PRESS COMMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 May 1939, Page 5

PRESS COMMENT

; ONUS PLACED ON HITLER I NO EXCUSE FOR REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE. MR CHAMBERLAIN CRITICISED. LONDON, May 6. Commenting on Colonel Beck’s , speech “The Times” says that if Germany is once installed in Danzig she will go far to make herself supreme in the Baltic. The problem must be settled by diplomatic means. Danzig alone is not worth a war,- but an attempt by force to solve the problem would be an additional instance of methods which the world was no longer prepared to tolerate. The “Daily Telegraph” considers that it will not be Colonel Beck’s fault if the speech fails to relax the tension. Herr Hitlei’ has no excuse for refusing friendly negotiation. “Occasional comments here and in France about Danzig not being worth a wan are deplorable, and calculated to defeat the confidence of the peace front.” The “News Chronicle” regards the reply as unexceptionable, demonstrating that the whole of Poland will resist an attempt to seize Danzig, and adds that appeasers’ attempt to whittle down Britain’s commitments will do a grave disservice to the nation. Mr Chamberlain’s protestations that Britain is doing all she can are not convincing. Proof of his sincerity would be to send Lord Halifax or Mr Anthony Eden to Moscow to complete an Anglo-Russian agreement. The “Daily Herald” compliments Colonel Beck on steering a perfect course.

The “Manchester Guardian” says it is Britain’s duty to support Poland’s insistence on amiable discussion without armies being mobilised on the frontier. The only hope is a united front.