THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 6, 1939
Lord Halifax On Britain's War And Peace Aims PROFOUNDLY SHOCKED BY SOVIET'S ATTACK ON FINLAND: RIGHTING WRONGS
London, To-day.
REPLYING TO THE DEBATE in the House of Lords
H.K.'S NEW
OF PATHOLOGY
on the war and our peace aims the Foreign Se- PROFESSOR cretary, Lord Halifax, said he would summarize what the British war purposes appeared to him to be. Lord Halifax continued: "We desire the peoples who have been deprived of their independence to recover their liberties. "We desire to redeem the people of Europe from this constant fear of German aggression, and we desire to safeguard our own freedom and security.
Chungking, To-day.
Dr. R. Cecil Robertson, the League of Nations Epidemic Commissioner, has left Yun- nan to take up an appoint- "It is quite true to say we do not seek aggrandise- ment as Professor of Patho- ment and to redraw the map in our own interests,logy at Hong Kong Univer- and still less are we moved by any spirit of vengeance.
"On the
contrary, if Germany is able to restore the confidence which she has destroyed, we aim at a settle- ment which will encourage her to take her rightful place in Europe, and we wish
to create an international order in which all peoples will be secure under a reign of law in which they might determine their political and economic life free from the In- terference of more powerful neigh- bours.
"To this we would be willing to give our best in full Co- "operation with other nations, in- cluding Germany, to the work of reconstruction, politically and economically.
Only by that means do we believe the ordered international life of Europe can be preserved.
"That general framework will be found in the speeches of members of the Opposition just as much as in speeches by those who speak for the Government and in the views pressed in statements made on behalf of the Dominions.
"We were willing to follow it again immediately before this war If Ger- many would have abandoned her in- tention of invading Poland and would have withdrawn her troops.
the "And why in fact did not Munich Conference secure lasting peace in Europe?
"An
agreement was reached. The most solemn assurances were given and only six months after. wards Herr Hitler changed. his mind and, as he so often shows, he can always find excuses satis- factory to himself to Justify ac tion which completely contradicts assurances given sarller.
RIGHT ABOUT TURN "That kind of right about turn after solemn undertakings does show that no conference can be surely ac- counted a success unless that habit of disregarding assurances is aban- doned.
"It is little use indulging in wish- un- ex-ful thinking about conferences
less the primary lesson has been learned that force is a bad plan.
"There is evidence that the Ger- man Government not
yet Icarned that primary lesson.
DALADIER DECLARATION "It will be found in the declaration of M. Daladier and French leaders of all parties, and I do not belleve it will meet with dissent in any Allied quarter.
"This declaration represented the essential principles of a satisfactory
"Two prerequisites for conferences are, firstly, that the German Govern- ment was willing to accept terms cor- responding to the purposes for which we took up arms and, secondly, that there should be a security that any "I most devoutly hope the sacrifices settlement reached would be respect- of this war will lead to a truer ap-ed. preciation of Christian values.
"As to
and lasting peace.
to
to
the precise
"On any other basis a conference, terms upon which this country would be willing thing and would be only likely,
in my judgment, would achieve no- to end the war to-day, His Majesty, enable the leaders of Germany the other day, in answering the peace make their people believe that on the proposals of the King of the Belgians whole the old method of force and the Queen of the Netherlands,
said that it was not his wish nor that not worked too badly."
of his Government for the war to
INEXCUSABLE ACT
had
the
continue a day longer than was Lord Halifax added that the prac-. recessary."
tice of aggression grew, and in last few days they had witnessed an inexcusable act which had been con- demned,
Proceeding, Lord Halifax said the answer to the question on what con- ditions this country would lay down arms was given by M. Daladier in the speech he made a few days ago.
He said France, and he might have added the United Kingdom, would lay down her arms when she could treat with a government whose signa- ture could be trusted.
RIGHTING OF WRONGS
She would treat when the wrong caused to weaker nations could be righted and lasting security establish- ed, and he went on to indicate that France must have confidence that this wecurity would endure.
Hesarring to the suggestion made In some quarters -that an armistice should be proclaimed and a confer- ence summoned, Lord Halifax sald: "The success of any conference de- pends upon the 'conditions of its meeting.
.
The conférence method was föl- lowed in September, 1938.
Open towns had been bombarded, women and children mutilated and done to death on the pretext that 8 nation of under 4,000,000 had hostile designs against 180,000,000,
The British people had experl- enced two deep emotions.
They had been profoundly shocked by the circumstances of the Soviet attack and they had profoundly admired the magni- filcent resistance of the Finnu.
At the meetings of the Council and the Assembly of the League, His Majesty's Government would their position plain.
make
sity.
Dr. Robertson's departure ends dis- tinguished British medical service ren- dered through the League's Epidemic on the Yunnan-Burma Commission border.
ITALIAN STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Rome, To-day. Further anti-Soviet and pro Finnish demonstrations took place In Rome yesterday.
The police were compelled to disperse students who were marching towards the Soviet Le- gation shouting "Down with Russia."—Havas.
WORLD'S OLDEST PARLIAMENT AND SOVIET
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Reijkjavik, To-day. Iceland's National Assem- bly yesterday voted a motion branding the Icelandic Work- ofers' Party — which has Com- for its attitude towards the rights and freedom of small nations.
The Commission's work was chiefly directed to control an epidemic malaria on the Yunnan-Burma High- way.
A great deal of useful data munist tendencies concerning malariology has been ac- cumulated, making possible and great- ly facilitating the work of a group of American official health experts, head- ed by Mr. Williams, who are now in Kunming.
Dr. Robertson's work has greatly appreciated by the Government, Reuter.
MYSTERY MOVE BY
The motion says the attitude of the Party approving the rape of Finland brings shame on the Assembly.
The
motion was passed un- animously except for the vote of the Chinese four representatives of the workers'
Party:
THE SOVIET
been
AMSTERDAM, TO-DAY.
IT IS REPORTED THAT THE FIRST SECRETARY, NIKOLSKI IVANOFF, AND TWO OTHER MEM- BERS OF THE SOVIET EMBASSY
IN BERLIN HAVE SUDDENLY BEEN RECALLED TO MOSCOW.
Reason for the move has not been revealed.
Much comment has been caused in
Berlin that the move should occur at the moment when Germany urgently desires that her relations with Rus- sia appear outwardly cordial. Reuter.
IRON AND STEEL DUTY LIFTED
London, To-day.
In accordance with the settled prac- tice whereunder duties imposed on imported iron and steel are used rather as support for national needs than as a trade obstacle, these products have now been placed on the Free List, and an Order will shortly be made merely requiring import licences in respect thereof.
tions will enable effective control. of
imports and ensure that orders be made to the best advantage. British Wireless.
It is recalled that the National As~ sembly, or Althing, which is the world's oldest Parliament, celebrated a few years ago its 1,000 years of exis- tence.-Havas.
SOVIET STIRS UP HOSTILITY
Buenos Aires, To-day. The Argentine Government is taking the foremost part in the organisation of joint Latin-American action in protest against the Soviet in- vasion of Finland.
States members of the League are demanding the expulsion of Soviet Russia from the League,
Senor Cantilo, the Argentinian For- eign Minister, addressing the National Congress yesterday, declared that the action of Russia violated the elemen- tary principles of justice and human- ity.
A sense of the universal disgust aroused must be brought home to Moscow-Reuter.
VENEZUELA TO SHOW HER FEELING
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Caracas, To-day. Venezuela has informed the League
As the world price of steel and iron is slightly above the British home price, the effect of these two regula- of Nations that in spite of the Notice given of hér intention to leave the League in 1940 she will attend the session this week-end which will deat with the Tinnish appeal.-Havás.
MAURITIUS GIFT TO RED" CROSS
London, To day. The people ̈ of Mauritius have donated £2,000 to the Red Cross Fund and an aeropiane to the British Government. ---- Reuter,
Commenting on this unhappy ex- to attack Poland it would seem that tension of the conflict, Lord Halifax Hitler bartered what was not his pro- said: "The Russian attack on Finland perty to barter, namely the liberties seems to me to be a direct consequence of the Baltic peoples, and the BC- of the German policy...
hus shown quence of events
the "By an agreement which he damage once the floodgates are open- thought would give him a free hund · | ed." British Wireless.