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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 6

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BRITAIN-FRANCE FINAL PEACE EFFORTS WARNING TO GERMANY REVIEW IN COMMONS EXPRESSIONS OF UNITY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Sept. 3. In his broadcast address to the nation to-day, the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, announced that Britain was at war with Germany. The announcement was made a quarter of an hour after the expiration of the time limit contained in the British Government's communication, informing Germany that unless, not later than 11 a.m. British summer time to-day, satisfactory assurances had reached Britain that Germany would suspend all aggressive action against Poland, and was prepared promptly to withdraw her forces from Polish territory, a state of war would exist between the two countries as from that hour. The terms of this communication were revealed to the House of Commons when Mr. Chamberlain addressed a crowded House at noon. He referred at the outset to the doubts and some bewilderment in parts of the House last night, as to whether there had been hesitation or vacillation on the part of the Government. The statement he had now to make would show that there were po grounds for doubt. He proceeded:— “We were in close consultation with France yesterday, and we felt that the intensified action which the Germans were making in Poland allowed of no delay in m(iking our position clear. Accordingly, we decided to send the (British Ambassador in Berlin, Sir Neville Henderson, instructions \yhich he was to hand at 9 o'clock this morning to the German Foreign Secretary, Herr von Ribbentrop, which read as follows: Demand For Withdrawal “Sir, in the communication which I had the honour to make to you on September i I informed you. on the instructions of the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that unless Germany was prepared to give Britain a satisfactory assurance that Germany had suspended all aggressive action against Poland, and was prepared promptly to withdraw her forces from Polish territory, Britain would, without hesitation, fulfil her obligations to Poland. Although this communication was made more than 24 hours ago, no reply has been received, but the German attacks on Poland have been continued and intensified. “I have the honour accordingly to inform you that unless, not later than II a.m. British summer time, to-day, September 3, satisfactory assurances have been given by Germany and reached Britain, a state of war exists as between the two countries, as from that hour’ ” Mr. Chamberlain said: “No such undertaking was received by the time stipulated, and consequently this country is at war with Germany. Crashed in Ruins “I am in a position to inform the House that arrangements have been made between the British and French Governments. The French Ambassador in Berlin, at this moment, is making a similar demarche, accompanied also by a definite time limit. As I said the other day, we are ready.

“This is a sad for all of us, and io none is it sadder than to me. Everything that I have worked for; everything that I have hoped for; everything that I believed in through my public life lias crashed in ruins. There as but one thing left for me, and that is I hope, with what strength and power I have, to forward the cause for which we all sacrificed so much. I cannot tell what part I may be-allowed to play myself, but I hope I may live to see the day when Hitlerism has been destdoycd, and a restored and liberated Europe reestablished.'' Mi - . Chamberlain’s speech .in the House of Commons was followed by a brief debate. Party Leaders Unanimous The acting leader of the Opposition. Mr. A. Greenwood, said that in this titanic struggle, unparalleled in the lerism lias been destroyed, and a thrown. “The intolerable agony and suspense from which we have all suffered are now over,” said Mr. Greenwood. “We now know the worst. The hated word war-has been spoken by Britain in fulfilment of her pledged word. “For 54 hours Poland stood alone at the portals of civilisation defending us and all free nations and all we stand for and hold dear. She has stood with unexampled bravery and epic heroism. We greet her as a comrade. “Nazism must finally be overthrown. The Prime Minister has given his word that it will be so and as long as the relentless purpose is pursued with vigour and determination by the Government, there will be 'a united nation. “Tiic Labour Party is not sharing the responsibility in the tremendous tasks confronting the Government, but has Us own responsibilities, which il will not 'shirk. The Labour Party will continue to give full contribution to the national cause. May the war be swift and short and the peace which follows stand proudly lor ever on the ruins of an evil man. The leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Archibald Sinclair, said: “Lot the whole world know that the British people are inexorably determined as the Prime Minister has said, to end Ibis Nazi domination for ever, to build an order based on justice and freedom in Europe.” Pestilence n'f Nazism “This is not a question of Danzig or Poland," said Mr. Winston Churchill. “We are fighting to save the whole world from the pestilence of Nazism. This is no war of domination or imperialism, or to shut any country out of the sunlight and means of progress, bul a war to establish, upon immovable rocks, the rights of individual liberty—to estab-

lish and revive the stature of man.” If tlie Government left unchallenged the latest and not the least of the series of acts of brigandage, by a very formidable military power, the whole foundations of civilisation would be undermined, said Mr. David Lloyd George. After further speeches, standing orders of the House were suspended, to permit consideration of war-emer-gency business.