UNAMMOUSLY REJECTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 74, 13 October 1939, Page 5

UNAMMOUSLY REJECTED

Hitler's So-called Peace Proposals Prime Minister's Reply LONDON, 1:t.9.3U. To a crowded House of Commons to-day, the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, gave his long awaited speech, in reply to what has now become known as Hitler's Peace Offensive. As was to be expected the speech merely echoed the attitude of the whole of the Empire and possibly the Neutral World, in the face of the flagrant Nazi suggestions of consolidating their own gains by means of brutal force. The terms, if any, said Mr Chamberlain could not be entertained at any price. They vague and no reliance could be placed on the word of a government, whose broken pacts agreements and undertakings had marked the whole of their regime. Britain was prepared to discuss peace with any responsible government representative of the German people, but with the Nazi Government iphe had been disappointed too ofte,n before, and Britain, France and the Empire would be prepared to fight on in the interests of all other peace-loving countries. Mr Chamberlain referred to the re-establishment of the Austrian, Czech and Polish nations, and said that Britain could not recognise the cessation of Vilna to Lithuanua. Mr Chamberlain said that even had Britain been desirous of entertaining the terms of Hitler's speech, they were so vague, that it was difficult to see in them any concrete proposals for peace. Major Atlee, Leader of the Opposition, was in full agreement with the Prime Minister whom he warmlj' congratulated for his complete interpretation of the frame of mind of the British people.