HITLER'S SPEECH AWAITED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22505, 13 September 1938, Page 11

HITLER'S SPEECH AWAITED

NO UNDUE PESSIMISM IN LONDON BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE TO USE OF FORCE “POSITION MADE PLAIN TO GERMANY’S RULERS” (■arris* ornciAt «ri*tr.«Bi.: (Received September 12, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, September 11. The close contact which the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) is maintaining with the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) and other leading Ministers is a measure of the deep preoccupation which the situation of danger and suspense in Central Europe is causing Britain, as well as of the Ministers’ recognition of the growing feeling of anxiety in the country at a situation out of which war might arise. While thus recognising the seriousness of the position, the view taken in official quarters is not unduly pessimistic. Herr Hitler’s speech to-morrow night is awaited in London with certain anxiety in view of how much is believed to turn upon it, but it has not been forgotter that Herr Hitler has repeatedly expressed a desire for peace, and in all responsible quarters here there is every disposition to assume his sincerity. As far as the matters at issue between the Prague Government and Herr Heniein’s Party are concerned, Britain has never varied in her opinion that difficult as the problems might be they ought to be capable ol solution by peaceful negotiations. At the same time it is recognised that the deep feelings aroused have put a groat strain in Hie period of deadlock on both sides, and for that reason Britain welcomed and supported in..- idea of Lord Runciman going to .-raguc

I iio iviinciaiaii Mission | experience has shown that the I Guiiciinati fms.sK.ii nas overcome all tii mentai re.xrvat.ons with whim i. may originally have been met anu gained the confidence of all panics. On more than one occasion the ini-sion has succeeded in bring ;ng together the representatives of two sides when the negotiations ap oeared to have come to an end, and in recent days it has contributed to bringing about an offer by Czechoi Slovakia of fresh proposals, which i it is not questioned here go a long way' to meet the Suddens, and indeed much further than at one time it would have been considered possible for Czechoslovakia to go. As a result of these new proposals the 'gap between the two sides has been narrowed to a point at which, although a good deal more negotiation may be necessary for the elucidation and modification to some extent of these proposals, no justification any longer exists for the abandonment of the method of negotiation or recourse to violence. There is no doubt in Britain’s mind that any attempt to use force to solve the problem after the measure of conciliation shown by Czechoslovakia would incur universal condemnation throughout the world. Even now further set-backs may be met and apparent deadlock reached again, but while Ihe Runciman mission remains in Prague the possibility of mediation is not exhausted, and in Britain’s opinion there is no reason why the search for an agreed settlement should be abandoned. Consequences of Force It is not denied in official quarters that one of the questions which the British Ministers have had to ask themselves in the last few days is whether there is a full appreciation among German leaders of the possible consequences of a recourse to force. Britain’s position was made perfectly clear in Mr Chamberlain’s speech of March 24, and it is felt here that its terms could not be easily mistaken, or that it could have been overlooked in any responsible quarter in Germany, that Britain had fell bound to contemplate the possibilities, not only of other Powers being involved as a result of a resort to force in the Sudeten question, but of Britain being unable to stand aside from a conflict in which the integrity and security of France might be menaced. The Ministers, in fact, are clear that it is of first importance that Germany should be under no illusions in this matter, and in particular Germany should not count upon being able safely to embark upon a brief and successful campaign against Czechoslovakia free from danger of intervention by France and perhaps by Britain. Britain has not failed in a matter which is the concern not only of Britain but of the Commonwealth as a whole, to keep in Hie closest touch with the Dominions. Britain has also been in close touch with France, and she felt that she owed it to the relations, sympathy and understanding between herself and the TJnited States to keep the United States fully informed throughout recent weeks of her views of the European situation. Meetings at Downing Street Mr Chamberlain, Lurd Halifax, Sir John Simon, and Sir Samuel Hoare met at No. 10 Downing Street at noon. While hundreds thronged the street outside, the Ministers’ conference continued till Sir Samuel Hoare left at 3 p.m. Lord Halifax received the former Foreign Secretarv (Mr R. A. Eden).at the Foreign Office, where they had a conference lasting 95 minutes. The United States Ambassador (Mr Joseph P. Kennedy) also arrived at the Foreign Office. The serious potentialities of the international situation are insisted upon in the Sunday newspapers. The “Sunday Times” states: “As far as Britain is concerned, the pathway is becoming plain. To the limit of hope and beyond it she will persist in her mediatory efforts for peace, but if Germany challenges Europe by launching an attack on Czechoslovakia, then the warning declaration made by Mr Chamber-i lain in March, and re-emphasised by {

Sir John Simon at Lanark, will be followed up. Let us hope that the time may never come, but we will be ready to face our duty if it does. Already we are at the stage for closing the nation’s ranks. “In this crisis, and during the events that have led up to it, warnings enough have surely been given. Britain is not bluffing. Our Government has made its position plain to Germany’s rulers, not merely in the last few days, but weeks, and indeed months before. There is no excuse for misunderstanding it. In a war which imperilled French security, we should intervene with our whole strength, and indeed the security. of these islands is inseparably bound up with that of our nearest neighbour.”