1939-05-12 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 12, 1989

MOOD

OF FIRM,

FIXED RESOLVE

Any Use Of Force Would Find Britain Involved

“ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD BE GLAD TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLAND AND GERMANY AMICABLY SETTLED BY DISCUSSION, AND ALTHOUGH WE THINK THEY COULD AND SHOULD BE SO SETTLED, IF AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO CHANGE THE SITUATION BY FORCE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO THREATEN POLISH INDEPENDENCE, THEN THAT WOULD IN- EVITABLY START A GENERAL CONFLICT IN WHICH THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE INVOLVED.”

This clear statement of British policy was made by

the Prime Minister, who described Britain's commitments to Poland as clear and concise, when addressing 8,000 women Conservatives, at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday. Referring to the events of the past twelve months, Mr. Chamberlain said: "We have been through the whole gamut of emotions, until now the people have settled down into a mood of firm and fixed resolve. "Confident in our strength, might avoid an armaments race clear in conscience that we have between Germany and England, done all that man could do to pre- and that he would be ready to serve peace and convinced of the negotiate on naval questions. rightness and unselfishness of our aims, 'we are, however, as ready as ever to listen to the views of others, but are determined not to submit to dictation.

"Nothing would induce us to enter a war unless we were abso- lutely convinced it could not be avoided without sacrificing our liberties and our good name.

GERMAN ACTIONS

Mr. Chamberlain said the Gov- ernment would give most careful statement, to that consideration

and in due course would send a reply. to the German Government.

SHAKEN CONFIDENCE "But let me say here and now that neither in armaments nor in desire to enter economics do we into unbridled competition with Germany.

"We would not refuse to enter "It has never been part of Bri-into discussion of methods for in tish policy to be meddlesome crease of our mutual trade, or for busybodies, interfering with improvement of economic condi- other people's concerns.

tions, but only if unmistakable signs "As for Germany's actions, can be given us of a desire to re- Britain is not necessarily con- store that confidence which cerned with them so long as they seek to promote the interests of Germans without threatening the independence of nor-German countries."

Mr. Chamberlain added that it had never entered our thoughts to isolate Germany or stand in the way of the natural and legitimate expansion of her trade in Central and South-Eastern Europe, still less to plan some combination against her with the idea of war upon her.

1

Any suggestion of that kind was simply fantastic. It was not be lieved anywhere outside Germany. ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS

Mr. Chamberlain quoted Hitler's speech regarding the Anglo-German Naval Treaty.

He said: "I want to make a firm and definite assertion that so far as we are concerned the basis of the Treaty has not been removed.

been so severely shaken.

has

"I want to make it equally plain that we are not prepared to stand by and see the independence of one country after another destroyed,

"It is because there can be no no security in Europe rest and until the nations are convinced that no such attempt is contemplated that we have given assurances to Poland. Rumania and Greece.

RUSSIAN NEGOTIATIONS "For the same purpose of calm- ing and stabilising the situation we entered upon conversations with other countries, particularly Rus- sia and Turkey.

pro-

"These conversations are ceeding, and I only say it is the earnest hope and desire of the Government that they be brought to an early and successful concly- sion, and that in this way the cause of peace may be still further but- tressed.

'"""In many minds the danger spot On the contrary, it remains our of Europe to-day is Danzig, while most earnest desire that our two our assurances to Poland are clear peoples will never go to war with and concise,

"Although we should be glad to one another again.”

Mr. Chumberlain said he believ-see the differences between Poland ed that desire to be as firm as ever and Germany amicably settled by among both peoples, and he was discussion, and although we think convinced that the peoples expect they could and should be so settled, le to change ed their Governments so to arrange if an attempt is made to their relations with one another | the situation by force in such a way that no question of war between as to threaten Polish Independence. them should arise.

then that would inevitably start a Mr. Chamberlain further quoted general conflict in which this

--un saying he hoped they country would be involved.”

GERMAN- RESPONSE

Berlin, To-day.

First response to the Cham- berlain speech is that in Berlin there is no disposition to dis- cuss the Danzig question at all since "beyond all shadow of doubt Danzig is German."

Trans-Ocean.

CONSCRIPTION DECISION Referring to conscription, Mr. Chamberlain dealt with the feeling of doubt in some Continental coun- tries as to the seriousness of Bri- tain's intentions.

80

"The attitude of the Labour Party on the conscription question is singularly unfortunate.

“I am satisfied that the Labour Party does not represent in this matter the people for whom it pro- fesses to speak."

RELIEF NEEDED

Mr. Chamberlain continued:

"If

only we could get a little relief

from international tension there are many indications that we might see great expansion of trade and

which prosperity

would benefit every nation in the world.

"The power of restoring confi- dence does not lie in our hands alone, but so long as I am where I am, I shall continue to hope and spare no effort to bring it back."

DEADLY MISTAKE

Mr. Chamberlain said he had had an opportunity the previous day of exchanging a few words with M. Leon Blum (ex-French Premier), who said that in his view and in the view of all his Socialist friends, there was only one danger of war in Europe, and that was a very real one.

It was that the impression should get about that Britain and France were not in earnest, and could not be relied upon to keep their pro- mises.

If that were so, said Mr. Cham- berlain, no more deadly mistake could .be made. It would be a frightful thing if Europe were to ba plunged into war on account of a misunderstanding.—Reuter.

DEADLOCK ENDED

"We have found this feeling strong that it is actually jeopard-

New York, To-day. Mr. J. R. Steelman, Federal me- ising the success of the policy of trying to build up a peace front. diator in the coal strike, has issued "It would be a frightful thing if a statement that in so far as the on public is concerned, the deadlock is Europe was plunged into war

over-Reuter. account of a misunderstanding.

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