WAR OR PROLONGED EFFORT FOR PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1938, Page 8

WAR OR PROLONGED EFFORT FOR PEACE

Mr Chamberlain Expounds His Faith

REASONS FOR SEEKING UNDERSTANDING WITH DICTATORS

TONE OF GERMAN PRESS DEPLORED

By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 13.

The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in his speech at the foreign Press dinner, described how they faced a situation in which relations with Italy and Germany were rapidly deteriorating. He had come to the conclusion that the only alternatives were to make up their minds that war was inevitable and prepare for it, or a prolonged effort to eradicate the possible causes of war, and try out the method of personal contact, while pursuing rearmament for defence. He believed that those who expressed the opinion that the country should have taken the first course were a small minority. He chose the second course. The goal was not only peace, but confidence that peace could be maintained. “And as long as lam where I am I will never leave off trying,” Mr Chamberlain declared.

Proceeding, he instanced things accomplished and mentioned the Anglo-Eire. Anglo-Italian and Munich agreements. The latter was followed by thq Anglo-German declaration and also the AngloAmerican Trade Agreement. All were concluded within a period of twelve months. . NAZI VITUPERATION. Mr Chamberlain deplored the present tone of the German Press, which in one case had not scrupled to pour vituperation against our most respected statesman, himself only recently Prime Ministei* (Earl Baldwin), and in few cases showed any signs of a desire to understand our viewpoint. Nevertheless, he was convinced that the English and German peoples wished never again to go to war with one another. Alluding to his visit to Signor Mussolini, Mr Chamberlain said he presumed that again some would speculate who was the winner or the loser, but that was not the spirit in which he and Lord Halifax were making their journey. Mr Chamberlain denied a suggestion that because he advocated an understanding with the dictators, he favoured the Nazi or Fascist system. “History teaches that no form of government ever remains the same,” he said. “Change may come by jslow degrees, or suddenly, like an explosion, but change in one form or another is inevitable. It would seem to follow, therefore, that we should J be careful not to shut ourselves off from contact with any country on account of a system which in course of time may;well [Undergo such modifications as to render it very different from what it is today.”