ALLIED REPLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 13 November 1939, Page 8

ALLIED REPLY

PLEA FOR PEACE THE HAGUE CALL ESSENTIALS REPEATED CHECK TO AGGRESSION SECURITY IN EUROPE LIFE OF ALL NATIONS (Klei'. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 12. The King to-day sent the following replies to the Queen of the Netherlands and the King of the Belgians: To Queen Wilhelmina: “I have carefully examined with my Governments in the United Kingdom, Canada. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the appeal which Your Majesty and His Majesty the King of the Belgians made on August 28, in the name of the heads of state of the Oslo group States, in which Your Majesty pleaded for the submission of disputes and claims to open negotiation carried out in a spirit of brotherly co-operation. My Government in the United Kingdom, as well as the French Government, sent favourable replies to this appeal. I recall also the joint offer of good offices made by Your Majesty and the King of the Belgians to my Government and to the French, German. Italian and Polish Governments on August 28. This offer was welcomed by my Government and the French, Italian and Polish Governments.

“A few days later the German Government launched its unprovoked attack on Poland, which has been overrun with every circumstance of brutality. Spirit Appreciated “My Governments deeply appreciate the spirit of Your Majesty’s offer, and they would always be willing to examine a reasonable and assured basis for equitable peace. It is, as it always has been, my desire that the war should not last one day longer than is absolutely necessary, and I can, therefore, at once reply to that part of Your Majesty’s appeal in which you state your willingness to facilitate the ascertaining of elements of agreements to be reached.

“The essential conditions upon which we are determined an honourable peace must be secured already have been plainly stated. Documents which have been published since the beginning of the war clearly explain its origin and establish the responsibility for its outbreak. My peoples took up arms only after every effort had been made to save peace.

“The immediate occasion leading to our decision to enter the war was Germany’s aggression against Poland. But this aggression was only a fresh instance of the German policy towards her neighbours. Redemption From Fear

“The larger purposes for which my peoples now arc fighting arc to secure that Europe may be redeemed, in the words of my Prime Minister, ‘from the perpetually-recurring fear of German aggression, so as to enable the people of Europe to preserve their independence and their liberties’ and to prevent, for the future, the resort to force ihstead of to pacific means in the settlement of international disputes.

“These aims have been amplified and enlarged on a number of occasions. in particular in statements made by my Prime Minister in the House of Commons on October 12 and the Foreign Secretary in the House of Lords on November 2.

‘‘The elements which, in the opinion of my Governments, must form part of any settlement emerge clearly and distinctly from these declarations of policy. Should Your Majesty be able to communicate to me any proposals from Germany of such a character as to afford a real prospect of’ achieving the purpose I have described above, l can say at once that my Governments would give them their utmost earnest consideration." A similar message was also sent by His Majesty to King Leopold of Belgium.

Message of M. Le Brun The foliowing is a translation of the reply sent to Queen Wilheimina and King Leopold by the President of France, M. Lebrun: "The Government and people of the French Republic are unanimous in paying homage to the sentiments which inspire the message which Your Majesties addressed to me. They fully appreciate its lofty and noble character.

‘‘No nation is more peace-loving than the French nation. No nation has made greater sacrifices in the cause of European peace. “France already and on frequent occasions has made known, and she does so once more to-day, that she lias been and remains determined to welcome every possibility of assuring a just and durable peace for all peoples. “Only peace founded on justice really endure# France has taken up arms to put a definite end to the methods of violence and force which, for the past two years, in defiance of the most solemn engagements and in violation of pledged word, already have enslaved or destroyed three nations in Europe and to-day menace the security of all nations. Repairing Injustices

“A durable peace, therefore, can only be established by repairing the Injustices which force has imposed on Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Moreover, it can only be established to the extent in which effective guarantees of a political and economic nature assure, in future, respect for the liberty of all nations. Mankind will only be delivered from uncertainly and anguish if it is sure that new attacks against justice will henceforward l>e outlawed. “Any solution which legalised the triumph of injustice would only secure for Europe a precarious truce bearing no relation to the just and stable peace lo which Your Majesties look forward.

“To-day it is the duty of Germany, rather than France, to declare herself for or against this kind of peace, for which every country, menaced as it is in its security and independence, is waiting.”