MENACED NEUTRALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 125, 26 April 1940, Page 7

MENACED NEUTRALS.

GERMAN LAWLESSNESS. BRITISH LABOUR STATEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 24. The National Council of Labour met to consider the international situation and at the close issued the following statement: “By the invasion of Denmark and Norway Nazi Germany has added two more democratic nations to the list of victims of the lawless violence which caused this war. “Two peaceable peoples who asked for nothing more than to he left in undisturbed possession of their land and to pursue their democratic way of life have been forced into the war to further Hitler's plans of conquest and to facilitate his malignant design of destroying the Allied nations, who are fighting to defend the freedom and secuntv of all nations. The National Council of Labour once more solemnly urges upon the nations which ate striving to maintain their neutrality in this great struggle the significance of these events. “Nazi Germany has once again shown that it will respect the neutrality of no country that stands in its way. No nation is safe, whatever pledges of non-aggression the Nazi Government may give. The Allied nations, resolute in their determination to defeat Hitlerism, have hastened to assist the freedom-loving peoples drawn into this war. British and French forces are fighting side by side with the brave defenders of Norway to repel the invader. “The issue in this struggle is_ now clearly defined. Neutrality has ceased to have any meaning for the Nazi aggressor; it is no guarantee of a nation’s security. British Labour is convinced that the way to peace and freedom lies in an alliance of all democratic peoples, whose liberty and independence are as much at stake as those of the democratic countries already involved in the war.” NO WAVERING. Speaking at a luncheon in London to day, the deputy-leader of the Labour Party (Mr Arthur Greenwood) said : “I in normal times am a very strong party man. I have never apologised for my pjohtics, and I never shall. But the movement for which I speak stands 100 per cent, behind any effort necessary for the successful prosecution of the war. We feel that the democratic system is part of our fibre, and we shall never allow its foundations to he threatened. Whatever may befall, there will be no wavering on our part till this horrible menace to freedom is com p 1 etoly destroyed.” Mr Greenwood observed that he drew no distinction between dictators. “Whether it’s Berlin or Moscow makes no difference to me,” lie said. Turning to recent events, Mr Greenwood declared : “Hitler made his first capital blunder when he decided on the invasion of Denmark and Norway. That stop proved that Corporal Hilter could never have been a sailor. T should like to read in Admiral Raedcr’s private diaries what he thinks of his beloved Fuehrer —1 don’t think it will be very flattering. Hitler lias embarked upon a foolish, short-sighted adventure which is visibly bringing nearer to its end —though the struggle is going to bo a long one—-a war which might have been a stalemate for a very long time.”

Referring to neutrals, Mr Greenwood said lie was not one of those who would plead for neutral Powers to join the Allies. “I am satisfied that the Powers now arrayed on our side against Germany arc amply sufficient for the purpose,” he said. “I am not asking for the aid of our neutral friends, f merely put this point to them, that they must know now that there is no small neutral nat : on in Europe whose future is certain. 1 know that at heart they are with us, and before this struggle is over many of them will he with us in the fight.” COMMAND OF SEA. Speaking at the luncheon of the Royal Society of St. George, Major Duff-Cooper, formerly First Lord of the Admiralty and Secretary for War, accused the whole German people of crimes which made a horror of Europe. It was dangerous thinking, he declared, to believe they could drive a wedge between the German people and the German Government. Victory for the Allies was certain because Britain started the war with the command of the sea, and no nation with the command of the sea had ever been defeated.