed in his speech at the Sports Palace in Berlin.
REPEATED "ASSURANCES”- "In view of these repented as- surances, I considered myself justi- fied in founding the hope that once the Czecho-Slovakian question had been settled, as it seemed at Munich, it would be possible to carry further the policy of appeaso- ment.
"The first and most immediate ob- ject my visit was achieved. The peace of Europe was saved, and if it had not been for these visits, hundreds of thousands of families "Nevertheless I was not prepared] would to-day be mourning for the to relax, precautions until I was flower of Europe's manhood. satisfied that the policy had been "Really, I have no need to de-established and accepted by others. fend my visit to Germany, for what "Therefore after Munich our de- was the alternative?
fence programme was actually ac- "Nothing that we, France or celerated and expanded in order to Russia could have done could pos-remedy certain
weaknesses which sibly have saved Czecho-Slovakia] had become apparent during the from invasion and destruction, and Crisis.
as
NO DOMINATION "I went to Munich to further the| policy sometimes called European appeasement."
J
even if we had subsequently gone "I am convinced that after Munich to war to punish Germany, and the great majority of the British after frightful losses had been in- people shared my hopes and ardent- 'flicted on all partakers. we had been ly desired that that policy should victorious, we could never have re-
be carried further, but to-day constructed Czecho-Slovakia
share their disappointment and framed by Versailles.
indignation that those hopes have| been so wantonly shattered.
ENTITLED TO CONSULTATION
"How can these events be recon- ciled with the assurances I have read "If that policy were to succeed to you? Surely, as joint signatory it was essential that no power of the Munich Agreement I Was should work to obtain the general entitled, if Hitler thought that domination
of Europe, but that ought to be undone, to the consulta- cach should be content to obtain |tion which is provided in the reasonable facilities for developing | Munich declaration? its own resources, securing its own share of international trade and improving the conditions of its own people.
Mr. Chamberlain
"Instead of that he has taken the law into his own hands. Before even the Czech President was con- fronted with demands he had no referred at power to resist, German troops
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were on the move. And in a few
US
fazamas
IOPTICIAN KRO
(Opposite the Hong Kong Hotel)
hours they were in the Czech STOP PRESS
capital."
described the
Mr. Chamberlain position of the Czechs under the German regime, adding:
"Who can fail to feel his heart go out in sympathy to this proud, brave people who so suddenly have been subjected to these inflictions, whose liberties are curtailed and whose national independence has gone,
WHAT INDEED
"What has become of these dis- claimers of no further territorial ambitions? What has become of the assurances that 'we don't want Czechs in the Reich'?
What regard has been paid bere to the principle of self-determina- tion which. Hitler argued with me 80 vehemently at Berchtesgaden when asking for severance of the Sudetenland from Czecho-Slovakia?
re-
same
"Does not the question inevit- ably arise that if it is so easy to discover good reasons for ignoring assurances so solemnly and peatedly given, what reliance can we place upon any other assur- ances that come from the quarter?
ATTEMPT AT DOMINATION?
"The events of this week, in their complete disregard of the principles laid down by the German Government itself, seem to fall into a different category and must, cause us all to ask: Is this the end of the old adventure or the beginning of a now?'
"Is this the last attack upon à small State or will it be followed by others? Is this in fact a step in the direction of an attempt to dominate the world by force?
"WE MUST REVIEW THE POSITION" "These are
grave and serious, questions. I am not going to answer them to-night but I am sure they will require grave and serious consideration, not only by Germany's neighbours but by others perhaps even beyond the confines of Europe.
・シ
"Already there are indications that the process has begun, and it is now likely to be speeded up. We ourselves turn"" naturally first to ́our partners in the British Com- monwealth and to France, to whom we are so closely bound.
the
"Now. we must all review position with that sense of respon- sibility which its gravity demands. "Nothing must. be excluded from that review which bears upon the national safety, Every aspect our national life must be looked at again from that angle."
of
Seven draft bills are carried in to-day's Government Gazette. One makes statutory provi- sion for the new method of as- sessment of Military Contribu- tion at the fixed rate of $6,000,- 000 annually, by monthly in- stalments.
A second gives power to eject a tenant by force on convic- tion under the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance when a Magistrate has made an order determining the ten- ancy of premises;. -
An ordinance to amend the law relating to the profession-. al qualifications required in the case of Judges of the Su- preme Court and Full Court arise from the establishment of a Colonial Legal Service, mak- ing it important that provisions relating to qualifications should be uniform throughout the Colonial. Empire.
The most important is an Ordinance to consolidate the Registration of Persons Ordin- ances, 1934, with the subsequent Ordinances amending it. The amending Ordinances include the provision for "National Regia- tration" of British subjects, and changes have been made in the text as originally drafted.
The Ordinance comes into force as soon as it has passed its various stages In Legislative Council, and all British subjects will be required to fill in two forms within two months of the passage of the Ordinance. Per- sons under 18 or over 55 are exempted as are all women.
Particulars required include place of birth, passport details, local residence and telephone number, profession or occupa- tion, name of employer, etc. etc., whether the person re- gistering has had experience as an aviation pilot, in electricál engineering, mechanical gineering; as an artificer, in motor engineering, radio and wireless, language.(qualifica- tions, etc. and whether the signatory is willing to volun- teer in an emergency for gen- eral service anywhere, or for local service,
on-
bring with them sooner or later their reward-
"SHE WILL REGRET”
"Every one of these incursions Replying to a vote of thanks, Mr. raises fresh dangers for Germany Chamberlain said: “We need not be in the future, and I venture to pro- downhearted. This is a great and pheay that in the end she will bit- powerful nation, far more powerful terly regret what her Government than we were even six months ago, has done."-Reuter." and acts of violence and injustice
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