NAZI FAILURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1940, Page 5

NAZI FAILURE

f EMPHASISED BY BRITISH PREMIER “HITLER HAS MISSED BUS.” APPEAL FOR CESSATION OF PARTY STRIFE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. In a speech at the annual meeting of the Conservative Party, Mr Neville Chamberlain said: “I listened in this morning for anything startling from the other side of the Rhine, but I heard nothing but stale old threats. Ido not believe this nation in its whole history has been so completely united on broad aims of policy and determination to carry on the fight till it has achieved its purpose. I should welcome a cessation of party strife. Nothing would discourage our enemy or hearten our friends so much as the dropping of differences to fight the common enemy.” The Prime Minister described the activities of peace organisations as mischievious, but pointed out that an examination of by-elections showed that there is no need to take such organisations seriously, or to feel apprehension over their success with electors. Mr Chamberlain continued: “Whatever reason Herr Hitler has for making no immediate endeavour to overwhelm us, one thing is certain —he has missed the bus, and those seven months have enabled us to remove weakness and so enormously add to our fighting strength that the future can be faced with a calm, steady mind. I feel, after seven months of war, 10 times as confident of victory as at the beginning. I am the last to underrate our enemy’s strength or determination to use it yithout mercy. He thinks he can do so without his blows being returned with interest. The very completeness of his preparations has left very little margin of strength to call on. We, on the contrary, have not yet reached our full strength. Wc are making great efforts .to do so. The neutrals know all the difference between what we haye done and the brutal, callous and wicked proceedings of Germany, which has sunk neutral vessels without warning and exposed their crews to danger and hardship. There has been a growth of sentiment among neutrals for us. The fact is that Germany has not a friend in the world, although many are dominated by fear of her military power.”

Mr Chamberlain continued: “Although we are anxious to keep all the rules, it cannot be expected that Germany will be allowed indefinitely to profit from our scrupulousness and draw aid from neutrals who are not free agents, and who know our victory spells freedom for them, and that our defeat would doom them to slavery. The blockade today is less effective than formerly, for our operations are hampered by considerations for the interests of neutrals. The loopholes are being stopped one by one. The strangling effect of the blockade will increasingly drain the lifeblood of our enemy.

Mr Chamberlain described the Brit-ish-French declaration as the best assurance that the essential elements of security will be available to Britain until the end of the war. “Whether the war is intensified or is of long duration," he concluded, “I hold faith in the tenacity of the race.” SECRET SESSION ANNOUNCED BY BRITAIN DISCUSSION OF ECONOMIC WAR. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON. April 5. Mr. Neville Chamberlain in the House of Commons announced that a secret session was being held on April 11, to discuss the conduct of the econmic war.