CONDITIONS OF PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 5

CONDITIONS OF PEACE

STATED BY BRITISH LABOUR LEADER ENDING OF AGGRESSION ESSENTIAL. IF CIVILISATION IS TO SURVIVE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 8. In the speech in which he set forth Labour’s peace aims, the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Attlee, referred to the neutral offer of good offices and said: “We appeal to the people of all countries who equally long for peace, and we appeal especially to the people of Germany, in whose hands lies the decision whether or not millions of men. women, and children are to suffer death. Herr Hitler has started this war, but he can only continue it if the German people continue to support him. Peace is obtainable now provided that there is an abandonment of aggression and recognition of the rights of all nations and all peoples.

“We do not seek the destruction or dismemberment of Germany," Mr Attlee continued. "We wish no ill to the German people. We are ready to welcome them into the family of nations.” It was a condition of any peace settlement, he said, that there should be in Germany a Government that could be trusted. Then the way to peace would be open. It rested with the German people to open the way.

Mr Attlee declared that anyone who urged that war should be ended at any price was no real friend of peace. The facts that Poland had been overrun and that Russia after years denouncing Fascism and aggression had now turned round and made friends with the aggressor and shared the spoils made no difference to the essential issue that if civilisation was to survive aggression must be brought to an end.

NO COMPROMISE FEDERAL PREMIER ON WAR OUTLOOK. MELBOURNE, November 8. In the course of an address the Federal Prime Minister. Mr Menzies, declared: “The two months of 'peace' since the war began has been worth untold gold to Britain and the Dominions, who have been permitted to gather and concentrate their strength. "The enemy,” he said, "has given us two uninterrupted months to complete our defences —1 don't know why. Only an optimist believes that this sort ol thing will go on indefinitely. 1 have no doubt that this war is going to bo the greatest struggle in the history of the British people. There will be no compromise; there can be none."