BRITAIN AND FRANCE DECLARE WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1939, Page 5

BRITAIN AND FRANCE DECLARE WAR

FINAL PEACE EFFORT Withdrawal of Nazi Forces from Poland Demanded NO ANSWER RETURNED BY REICH GOVERNMENT Hitler Denounced by British Prime Minister

LONDON, September 3. The Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, in a broadcast speech tonight, proclaimed Britain at war with Germany.

Mr Chamberlain said up to the last it would have been “quite possible to arrange a peaceful and honourable settlement with Germany, but Herr Hitler would not have it. You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me,” he continued. “The actions of this man show that he will never do otherwise than use force in attainment of his will. Herr Hitler evidently made up his mind to attack Poland no matter what happened.”

The Fuehrer evidently had not even shown his proposals to the Polish Government, and the time limit to Britain’s ultimatum passed without reply. Mr Chamberlain added that France was joining with Britain in fulfilling their pledges of Poland’s independence. He closed with, “May God bless you all,” and a fervent “May right prevail.”

The 8.8. C. broadcast a Downing Street communique stating that Sir Nevile Henderson informed the German Government at 9 a.m. that, unless by 11 a.m. the Government had given satisfactory assurances that German troops would be withdrawn from Poland a state of war would exist. A German Government spokesman intimated that Germany would not reply to the ultimatum, states a Berlin correspondent.

Mr Chamberlain, speaking with deep emotion a little later in the House of Commons, said that when he spoke last night he could not but be aware that there was some doubt in the minds of other members whether there had not been some hesitation on the part of the Government. In these circumstances he made no reproach, because if he had been on the other side of the House, and not in possession of all the facts, he would have felt the same. The statement he had to make would show that there were no grounds for doubt.

The Government was in close consultation with the French Government. Accordingly it was decided to send the British Ambassador in Berlin instructions to hand Herr Hitler a final Note demanding the immediate withdrawal of his forces on Polish territory. No such undertaking had been received by the time stipulated, and Britain was now in a state of war. 'The French Ambassador in Berlin was making a similar demarche. “We are ready,” continued Mr Chamberlain. “This is a sad day for all of us, and for none is it sadder than for me> Everything that I have hoped for, and everything that I have done in public life has crashed in ruins.”

Mr Chamberlain concluded by saying that there was one thing left to hint. It was his fervent hope that, with what strength remained to him, he would continue to serve his country. He could not tell what part he might be allowed to play. He trusted that he would live to see the day when right triumphed over might, Hitlerism was destroyed, and liberty restored in Europe.

AUTOMATICALLY AT WAR

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT Negative Reply to Ultimatum (By Telegraph.) (Recd. 8.5 a.m.) (Press Assn.—Extraordinary.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The French Government officially announced that Germany had replied negatively to its ultimatum. Thus France is automatically at war, and a declaration is not needed. NATION UNITED SPEECHES BY PARTY LEADERS WAR TO ESTABLISH LIBERTY (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 3. Mr. Chamberlain’s speech in the House of Commons was followed by a brief debate. The Acting-Leader of the Opposition, Air. A. Greenwood, said: “In this titanic struggle, unparalleled in the history of the world, Nazism must be finally overthrown. The Premier lias given his word that it shall be, and as Jong as that relentless purpose ,is pursued with vigour, foresight and determination, so long there will be a united nation.-” Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader) said: “Let the whole world know that the British people are inexorably determined, as the Premier has said, to end this Nazi domination lor ever and to build an order based on justice and freedom in Europe.” Air. Winston Churchill said: “This is not a question of Danzig or Poland. We are fighting to save the whole world from the pestilence of Nazism. This is no war of domination or imperialism or to shut any country out of the sunlight and means to progress, but a war to establish upon immovable rocks the rights of individual liberty—to establish and revive the stature of man.” Mr. D. Lloyd George said that if the Government left unchallenged the latest and not the least of a scries of acts of brigandage by a very formidable military .Power, the whole of the foundations of civilisation wool d be undermined. After further speeches, the Standing Orders of the House were suspended to permit the consideration of war emergency business.

UNITED CHALLENGE TO GERMAN AGGRESSION