BRITISH POLICY ATTACKED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22510, 19 September 1938, Page 9

BRITISH POLICY ATTACKED

Soviet Newspaper’s

Comment

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S

VISIT

“Attempt to Deceive Public Opinion ” (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 18, 10 p.m.) MOSCOW, September 17. The newspaper “Pravda” regards Mr Chamberlain’s visit to Herr Hitler as an attempt to deceive public opinion and. under the guise' of a pacificatory ■ gesture, to reach an agreement with , the aggressor for which Czechoslovakia would be forced to pay. The journal adds: “The British Conservatives want to make political capital by asserting that their accord with Germany and the new concessions to Herr Hitler would save Europe from war. There is no greater falsehood than this. “Agreement with the aggressor does not. postpone but accelerates war. The annexation of Sudetenland to Germany would end the independence of Czechoslovakia and permit German domination in Central and South-Eastern Europe to intensify her intervention in Spain and encircle France.”

CONTROVERSY NOT DESIRED

CANADIAN PREMIER’S

STATEMENT

NO SERVICE TO CAUSE OF PEACE

(Received September 18, 10 p.m.)

pTTAWA, September 17

The Prime Minister (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King), in a statement today declared that the Government was ready to assemble Parliament immediately it became necessary. “Meanwhile, in the light of all the circumstances known to us,” he said, “we do not consider a public controversy as to action in hypothetical contingencies, will ..serve, peace or the unity, of the British Commonwealth, . . ■ '“The present essential: task is to avert a recourse to force by finding a * peaceful solution. The United Kingdom Government has undertaken this task with courage and vision, which the people of Canada unanimously appreciate. If its efforts fail, it will become necessary for the Governments of all countries concerned to determine the course to follow.”

The “Vancouver Sun” praises the Government’s attitude, which is described as “neither rattling the sabre nor hunting for a hole to hide.” The newspaper adds: “At a time when any word is likely to be a wrong one, politicians are wise to say nothing.”

MAJOR WAR* NOT LIKELY

VIEW OF AMERICAN CHEMISTS

GERMANY AND ITALY NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT

(Received September .18, 10 p.m.)

NEW YORK, September 17.

Declaring that an investigation had shown that) the German and Italian claims to self-sufficiency were idle, the American Chemical Society, which is holding its conference at Milwaukee, agreed that a major war in Europe was not likely within the next few years. Only Russia, it was stated, was near self-sufficiency. Germany lacked tungsten and molybdenum, which were essential for steel construction. Both Germany and Italy lacked oil and rubber. Substitutes had proved unsatisfactory.

BRITISH APPROACH

TO ITALY

POSSIBLE FOUR-POWER CONFERENCE

LONDON, September 16,

The Rome correspondent of the British United Press says the possibilities of a Fotxr-Power conference among France, Britain, Italy, and Germany in an endeavour to effect a settlement are reported to have been discussed at length by the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Ciano) and Sir Noel Charles, Counsellor to the British Embassy. The Ambassador (the Earl of Perth) is curtailing his holiday and returning home on Monday. This is interpreted as supporting the view that Britain is attempting to interest Italy in • a general solution by a number of Powers. The, Paris correspondent of the British United Press says that in spite of apprehension, France is apparently prepared to 'support any compromise Mr Chamberlain may suggest. The Press and politicians now envisage the ceding of Sudetenlahd to Germany as the price of avoiding war.