BRITAIN’S STRENGTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1938, Page 7

BRITAIN’S STRENGTH

MUST BE READY TO FULFIL OBLIGATIONS

MR CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS PLAINLY.

, REARMAMENT EXPANDED & ACCELERATED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 13. > “We have obligations not only to our ; own people at home but also to those ’ throughout the Empire and to the al- } lies who are bound to us by treaty," the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) said in the course of his t speech at the Foreign Press Association dinner. . “These obligations we must be ’! ready to fulfill, and our preparations • I have now proceeded far enough for us to say with confidence that we are in a position to do so.” Mr Chamberlain recalled that Britain’s armament programme was originally designed to be carried out in I five years, three of which were now gone by. "From the beginning,” said the Premier, "we made it clear that the programme was flexible and must be modified from time to time in the light of changing circumstances. In fact the programme has been modified in two directions. “It has been accelerated and it has been expanded; and those modifications demanded a very considerable effort on the part of industry, of labour, of the taxpayer and of the individual whose time and services have been called for. So far from resenting these demands, the people of this country have shown that they are ready to make even greater efforts if they should be demanded." NAZI BOYCOTT THE REFUSAL TO ATTEND. REPORTED INSTRUCTIONS FROM HITLER. LONDON, December 14. A sensation was caused by the lastminute refusal of the German Ambassador and German journalists to attend the jubilee dinner of the Foreign Press Association because they objected to Mr Chamberlain's reference to the German Press not scrupling to vituperate against Lord Baldwin, the text of the speech having been issued . in advance. The decision not to attend was conveyed to the committee forty-five minutes before the dinner. There was no message from thel German Em- ( bassy, but invited officials were ab- ( sent.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the Germans did not attend the dinner .on direct instructions from Herr Hitler to whom the text of the speech was telegraphed several hours before it was j delivered. It is understood that Hitler j. also objected to the passage referring * to the transitory character of dictatorJ ial regimes. ; The diplomatic correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that the German Embassy and Rfess representatives received a copy of Mr Chamberlain’s speech in advance as an act of courtesy and, in view of this, it is regarded in both Whitehall and Fleet Street as a breach of etiquette that any action should have been taken on an undelivered speech. The “News Chronicle” in a leader, says it was poor manners worse psychology not to attend. The Nazi regime gives hard knocks and ought to know better how to take them. I At the dinner itself the loudest and longest applause of the speech greeted the criticised passage. Mr Chamberlain slightly altered the' text of his speech in reference to Lord Baldwin. EMBASSY STATEMENT. AVOIDANCE OF EMBARRASSING SITUATION. LONDON, December 14. The German Embassy issued a statement that the viewpoint of the Embassy was it was regrettable that members of the Embassy were unable to attend the foreign Press dinner, but it should be borne in mind that German journalists were associated with the invitations, and therefore it was felt [that an embarrassing situation might I arise if mention was made of subjects entailing criticism of German affairs. THIRD REICH WILL LAST FOR THOUSAND . YEARS. NAZI PAPER’S BOMBAST. BERLIN, December 14. In political developments there will be one unchanging factor—Germany’s authoritarian regime, says the “Voel- I Kischer Beobrachter " the official Nazi 1 organ, referring to Mr Chamberlain’s t statement that "no form oi government ever remains the same."

The paper adds that Mr Chamberlain and Britain may rest assured that the Third Reich will last for a thousand years. Official circles in Berlin justify the action of the German guests at the dinner in London in view of the “lack of understanding of the German Press shown by Mr Chamberlain’s speech.” AN AMERICAN VIEW. MR CHAMBERLAIN DISTANT FROM HIS GOAL. NEW YORK, December 14. The "New York Times” in a leader today says that Mr Chamberlain’s claim of success for his foreign, policy would be more widely recognised as valid if the 10 weeks after the Munich peace had been weeks of quiet compromise and friendly gestures. Actually these weeks had witnessed the outbreak of a new German public opinion, the launching of a violent Italian Press campaign for the annexation of French soil and the projection of new armament plans by all European countries on a hitherto unprecedented scale. Whatever may be the merits of his policy of appeasement, Mr Chamberlain is still distant from his goal, concludes the newspaper. BRITISH REARMAMENT REMARKABLE PROGRESS MADE. SIR C. CRAVEN’S TESTIMONY. < British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 13. Sir Charles Craven, managing dir-

ector of Vickers, Armstrong, speaking at the annual meeting of the Midland area of the National Union of Manufacturers, said he did not share the views of those who had doubts of the efficiency of the present methods of rearmament.

“Personally, I think the progress during the last two years has been remarkable,” he said, “and I believe if the same goodwill is shown that has been shown in the past two years, the industry will achieve an output that will satisfy all Government departments.”

FRENCH ESTIMATE. MR CHAMBERLAIN THOUGHT . TOO OPTIMISTIC. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, December 14. The Press unitedly welcomes Mr Neville Chamberlain's Anglo-French reassurances, which are regarded as wiping out the unfortunate impression resulting from his House of Commons statement, but it is generally felt that Mr Chamberlain is over-optimistic regarding the international outlook. STOCK EXCHANGE REACTION. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 14. Members of the Stock Exchange view Mr Chamberlain’s speech favourably, but. despite firmness, business is still! restricted. GERMAN PRESS ABUSE. A LABOURED EXPLANATION. (Received This Day, 9,35 a.m.) BERLIN, December 14. "The German Press attacks on Britain have nothing to do with Germany’s wish to live peaceably with Britain,' says a political spokesman. “Germany strongly desires others not to interfere in her domestic affairs. If interference continues, Press polemics will also continue. If they criticise us. we answer with our coats off.”

He added: “The speeches of British statesmen, at home and abroad, are followed with the utmost suspicion and keen attention. We are very sensitive to these. We have lost patience, but nevertheless fully endorse Mr Chamberlain’s confidence in the wish of the British and German peoples to live up to the Munich declaration. We desire good Anglo-Germair relations, but sometimes we are angry with our cousin". VOTE OF .CENSURE. LABOUR PARTY PROPOSAL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, December 14. Dr H. Dalton, on behalf of the Opposition will move in the House of Commons on Monday, a vote of censure on the Government’s foreign policy.