Appeal & Warning to World

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 44, 15 November 1937, Page 5

Appeal & Warning to World

—Press As8n.-

chaos must end "Britain is Strong ; She is Getting Stronger" FUfURE OF CIVILISATION

(B r Telegraph

-Copy right.)

(Eeceived 15, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 13. Mr' Neville Chamberlain, in his first speech in Scotland as Prime Minister, addressed a meeting at Edinburgh. He said that Britain's foreign policy was guided by certain general principles: First, protection of British lives and interests; second, maintenance of peace and settlepient of differences by peaceful methods and not by force; third, promotion of friendly relations with other nations who were willing to respect Britain's friendly feelings and keep those rules of international conduct without which there could be no stability and seeurity in this world. "I should have thought," he said, "that these principles would secure general assent, but I am sorry to note a certain ten.dency on the part of the Socialists to reproach the Government with looking after British interests as Ihough it were a crime, although all the time they are urging us to interfere in matters in which we have no concern and ask us to use British influence — even naval and military power — to interfere on behalf of foreigners with whom' they have politieal syinpathy. "Nothing would do more injury to the general welfare of the world than to allow the British Empire to deeay because the British Government was unwilling to take t care of British material interests, ' ' Mr Chamberlain declared. "I was asked on November 9 whether we were all working for peace and contentment or piling-up armaments against one aiiotlier to meet the fears and suspicions every country seems to have about its neighbours. We call ourselves civOised nations, but isn't it a reproach to civilisation that anyone should have put such a queston. "It is time another effort was made to see if it is possible to remove those. fears and suspicions by closer examination of their origin and substance. Such an effort is not a sign of weakJ ness; Britain is strong, and she is getting stronger every day." . Mr Chamberlain ended with an im* passioned appeal to end world chaos which was" also interpretable as a warning. He" declared: — "Britain has behind her vast, almost illimitable, resources. Our very strengtli mak'es it easier to appeal to others to join us in applying common sense and common humanity to the solution of these problems, which will carry such responsibility for happiness or misery in the future of the human race. "I have faith in human nature, and because of that faith I believe there would be a ready response to such an appeal. So I look forward with quiet oonfidence to the day when we can lay aside weapons and devote ourselves wholly to the welfare of our people," he concluded amid loud cheers.