WELL RECEIVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 January 1939, Page 5

WELL RECEIVED

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH ON FOREIGN POLICY

LONDON AND OTHER COMMENT WARNING GIVEN TO DICTATORS. NO MENTION MADE OF SPAIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, January 30. Press comment in Europe’s capitals on Mr Chamberlain’s speech yesterday in which he defined Britain’s motto as “Not deference nor defiance, but defence.” is mostly favourable. In this country the majority of the London newspapers received enthusiastically the Prime Minister’s statement regarding the big increase in British armaments and his reference'to the democracies resisting force.

“The Times.” in a leader, says that Mr Chamberlain might have been considerably less modest. He had discharged Britain’s share of the general obligations in pursuit of peace and he had every right to remind the other signatories of the Munich Agreement of the necessity of a peace contribution from them.

The “Sunday Times” says that Mr Chamberlain, in dwelling on the magnitude of British rearmament, intended to answer domestic critics, but his words have value for foreign hearers as well. Dictators, before deciding their next moves should indulge in no perilous illusions. The “News Chronicle,” in a leader, says that the masterpiece of ingenuity in the speech was the fact that Mr Chamberlain spoke 'for an hour without mentioning Spain. There was no word of warning to dictators' or enlightenment of the British people. The paper adds: “A warmer tone and a firmer declaration of Anglo-French solidarity would have been welcome and useful to both countries.”

Foreign reactions to the Prime Minister’s speech are as follow: — French newspaper commentators, though praising the speech see little hope of its affecting the international situation, except insofar as it may calm extreme nervousness, but it is pointed out that the coming crisis is not like that of last September because British and French interests are now directly threatened. There is some criticism of Mr Chamberlain's continued anxiety not to hurt the feelings of the dictators. Signor Gayda, who generally expresses Signor Mussolini’s own views in the Press, says that the speech is clear and honest, and that Mr Chamberlain’s goodwill is readily recognisable. Italy had nothing to ask of Britain except an understanding of vital problems not affecting Britain herself. Nothing ought to divide the two countries, provided the British Government keeps at a distance mischievous internal forces and pressure from other Powers opposing Italian and German rights.

SENSATION IN FRANCE FOREIGN MINISTER ANGERS PREMIER. QUESTION OF CONCESSIONS TO ITALY. (Independent Cable Service.) PARIS, January 30. The Foreign Minister, M Bonnet ,is reported to have angered the Premier, M Daladier, and created a political sensation when, during an appeal to the Press for moderation and restraint, when referring to Italy, he stated that, though France was bound to resist forcible Italian demands, it must not be forgotten that she was indebted to Italy for remaining neutral in 1914 and then entering the war on France’s side. M Bonnet added that the concessions made to Italy in 1935 by M Laval, then Prime Minister, were inadequate. TODAY’S DEBATE NO DIVISION EXPECTED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.13 a.m.) RUGBY. January 30. Parliament reassembles tomorrow, when there will be a debate on foreign affairs. Differences of opinion that may arise will not, however, be forced to a division.