ANXIETY PERSISTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20012, 10 August 1939, Page 5

ANXIETY PERSISTS

IMMEDIATE VISTA

EUROPE AND EAST WESTMINSTER REGRETS PROPAGANDA ''POISON" CHECK TO UNDERSTANDING (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, August 9. In the final debates on foreign affairs in both Houses of Parliament before the recess, the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain and the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, yesterday made it clear that the British Government could not regard the immediate .situation, either in Europe or the Far East, without anxiety.

Observers in London agree that the efforts made since March to build up an anti-aggression front have had a considerable effect in discouraging adventure and, therefore, serving the sole purpose for which, as British statesmen have all along insisted they were undertaken, namely, the restoration of confidence.

Diplomatic circles in London feel that the responsible leaders in all countries realise the importance of preventing the growth of tension.

Viscount Halifax drew attention, hbwever, to a source of danger to peace, which still cannot be ignored when he told the House of Lords that the task of statesmen to-day was made doubly difficult by those official- propagandists and unofficial journalists and writers, who deliberately invent, exaggerate or distort events and their implications.

Mr. Chamberlain also referred again to the poisoning of the wells of international understanding by hate and fear manufactured by press distortion and vilification.

There are a number of questions outstanding in Europe which, as the events in Danzig over the week-end again illustrated, can be dangeroti.s ko peace, or can be rendered relatively harmless, accordingly as they are magnified into trials of strength or kept in perspective and handled with tact and responsibility. It is felt in London that it would be very unfortunate if, whenever an international difficulty is overcome by self-control and the spirit of compromise to which both sides must obviously have made some contribution, it must need be represented as a concession by or defeal. .for one or the other side, so that what is victory for r eason, is debased in victory for this or that government or country.