BRITISH AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 February 1939, Page 7

BRITISH AIMS

DEFINED BY PREMIER PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. EFFORT TO BREAK DOWN ANTAGONISMS. (British Official Wireless.* (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, February 22. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, spoke at Blackburn tonight, when a considerable part of his speech was devoted to domestic affairs, including unemployment and the position of the cotton industry, but foreign affairs and defence also were dealt with. “In these days of anxiety in international affairs, when huge armaments are' being piled up on every hand,” Mr Chamberlain said, “we cannot avoid a certain anxiety lest some incident, perhaps trifling in itself, should set in motion the machinery that would bring them into operation. We know that if that dreaded event should come to pass there are none of us, or of those who are dearest to us, who could count on escaping dire consequences. In such conditions it seems to me that only the reckless, irresponsible or ignorant can desire that the Government of the day should follow any other policy than the one we have laid down for ourselves —a policy of peace through strength which will neglect no opportunity of breaking down suspicions and antagonisms, at the same time building up steadily and resolutely, with the help of our friends within and without the Empire, a strength so formidable as to maintain our rights and liberties against any who might be rash enough to attack them.”