PEACE-PARLEY ESSENTIALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 6

PEACE-PARLEY ESSENTIALS

FAITH IN NATION’S PROMISES # BAN ON USE OF VEILED THREATS ANGLO-FRENCH ATTITUDE RESTATED WILLING TO AID IN RECONSTRUCTION (Elec. Tel. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.40 p.m. RUGBY, October 4. •Speaking in the House of" Lords to-day, the J 1 o reign Secretary, Viscount. Halifax, referred to the rumours of German peace proposals. He said lie Imd no intimation as to whether this supposition was, or was not, well -founded. Still less could lie anticipate the nature of the proposals. There were 1 'three points to he considered in any peace proposals: Firstly, the conditions-under which: they were offered: secondly, the Government -by which they were put forward;. thirdly, the security which might he held attached to any agreement which might conceivably he reached. As to the conditions, it already had been indicated that proposals might be put forward under a veiled threat. There could he no more perilous proceeding than to negotiate, under a threat of force and certainly neither the British Empire nor France would be parties to that, r As for the -Government of Germany, he would only say that Britain had had very bitter experiences of its character and methods, and as to its assurances Britain had seen the rulers of Germany repudiate successive international documents, which, wore signed, and throw aside principles Germany had for long years proclaimed. Assurances from the present German Government were not. enough. If,, and when, proposals were received they would' be examined with care and measured against the principles for which the Allies had to lake up arms. Lord Halifax did not rule out the suggestion that there might he a possible and desirable opportunity for some reasoned statement of tin* position adopted hv Britain. Ready and Anxious To Join Hands. .Britain had been ready and anxious in the -past to join hands with others, including Germany, in world reconstruction. Britain had repeatedly stated her .willingness to make any contribution’ to that end through which benefits'could.-be brought to the peoples of all nations-alike, but'it wasimpossible to begin-unless first there was security and unless the nations were released from .the perpetual fear of attack by Germany and the constant necessity for maintaining inflated armament for defence. Their first duty, as the British Government saw it. was, to secure conditions under which the rule of violence ceased to operate and under which the pledged words of a Government were worthy of honourable trust. Lord Halifax alluded to the Russian and Turkish relations and agreed that it would be wise to view with understanding tlie talks in progress between Russia and Turkey. “We certainly will always be. glad to see friendly relations maintained between the two great; neighbours, Russia and Turkey, which we believe need not in. any way conflict wit h the close relations between Britain and Turkey or Turkey and France,” he said. '■* : • . 'Speaking of the “heroic and gallant resistance of the Polish forces,” Lord Halifax said it had been an inspiration to the Poles to regain their independence, temporarily lost, and to all other people. > Referring t 6 the fact that the Polish Government had been re-established on French soil. Lord Halifax observed: “llis Majesty’s- Government will, of course, recognise as legal the Polish Government so established and 1 have no doubt that the Government will continue to preserve intact .the spirit of Polish independence and Polish, resistance.”