ENDORSING PLEDGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20030, 31 August 1939, Page 6

ENDORSING PLEDGE

ACTION IF FORCED OBLIGATIONS IN EUROPE EMPIRE UNITY SHOWN OFFERS OF MEDIATION CORDIAL APPROVAL (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wivclesp.) Reed. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 30. The general situation in Europe remains unchanged. There is no Indication of any modification of Germany’s demands in regard to Poland and as the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, emphasised once more in the House of Commons yesterday, Herr Hitler is fully aware that Britain, while not abandoning hopes of an honourable solution of the German-Polish problem, is unswerving in her determination to fulfil her undertakings to Poland if the need arises.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, made his usual visit to Buckingham Palace this evening for the purpose of reporting to the King on the day’s developments. Since Mr. Chamberlain was received by 'the King last night, Herr Hitler’s second communication had been received and considered by the Cabinet and further observations by the British Government had been dispatched to Berlin. Mr. Chamberlain would be able to inform His Majesty of tj)e view his Ministers take of Herr Hitler’s latest message, regarding *the contents of which complete official reticence is still observed. America Advised

The American Ambassador, Mr. J. P. Kennedy, who called at the Foreign Office this afternoon, also saw Mr. Chamberlain at No. 10 Downing Street this evening. The Government of the United States as a matter of courtesy is being kept informed of the effect of the recent exchanges between London and Berlin.

During the afternoon the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, returned to Number 10 Downing Street for consultations with Mr. Chamberlain. The High Commissioners of the Dominions were again in conference with the Dominions Secretary, Sir Thomas Inskip, this afternoon. The Dominion Governments are being immediately informed of all developments in the international situation.

British opinion has been greatly encouraged throughout the crisis by the evidence, both in the utterances of responsible spokesmen in the Dominions and in the measures taken by the Dominions and colonial Governments, of the understanding there is throughout the British commonwealth of the attitude adopted by the United Kingdom Government in the face of a threat to the independence of the States of Europe and to the principles of liberty and order, and of the readiness of other parts of the Empire to stand by Britain if she should be involved in war in defence of those ideals common to the whole Empire. Offer of Mediation

The joint offer of their good offices in favour of a negotiated settlement of the present dispute in Europe made by Queen Wilhelmina of Holland and: King Leopold of Belgium has been welcomed ii» London in a similar spirit to-the reception given earlier to the appeals for peace emanating from the Oslo Powers, the Vatican and the White Houser

Mr. Chamberlain, ih his statement yesterday, said in reference to Herr Hitler’s latest communication which was then awaited: “On the nature of that reply depends whether further time can be given lor an exploration of the situation and for the operation of the many forces which are working for peace ” The initiative taken at The Hague and Brussels is clearly an important reinforcement of those forces. While official circles decline to give any information on the communication from Berlin, it would be a reasonable assumption, from the attitude in wellinformed quarters here, that its contents do not appear to the British Government to set a term to the time for exploration of which Mr, Chamberlain spoke.