BRITAIN’S MOTTO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN’S MOTTO

NOT DEFIANCE BUT DEFENCE

MEETING REASONABLE CLAIMS BY OTHER NATIONS.

MR CHAMBERLAIN ON WORLD POSITION.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. January 29. "Our motto is neither defiance nor deference; it is defence," declared the Prime Minister. Mr Chamberlain, in a speech in Birmingham yesterday. He arraigned those who. blinded bypartisanship, criticised his visit to Rome, which, he said, was not actuated by a desire to secure bargains but to improve his acquaintance with Italian statesmen, without either converting the other. Unprecedented demonstrations of welcome had marked his visit and had proved Italy’s desire for peace, which every country shared. It took two to

make peace, whereas one could make war. Only a challenge for forcible domination of the world could endanger peace. As President Roosevelt had already indicated, democracies must inevit-

ably resist this, but he did not believe that a challenge was intended because, owing to their appreciation of the gravity of the consequences, no Government which had at heart the interests of the peoples on either side would embark on war. There was no difference which was insoluble without war. By consultation and negotiation in accordance with the Munich declaration. The present rearmament activity, went on Mr Chamberlain, would not remain a feature of British life, but was a temporary, grim necessity. All trusted it was a preliminary to a return to sanity. Meanwhile international tension hampered business enterprise.

This, apart from other considerations, justified the Government’s efforts'to ease the strain and promote international understanding. He did not regret his part in the events of last September. Peace could not be saved without Signor Mussolini’s co-opera-tion. Britain must satisfy the reasonable aspirations of other countries and be ready to talk on terms of equality. Dealing with defence, Mr Chamberlain recalled that 60 new ships, totalling 130,000 tons, would be added to the Navy by the end of March “-and 75 more, aggregating 150,000 tons, in theensuing twelve months. Aircraft production had been doubled in the last few months and factories had been erected and extended. The defence programme had been accelerated and the position had greatly improved.

■ Anti-aircraft deficiencies had been largely removed. "We must build up a fourth army of national defence because though they' won’t all be in the firing line, they' may all be in the line of fire,” said the Prime Minister.

Health, housing, recreation and the prosperity of industry and agriculture, though not neglected, were regrettably, hampered by the demands of national security. The revised plans for civil defence would, as far as possible, be disclosed to all those affected.

“I do not fear the result of the appeal for voluntary workers. The idea is to find people for certain definite jobs, not jobs for the whole people. We can confidently count on the national response to make our defence invincible. avoiding needlees alarms and facing the future courageously as our ancestors did 125 years ago.”

WARNING TO DICTATORS BEFORE MAKING NEXT MOVES. COMMENT ON THE SPEECH. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, January 29. The "Sunday Times" says Mr Chamberlain, in dwelling on the magnitude of British rearmament, intended to answer his .domestic critics, but his words have a special value for foreign hearers. Dictators, before deciding on their next moves should indulge in no perilous illusions. LIMITS DEFINED REASON FOR WARLIKE HEADS TO REFLECT. FRENCH PRESS PRAISES SPEECH. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) PARIS, January 29. The French Press praises Mi' Neville Chamberlain’s speech. The "Petit Journal" says: Mr Chamberlain still expresses his faith in peace, but clearly has defined limits beyond which it is impossible to go. He has done this with calmness and firmness which should make the heads of nations animated by a. warlike spirit reflect.