HALT CALLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1939, Page 6

HALT CALLED

IN POLICY OF AGGRESSION Lord Halifax Affirms British Resolve GERMANY’S ISOLATION SELF-INFLICTED CHARGES OF “ENCIRCLEMENT” ANSWERED (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, June 29. In his address at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the .Foreign Minister (Viscount Halifax) referred to Britain’s commitments in Europe, such as the mutual defence agreements with Poland and Turkey and the guarantees against aggression given to Greece and Rumania and the negotiations with the Soviet, and said such great changes in British policy would not have been brought about had they not been backed by the deep conviction of the British people. “Turning to “mischievous mispresentations” of Britain s actions and motives, Lord Halifax declared that neither of those statements nor the provocative insults offered our fellowcountrymen further’ afield had passed unnoticed. “i can say at once” he added, “that Britain is not prepared to yield either to calumnies or force. Every insult offered to our people, every rude challenge to what we value and are determined to defend, only unites us, increases our determination and strengthens our loyalty to those others who share our feelings and aspirations.” Coming to a restatement of British aims, “boldly and with such plainness of speech as I can command,” Lord Halifax declared emphatically: “Our■first resolve is to call a halt to aggression. I need not recapitulate the acts of aggression which have taken place, or the effect they have had upon the trust. European nations feel able to place in words and undertakings. For that reason, and for that reason alone, we have joined with other nations to meet a common danger.” Answering charges of “encirclement,” Lord Halifax said everybody knew that Germany was isolating herself and doing it most successfully and completely. “She is isolating herself from other countries economically by her policy of autonomy, ’ ’ he added, “politically by a policy that causes constant anxiety to other nations, and culturally by her polipy of racialism.” The last thing Britain desired to see was an individual German, man, woman or child, suffering privations, but if they did so the fault did not lie with us, and it depended on Germany alone whether the process of isolation continued or not, for any day it could be ended by a policy of co-operation. Lord Halifax said that unless all countries desired a settlement, discussions would only do-more harm than good. “Moreover,” he continued, “it is impossible to negotiate with a Government whose responsible spokesmen brand a friendly country as thieves and blackmailers and indulge daily in monstrous slanders on British policy in all parts of the world-, but if that spirit, which clearly is incompatible with any desire for peaceful settlement, gave way to something different, his Majesty’s Government would be ready to pool their best thought with others in order to end political and economic insecurity. Our next task would be the reconstruction of international order on a broader and firmer foundation.