STILL HOPING FOR PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1939, Page 5

STILL HOPING FOR PEACE

STATEMENT BY THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Situation Meantime Little Changed NO DETAILS GIVEN OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH HERR HITLER BRITAIN’S OBLIGATIONS TO POLAND TO BE CARRIED OUT (deceived This Day. .11 a.m.) LONDON, August 29. The Prime Minister. Air Chamberlain. accompanied by Airs Chamberlain. both of them smiling, left Downing Street for the House of Commons at 2.35 p.m. amid cheers from a crowd thronging Whitehall. The Commons was packed with supporters iif the gallery, and the Polish. American and Brazilian Ambassadors were present. The Soviet Ambassador. AL Alaiskx was not present. Air. Chamberlain, who was given an ovation, rose at 2.52 p.m. and said: “The situation is little changed. I cannot say the danger has receded.” lie urged the Press to exercise Jhe utmost restraint and hoped that a long debate would not be necessary. He announced that the Government’s policy was unchanged, and he added that an account which purported to be a verbatim description of Britain’s statement to Herr Hitler, believed to have been telegraphed from abroad was an entire invention. Air. Chamberlain, recounting the progress of events, said that Herr Hiller suggested it would.be a good thing if Sir Nevile Henderson Hew home to give- an extended account oi his conversation with Herr Hitler. Germany being anxious that Britain give a careful study of Herr Hitler’s communication. Cabinet had devoted the whole of Saturday and Sunday morning to a thorough consideration of Herr Hiller’s written message and its proposed reply. “Herr Hitler left no doubt regarding- his views of the urgency of a German-Polish settlement, and we made it plain that our obligations to Poland 'would be carried out,” the Prime Minister said. Mr. Chamberlain declared that he would be glad if full information regarding the contents of Herr Hitler’s communications could be disclosed, but the situation was so delicate and grave that it was not in the public interest to publish them. Herr Hitler had expressed a wish for a lasting Anglo-German understanding. Air. Chamberlain said that Britain would welcome an opportunity of discussing with Germany issues whose settlement, would include any permanent agreement; nevertheless, everything turned on the manner in which the immediate difference between Germany and Poland could be handled and the nature of the proposals for a settlement. Prerequisites of Peace It has been made plain that Britain’s obligations to Poland under I lie agreement signed on April 25 would lie carried out, Air. Chamberlain proceeded. The Government, had said more than once that the German-Polish differences should be capable of a peaceful solution. The first prerequisite was that, the tension created by the frontier clashes and reports of incidents on both sides of the border should diminish. The whole of Britain’s lighting licet was at but a moment’s notice ready to take up war dispositions. Air defence was placed in a state of instant readiness, the coast defences had been manned and important points protected and many movements carried out by the armed land forces at home and overseas. Plans to evacuate school children, expectant mothers and the blind were ready, the hospitals were preliminarily prepared to receive casualties, and the whole rangeof defence preparations was completely and continuously surveyed. This largely accounted for the general absence of fear. “The issues of peace or war are still undecided,” the, Prime Minister said. “We still hope to work for peace.” The British Government hoped that equitable settlement of the Polish-German differences could be reached by free negotiation leading to a wider agreement to benefit Europe and the world. “We await Herr Hitler's reply. On the nature of this depends whether further time should be given for an explanation of the situation and the operation of the forces working for peace.” No Weakening of Determination Air. Chamberlain concluded by saying that the waiting period was most trying, but the whole of the people were calm because no one doubled his duty. There were no differences of opinion and no weakening ol determination. “We are ready for any eventuality,” he said. “Such measures as our requisitioning might cause inconvenience, but it, is recognised that the nation’s needs are paramount. At any rate., we haven’t begun by issuing bread cards. We shall abate not. one jot our resolution to hold fast to thi* link laid down.” The Prime Alinister sal down at 3.|12 p.m. amid cheering. Air. Chamberlain is at present awaiting Herr Hitler’s reply. The Commons adjourned at 4.40 p.m. until September 9, with a provision for reassembling earlier if necessary. The Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, made a statement in the House of Lords on similar lines to that of Air. Chamberlain. and the House later adjourned. Sir Nevile Henderson’s plane took off in Berlin for London at 11.50 a.m. It was reported in some quarters in Berlin that Sir Nevile was remaining and that the plane was carrying, several British passengers. It is reported from Pome that Signor Alussolini was informed of the contents of the British Note, and it is understood he immediately sent his views on it to Herr Hitler. As a typical example of Britain’s response to the emergency, 350 Liverpool citizens were recruited within an hour today to man the anti-aircraft batteries, and hundreds of applications were turned away. According to a cablegram from Berlin received today at 9 a.m.. a radio message announces that Herr Hitler received Sir Nevile Henderson at 7.15 p.m. and handed over his reply to the British Note.