TO THE LIMIT

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20506, 24 May 1938, Page 7

TO THE LIMIT

BRITAIN’S STRENGTH FAOE A CHANGING WORLD A SPIRIT OF COURAGE (Official Wireless) (Received May 24, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, May 23 Mr iR. A. Butler, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, speaking at the annual Imperial Press Conference, said: “We must acknowledge that the efforts made during the past 20 years to establish an international peace system have not achieved as much as we hoped. Just as we went to the limit of our power in seeking idealism so now shall we go to the limit of our capacity in reestablishing our strength and assuring our future position to meet the problems which lie before us. “We must face a changing world with the courage and conviction borne of our own convinced belief in our own system of self-govern-ment and our own morality. The spirit and interests of our Empire should guide us to put from our vocabularies s-uch expressions as ‘the inevitability of war’ and show that we are trained to change and movement as to the sea, and that this training has taught us. as it will teach others, the way to achieve the change. “Any action we have taken recently has been designed to widen the area of agreement and lessen the area of conflict. We shall be successful if we face the future in a spirit of courage and strength. “Let lis also understand that we cannot control at our intimate responsibility every situation which may arise. We have not taken sides with Spain, since we do notconsider this to be our quarrel and we cannot make ourselves responsible for every change, if changes there be, as the new world unfolds itself. “But by not becoming involved in every confliot of extremos our Influenoe will be all the greater on a orltloal oooaslon when we feel oalled upon to exert It.”

POSITION OUTLINED MR CHAMBERLAIN’S BTATEMENT HOPE OF A SETTLEMENT ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT (Official Wireless) (Received May 24, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, May 23 Following an Interview between Mr Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax and leaders of the Opposition, identical statements were made in the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, disclosed that information has been received from Prague that arrangements have been made for a meeting between the Czechoslovakian Prime Minister and Herr llenlein. Mr Chamberlain said: “I propose to give a brief summary of the events of the past few days that have tended to show that the situation regarding German minorities in Czechoslovakia might be entering on a dangerous stage and then to indicate the action taken by His Majesty's Government. “On May 19 rumours began to gain currency of Germany troop movements in the direction of the Czechoslovakian frontier. The German Government informed the British Ambassador that there was no foundation for these rumours and gave a similar assurance to the Czechoslovakian Government. Serious Inoldents " On May 20 a number of serious incidents occurred fn Czechoslovakia On the morning of May 21 the Czechoslovakian Government intimated that it was calling up one class for training and maintaining order in the frontier areas. “ On the same day an unfortunate incident took place, when two Sudeten Germans lost their lives. The Czechoslovakian Foreign Minister informed the German Minister of this incident, and told him that disciplinary measures would be taken against those responsible. “On May 21 the British Ambassador in Berlin received further assurances from the German Government that the stories of German troop movements were completely unfounded. “ On May 21 a formal invitation was sent to Ilerr llenlein by the Czechoslovak Foreign Minister to negotiate on a nationality statute which had been approved on May 19 by the Czechoslovak Government, but it was announced in tlie Sudeten press that the political committee of the Sudeten Gerrnanv Party had decided to inform the Czechoslovak Prime Minister that the party was not in a position to discuss the nationality statute so long as peace and order in the Sudeten districts, and above all the constitutional rights and freedom of opinion of the press and Assembly were not guaranteed. Co-operation with France “I now learn.” added Mr Chamberlain. " that it has been arranged for I Terr llenlein to see the Czechoslovak Prime Minister cither to-night or to-morrow morning. “ His Majesty's Government has enjoyed the full co--operation of the French Government. “ At the moment the situation appears to have somewhat eased, and I understand that Hie elections passed off quietly yesterday without untoward incident.” Attitude of the Opposition When Mr Chamberlain sat down Mr C. r. Attlee said: •■’it. would be inadvisable to iress the Prime Minister for any fuller statement in view of the tension there is to-day, but 1 feel that. T may express the hope that these efforts to bring about a settlement may succeed without any deprivation of the just rights of Czechoslovakia.”