AIM OF ALLIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 4 November 1939, Page 7

AIM OF ALLIES

COMMON LIBERTY | WORLD CONFIDENCE REMOVAL OF MENACE CHECK TO THREATS REVIEW BY HALIFAX (Eire. Till. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Oiiicial Wireless.) Reed. 2.40 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 2. Following a suggestion of an extended presentation of flic Allied war aims made by Viscount Cecil in the House of Lords to-day, the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, said that he thought that all recognised both the tliflicully of detailing the war aims and also the broad purposes of the Allies. But he urged that an essential foundation in mind when progress towards peace was found impossible was confidence.

The confidence which ihe present German Government had destroyed must be repaired.. The German Government were the only people who could repair that confidence. Britain had declared that an assurance of the present German Government was not enough and in a statement on October 12, the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, had suggested that if that Government were prepared to make a real effort to repair tile destroyed confidence it was “for them and not for us to consider how that can be done.”

Not Question For Britain Alone

It was not reasonable or possible at this stage to define in advance at what moment or in what way the British purposes could have been achieved. No one could forecast the prevailing conditions existing when Ihe attempt to make peace came. What would be the state of Europe at the end of the war depended upon the length and intensity of the struggle.

Neither was the question one for Britain alone. The Governments of the Allies and the Dominions were also concerned.

The time might come when it might be possible and right to state in greater detail what would be the fulfilment of the purposes for which Britain took up arms. The primary aim was to win the w r ar by defeating those who “have, by their repeated violation of European order and threats to freedom, obliged us to take up arms.”

Decent Orderly Life

Instinctively all wanted European men and women to have a chance of leading a decent orderly iife. Although some of the broader purposes might be incapable of achievement at once, if the purpose was clear, the direction right and the people united in the defence of principles, the outcome would correspond with the convictions of those who desired to create a world order which would enlist the co-operation of all nations based on equality, self-respect and mutual cooperation and tolerance. Nothing but good. Lord Halifax concluded, could come from contributions to this great problem and every proposal ought to be considered through which the hopes and aspirations of the peoples could be brought nearer to fulfilment. But there should be no departure from the task of securing conditions which, as far as was humanly possible, would protect the world against a repetition of the tragedy.