PEACE OF EUROPE

Evening Star, Issue 22454, 26 September 1936, Page 15

PEACE OF EUROPE

THE INHERITANCE OF WESTERN DEMOCRACIES TRUE COLLECTIVE SECURITY URGED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 25. (Received September 26, at noon.) Mr Winston Churchill, in a speech at Paris on the inheritance of Western democracies, urged that France and Britain schould stand shoulder to shoulder against aggression, and faithfully bear their part in building up true collective security. He refused to accept that the only choice was between two violent extremes. After all, France and England were the chief architects of modern civilisation, and the United States heir and champion of their ideas. Rather than submit to oppression there was no length to which they would not go. “ Our cause is good and our rights are good,” he said. “ Let us make sure that our arms are good. Let us make sure that our conduct is wise. Let us make sure it is governed by forethought and statesmanship. Although wo French, English, and Americans have differences among ourselves and wrangle about our internal affairs, and although we are very much aware of the shortcomings of our civilisation and the need for continual social betterment, we believe fervently that our institutions are such as will enable us to improve conditions and correct abuses steadily and to march every year and every decade forward upon a broader front into a better age. We will not surrender these title deeds of individual rights to the morbid regimentation of a totalitarian state, whether it be pressed upon us by force from without or by conspiracy from within. After all, we are not so weak and helpless as some people make out. Of the British Fleet I can speak with particular assurance. It is certainly far stronger in relation to any fleet or combination of fleets in Europe than it was in 1914, and by arrangements which are now being made by His Majesty’s Government its preponderance certainly will be fully maintained in future. There remains the problem of the air, which it seems to me requires most urgent study by Western democracies and greater, exertions than neither of them have yet made. If the cause of ordered freedom and representative government, and of the rights of the individual against the State is worth defending it surely is worth defending efficiently. Let us make sure that the force of right is not in the last resort deprived of the right of force. We seek peace. W seek no territory. We submit ourselves wholeheartedly, nay, proudly, to the Covenant of the League of Nations. When we seek real collective security for ourselves we offer it most earnestly to all others. Britain and Franco aik for themselves no single guarantee of safety and independence that they are not willing and resolute to extend to the great German people with whom we all sincerely desire to dwell in peace and goodwill. I should like to see such a tremendous organisation of nations ready to fall upon an aggressor that no one would dare break the peace of Europe.”