MR CHAMBERLAIN ILL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 5

MR CHAMBERLAIN ILL

SPEECH AT MANSION HOUSE READ BY SIR J. SIMON COMMENT ON PEACE APPEAL. RESPONSIBILITY ON GERMAN LEADERS. ly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 9. The Prime Minister (Mr N. Chamberlain) is indisposed. He is suffering from acute gout and Sir John Simon read his speech at the Mansion House.’

The speech stated that events had shown that the stiff-necked men to whom Germany had handed the guidance of her destinies would be satisfied with nothing less than a repetition of the forcible attainment of their desires. Upon them must lie the responsibility for the consequences of force. The only answer to those speaking the language of force was: “Since we are compelled to take up arms, we will not put them down till we are assured that Europe has been freed from the threats which have long paralysed the life of her peoples.” Adding that everyone appreciated the lofty motives actuating the Bel-gian-Netherlands peace appeal, the speech continued: “1 confess I am not very hopeful of a satisfactory response from Herr Hitler’ in view of past experience. Nevertheless, we do not want to continue the war a day longer than is necessary if a settlement is obtainable in another way.” The Government was consulting the Dominions and the Allies regarding the peace appeal before tendering advice upon it to the King. The position of the Allies had been strengthened during the period of waiting, the speech continued, and the Turkish Treaty was a powerful instrument for peace in South-Western Europe. To the contrary, the Russo-Ger-man union had given Russia great advantages, but had brought loss and humiliation to Germany.