OPEN TO ALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1940, Page 5

OPEN TO ALL

UNION FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN EUROPE French Prime Minister’s Declaration DEMAND FOR MATERIAL AND POSITIVE GUARANTEES SOLIDARITY OF THE ALLIED POWERS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) PARTS. December 29. “This Franco-British union is open to a 11,., but 1 state categorically that without material and positive guarantees France will not lay down her arms,” declared the Premier, M. Daladier, in the Senate today in the course of a speech punctuated with wild cheering. “•Just as 1 distrust grand theoretical conceptions, so I prefer material guarantees against, a return of events such as those from which we are suffering,” M. Daladier said. “So, too. L conceive of a new Europe that should be of far wider organisation. It will be necessary to extend our intercourse and perhaps to envisage federal ties between Europe’s States. We are ready to co-operate with all pursuing our aims. All attempts to divide England and France such as by the German propaganda lies will not affect our solidarity.

UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT

“Our effort is unprecedented,’ M Daladier continued. “We demand an enormous accumulation of might and force. Aviation comes first in our latest credits. The manufacture of tanks and other material for the troops, especially artillery, is also important. “Provision is also being made for- a continuance of the construction of three 35,000-ton vessels, since mastery of the sea is crucial, as the course of the war is proving. “There may have been gaps and delays in our programme, but it has enabled the erection of a rampart of steel along our inviolate territory. "Britain has agreed to conscription and also to unity of command. Now come troops from Canada, and airmen from Australia. Nothing can stop this movement, which responds to a profound stirring of the British conscience. “The British Air Force has proved its superiority in material and technique. Our airmen have been responsible for legendary exploits., Our navy’s efficiency should be emphasised without false modesty; it has destroyed nine U-boats and stopped 300,000 tons of merchandise. RESOURCES OF TWO EMPIRES. “We are able to count on the power not only of France’s population but also of the immense resources of the British and French Empires. “Neither England nor France is ruled by national egoism,” M Daladier continued. He paid a tribute to the forces, whose one determination was “to finish with the rule of force which for two years has weighed upon Europe, and also to finish with the policy of rapine and prey. “It is for France we are fighting,” he said. “Had we remained passive an assault would have been launched against us within a few months, as the Yellow Book shows.” The British and French community of economic action would have an incalculable effect upon the war’s conduct. Sacrifices must be demanded of everyone. The soldiers were offering their lives, and for this reason the nation .could not refuse to sacrifice its gold.