22
Weekly London Letter.
W.761.
A United People
--
By Andrew Blackmore
When the announcement was made of a Russo-German Pact,
Members of Parliament, who were all away on their summer holi- days, were recalled on the 24th of August. Mr.Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, made a statement on the international situation, emphasising the imminent peril of war but expressing a hope that peace might yet be saved.
His subsequent demand for virtually unlimited powers
for the Government was immediately granted. Such powers enable the Government to take steps to secure the public safety, the defence of the realm, the maintenance of public order, the ef- ficient prosecution of any war in which the country may be en- gaged, and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.
Emphasis was laid upon the pledges Britain has given
to other countries, and to Poland in particular. The idea which
has been fostered in Germany that Britain and France would desert
Poland when Soviet Russia deserted the "peace front" was declared
to be without foundation. Britain will honour her undertakings.
If Germany seeks to carry out her policy in Danzig by forcible
measures which Poland considers a threat to her national inde-
pendence, British and French force will be used to the utmost to
defend Poland.
The whole British people support the Government in this
attitude.
In Parliament no time was wasted on fruitless debate
The opposition parties contented themselves
or recrimination.
with the statement that they had differed from the policy of the
Government in the past, but on the present issue they would raise
none of the old cont: oversies. In Parliament, as outside, there
was complete and absolute unity of purpose. Germany's attempt
to dominate Europe and the world by force will meet with the opposition of Great Britian, and of the whole British Empire.