Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1939. AVOIDING ANOTHER MUNICH.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 August 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1939. AVOIDING ANOTHER MUNICH.

COUPLE of week's ago, a British Official Wireless message endorsed as the unanimous opinion of Great Britain the declaration of a London newspaper that: “The lesson of Munich is decisive. There cannot be another.” Additional proof to that effect is given in the latest, developments of British policy and in the manner in which they are supported by the public opinion of the Empire. Hope that world war may be averted is not dead, but the British people certainly are in no mood to accept a sham settlement in. place of one on which it will be possible to build in future with confidence. Nothing better is to be desired than that the British Government should continue to act nnd,eviatingly and determinedly in the spirit expressed by Mr. Chamberlain, when he said, in the statement in flic* House of Commons reported yesterday: — The issue of peace or war is still undecided and we still will hope and still will work for peace, but we will abate no jot of our resolution to hold fast to the line that we have laid down for ourselves. ■Within due limits, Air. Chamberlain is perfectly entitled io appeal to the Press “to exercise the utmost restraint a 1 :t time when it is quite possible for a few thoughtless words in a paper which perhaps is not of particular importance to wreck the whole of the efforts which are being made by the Government to obtain a satisfactory solution.” Exception most certainly is to be taken to the presentation in the Press, at this time or at. any other time, of invented fabrications in place of ascertained facts. On the other hand, if is very necessary to remember at this critical .juncture that the strength of Ihe British Government, in its action on behalf of the Mother Country and the Empire, is much less in quietude than in a united determination, as Mr. Chamberlain has himself said, “to hold fast to the line'that we have laid down for ourselves.” There could be no greater or more dangerous perversion of facts than to suggest that gentle consideration now shown to the German dictatorship may be. expected to evoke a response in kind and to ensure a smooth approach to peaceful understanding. if care is needed in avoiding any pointless ruffling of German susceptibilities, even greater care is needed to ( avoid being deceived again, as Mr. Chamberlain and the nation he represents were deceived less than a year ago, by false and unmeaning promises of good intention. In his latest statement to flic House of Commons, Mr. Chamberlain said that: — Britain would hope that if an equitable settlement of the PolishGerman differences could be reached by free negotiation, this might in turn lead on to wider agreement which would accrue to the lasting benefit of Europe and the world at large. This is an attractive, even an alluring picture, but.it should not be forgotten that the foundations of broad agreement for peace were supposed to have, been laid at Munich, with the outcome that is now known and familiar to all. The primary demand of the existing situation, from the point of view'of the British nation and others sincerely desiring peace, is that Nazi Germany should desist from a policy of predatory aggression and make an end of the threats and menaces by means of which she has sought and is seeking to give effect to that policy. Throughout the present crisis, the German Press, which is controlled directly and absolutely by the Nazi dictatorship, has poured out a tide of Vilification against Poland, pursuing precisely the same tactics as were used against Czechoslovakia. Any honest statesman, and any honefit commentator, must set due emphasis on the fact that the first indication of any change of heart in the Nazi dictatorship has yet to appear. To impede in any way an approach to peaceful understanding between nations undoubtedly would be criminal. It would be not less criminal however, to allow another sham and travesty of peaceful understanding to be foisted on the British people and the world. There is need today, not merely of a. settlement of European and world issues which will avert war, but of a. genuinely dependable and safeguarded settlement which may be built upon and strengthened from the outset, and as time goes on. In light of the experience of the recent past it is very necessary that Ihe British Government should look to it that it is nol put. off with an appearance of conciliation, under which the Nazi dictatorship would merely abate its aggression temporarily, or perhaps merely change its direction.