Call To Stop Aggression

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 7

Call To Stop Aggression

REMINDER OF SECURITY PLEDGE Independent Status Of Polish People TERMS OF NOTE CHEERED IN COMMONS Nation Determined To Fulfil Obligations

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reecl 2.30 p.m. KUG BY, Sept, 1. The British and French Ambassadors at Berlin have been instructed to hand to the German Government a joint note as follows: “Early this morning the German Chancellor issued a proclamation to the German Army which indicated clearly that lie was about to attack Poland. Information which has reached the United Kingdom and the French Governments indicates that German troops have crossed the Polish irontier and attacks on Polish towns are proceeding. “In these circumstances, it appears to the British and French Governments that by its action the German Government has created conditions, namely, an aggressive act of fordo against Poland, threatening the independence of Poland which calls for imTnediatc implementation by the British and French Governments of the undertaking to Poland to come to her assistance.

“I am accordingly to inform Your Excellency that unless the German Government is prepared to give an assurance that the German Government has suspended all aggressive action against Poland and is prepared to promptly withdraw its forces from Polish territory, His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will, without hesitation, fulfil its obligation to Poland. 7 ’

The terms of of the note were loudly cheered when read in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamlberlain, who added: “If the reply to this last warning is unfavourable, and I do not suggest it is likely to he otherwise, the British Ambassador is instructed to ask for his passport.” After a slight pause, Mr. Chamberlain said, amid renewed cheering: “In that case, we are ready.”

. Earlier in a short blit vigorous and deeply impressive speech, which was punctuated with full-throated cheers, Mr. Chamberlain said: “Now, all the relevant documents are being made public, we shall stand at the bar of history, knowing that the responsibility for this terrible catastrophe lies on the shoulders of one man. “The German Chancellor has ' not hesitated to piunge the world into misery to serve his own senseless ambitions.’’ And at the end of his speech, Mr. Chamberlain declared: “We shall enter the struggle with a clear conscience and with the support of the Dominions and the British Empire i and the moral approval of the greater part of the world. “We have no quarrel with the German -people, except that they have allowed themselves to be governed by a Nazi Government. As long as -that Government pursues the methods which it has so persistently followed during the last two years there will be -no peace in Europe. “We should merely pass from one crisis to another and see one country attacked by another by methods which have now become familiar to us with their sickening technique. We are resolved that these methods must come to an end and if, after a struggle, we can re-establish in the world the rules of good faith and renunciation of force, then even the sacrifices entailed upon us will find their fullest justification.” In commencing his statement, Mr. Chamberlain said: “I do not propose to say many words to-night. The time has come when actibn, rather than speech, is required. Clear Where Duty Lies

during the negotiations no aggressive military movements would take place. Britain felt confident that she could obtain such an undertaking from Poland if Germany would give similar assurances.

“That telegram, which was repeated to Poland and brought an install? taneous reply from Poland dated August 31 in which stated that Poland was also prepared on a reciprocal basis to give a formal guarantee that in the event of negotiations- taking place that the Polish troops would not violate the frontiers of the German Reich provided a corresponding guarantee was given regarding non-violation of the frontiers of Poland uy the troops of the German Reich.

“We never had any reply from Germany to that suggestion, one which, if it had been followed, might have saved the catastrophe which took place this morning. “In. the German broadcast last night which recited the lti points of the proposals which Germany put forward, there occurred this sentence: ‘ln these circumstances the Reich Government considers it is rejected.’ “I must examine that statement. I must tell the House what are the circumstances. To begin with, let me say that these proposals never had been communicated by Germany to Poland at all. The history of the matter as this: On August 19, in replying to a note we had sent to Germany, the German Government said, among other things, that it would immediately draw up proposals for a solution acceptable in itself arid would, if possible, place these at Britain's disposal before the arrival of a Polish negotiator. Were Awaiting Proposals

“Eighteen months ago in this House I prayed that the responsibility might not tall upon me to ask this country to accept the awful arbitrament of war. I fear I may not be able to avoid that responsibility, but any rate I cannot wish for conditions in which such a burden should fall upon me. clearer than they are to-day as to where my duty lies. “No man. can say that the Government could have done more to try ,to keep open the way for an honourable and equitable settlement of this dispute between Germany and nor have we neglected any r means -of making it crystal clear to Germany that, j£ it insisted on using force again .in the manner in which it used it ,in the past, we were resolved to oppose them by force. “I would like to thank the House fo,r the forbearance which it lhas shown on A two recent occasions in not demanding from me information which members recognise I could not give while these negotiations were still in progress. "I have now had all the correspondence with Germany put into the form of a White Paper. On account of the difficulties I am afraid there are but few copies available, but 1 understand they will be coming in in relays while the House is sitting. Object Perfectly Clear

“It will be seen by examination of the White Paper that Germany stated it counted upon the arrival of a plenipotentiary from Poland in Berlin oil August 30, that is to say, on the following day. In the meantime, of course, we were awaiting these proposals. “The next evening when our Ambassador saw the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop. he urged upon the latter that when these proposals were ready for discussion • we had heard no more about them—lie should invite the Polish Ambassador to call and should hand him the proposals for transmission to his Government. Thereupon, reports our Ambassador. Herr von Ribbentrop, in the most violent terms, said he would never the Polish Ambassador to visit him. He hinted that if the Polish Ambassador asked him for an interview, it might be different. “Now the House will see that this was on Wednesday night, which, according to the German statement of last night, is now claimed to be the final date after which no negotiation with Poland was acceptable. It is plain, therefore, that Germany claims to treat Poland as in the wrong. “It Is Now To Late”

“I do not think it is necessary to refer in detail now to these documents which are already past history. They make it perfectly clear that our object has been to try to bring about discussions about the Polish and German disputes between the two countries themselves ion terms of equality, the settlement to be one which safeguarded the independence of Poland and which secured its due observance by international guaranis just one passage from the recent communication dated August” 30 which I should like to quote because it shows how easily a final clash might have been avoided had there been the least desire on the part of Germany to arrive at a peaceful settlement. “In this document we said that Britain fully recognised the need for speed on the .initiation of discussions , and the British Government shared thp apprehensions of the Chancellor arising from the proximity of two mobilised armies standing face to face. The British Government would accordingly most strongly urge that both parties should undertake that.

“At the interview to which I have just referred, Herr vr.u Ribbentrop produced a lengthy document which he read out in German aloud and at top speed. Naturally, after this reading our Ambassador asked for a copy of the document, but the reply was: ‘lt is now too late.’ as the Polish representative had not arrived in Berlin, by midnight and so we never got a copy of these proposals, and the first time we heard of them was on the broadcast last night. “Those are tiie circumstances in which the German Government said t would consider their proposals were rejected. "ft is now clear that their conception of a negotiation was that, on an almost instantaneous demand, a Polish plenipotentiary should go to Berlin where others had been before him, and should there receive a statement of the demands to be accepted in their entirety or refused. I am not pronouncing any opinion upon Ihe terms themselves, for I do not feel called upon to do so. The proper course in our view—in the view of all of us—was that these proposals should have