DESIRE FOR UNITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 138, 11 May 1940, Page 7

DESIRE FOR UNITY

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S MOTIVE. INCLUDED IN CABINET. Received May 11, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, May 10. Mr Chamberlain, in a broadcast this evening, said he realised after the debate in tlie House of Commons that it would only be ■ possible to secure unity in the House under a new Prime Minister whereupon he submitted . his resignation to me King. His friend and colleague, Mr Churchill, succeeded hint and lie had no doubt -Mr Churchill would be successful. Cabinet would be reorganised on a national basis. Air Churcli.il had asked him to remain a member of the War Cabinet and he was willing to offer his services' in any capacity. Giving what lie described as his last message from No. 10 Downing Street Mr Chamberlain in his broadcast said by ' the invasion of Holland, .Belgium and Luxembourg, Hitler had perpetuated one of the most horrible crimes in all history (states a British Official Wireless message). No man, Air Chamberlain continued,' in all history was responsible f6r such a hideous total of human suffering or misery as was the Nazi leader. i “If he has chosen the moment when he thought this, country was in the throes/of a political crisis,” Mr I ,Chamberlain 6aid, “if he counted on our internal divisions, he lias miscalculated the spirit of this peopeople.” ' Stating that he intended to make no comment on the debate in the House of Commons. Air Chamberlain said, that after it was over he had no doubt in his mind, that some new, drastic action would have to he taken' to restore confidence and carry oil with the vigour and energv essential to victory. UNITED FRONT. A “It is clear at a critical moment in the war that what was needed was the formation of a government which would include members of the Labour and Liberal Opposition and thus present a united front to the enemy. What had to be Ascertained was the conditions which would be necessary to enable such a united front to he formed and to this question I devoted myself with the assistance of my colleagues yesterday afternoon. It was apparent that essential unity could he secured under another Prime' Minis/- 1 ’ ter, but not under myself. Aly dfity was plain. I sought an audience with the King this evening and His Alajesty was pleased to accept mv resignation. His Majesty' has now entrusted to my friend and colleague Air Churchill tlie task of forming the new administration and in this task I have no doubt he will be successful.”' His colleagues. he continued, had placed their resignations in Air Churchill’s 1 hands. / EFFORTS FOR PEACE.

Mr Chamberlain said he had striven for peace Until the last hope vanished and war could no longer be avoided. He reminded his hearers of his broad- - cast on September 3 when lie told the British people that they would be fighting against an evil thing, v “My words have proved to be insufficient to describe the vileness of those who have now staked everything on the great battle now beginning.” he added. “Perhaps it may be at least some relief to know that this battle, though it may last for days or even Weeks, has ended the period of waiting and uncertainty. ■ , “For the hour lias come when we are to be put to the test. As innocent peop’e Holland, Belgium and France are being tested already and you and I must rally behind our new leaders and with our united strength and unshakeahle courage fight and work until this wild beast that has sprung up out of liis lair • upon us lie finally disarmed and overthrown.” , ’ v . The Leader of the Liberal Party A) (Sir Archibald Sinclair) lias called, a political truce. “Recent- events have proved the necessity for a prompt and , radical reconstruction of, the Government, but the opening, of the first critical battle in-the West isn’t the i moment,” he said. . \ Air Lloyd George is understood to be v willing to serve under Mr Churchill in a lion-departmental capacity.