“NOT VERY HOPEFUL”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20958, 10 November 1939, Page 5

“NOT VERY HOPEFUL”

BRITAIN AND PEACE OFFER STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER ONLY HUMILIATION AND LOSS TO GERMANY (Official Wireless) (Received Nov. 10, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 9 In a speech at the Mansion House, read by Sir John Simon, the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, who is indisposed, referred to the Hague peace offer. “Everyone,” he said, "will appreciate the lofty motives which actuated the two Sovereigns in thus offering their good offices in the hope of avoiding an extension of the war. I confess I am not very hopeful of a satisfactory response from Hitler in view of past experience. “Nevertheless, we do not want to continue the war a day longer than necessary, if a satisfactory settlement can be obtained in another way. In due course it will he the Government's duly to tender His Majesty our advice as to the nature of the reply which we should make, hut before we can do so it naturally will he necessary for us to consult the Dominions and our friends and Allies who are standing shoulder to shoulder with us in the struggle. “Speaking of the war itself, which to many seems to be rather a sort of siege. w T e do not know how long this phase will last or whether at any moment it may not be changed into a violent conflict, but we can see at any rate that the position of the Allies has, as the weeks have gone by, rather strengthened than deteriorated. “The treaty which w’e and our French Allies have concluded with Turkey will be a powerful instrument for peace in south-western Europe. On the other hand, the GermanSoviet pact has gained great advantages for the Soviet hut has brought only humiliation and loss to Germany. “The repeal of the United States Neutrality Act is a momentous event, for while it affords America means of maintaining her neutrality it re-opens for the Allies the doors of the greatest store-house of supplies in the world.”

Building Up Allies’ Power Proceeding Mr Chamberlain said: “We have no reason to regret that up to the present, while we are still strengthening our defences and building up our power, there have been no major battles. We have, indeed, suffered losses and we mourn with sorrow and yet with pride the brave men who have given their lives for their country, but we may be thankful that our successes in hunting down submarines and in numerous conflicts in the air have, as yet, been unclouded by the terrible casualty lists which were only too familiar to us in the last great war, and we may be proud of the fact that the British Expeditionary Force has been transported to France without the loss of a single man or a single piece of equipment. “Indeed the efficiency of all our j three services has already proved such as to inspire us with confidence in their ability to meet any task which may be given them. “We Cannot Fall” After answering certain criticism of which he implied less would have been heard if the first phase of the war had been of the violent character generally anticipated, the Prime Minister said: “Despite such criticism what has stood out before everything has been the essential fundamental unity of the British people. With that unity, with the unity of the Empire, and with the complete and cordial understanding of our French Ally, with such a spirit and such supporters, we know that we cannot fail, and I cherish the firm conviction that we shall live to see the foundation laid of a new world, in which freedom and humanity will have superceded oppression and the rule of force. “Would be a Miracle” Mr Chamberlain said that, as peri haps was natural owing to the absence of the stimulus and excitement provided by great and stirring events, there was a good deal of complaint about the Governments restrictions and control. It would be a miracle if everything turned out of complaint about the Government’s was forced to plan months ahead for circumstances at which it could only guess. Mr Chamberlain appealed for a reasonable amount of tolerance and recognition of the really good work done. He admitted that such things as the black-out and evacuation had caused inconvenience, but the experience of the last war had proved the importance of beginning with an effective machine instead of learning by trial and error. The Government intended to modify the restrictions in the light of experience from time to time. The armed forces w’ould eventually equal and possibly surpass those of the last war. NEW APPOINTMENT MINISTER IN PARIS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright: (Received Nov. 10, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9 The King has approved of the appointment of Mr Oliver Harvey, who since January, 1936. has been principal private secretary to Viscount Halifax, to be British Minister in Paris. The new British Ambassador in Paris, Sir Ronald Campbell, has | just taken up his duties there.

LOSS OF ROYAL OAK

FEELING OF SECURITY ADMIRALTY’S BITTER LESSON NO MORE UNDUE RISKS United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 8. Lord Chatfield, in the House of Lords, in a statement regarding the sinking of the Royal Oak, said the long-familiar immunity of Scapa Flow in the last war had led to too easy a valuation of the dangers. Both the Admiralty and fleet had accepted an undue risk, yet to highlycompetent persons it seemed no greater than other risks accepted continually as a part of the regular routine. Lord Chatfield said a German submarine had penetrated the defences of Scapa Flow and sank the battleship. Scapa’s defences consisted of nets, booms, blockships, and patrolling craft guarding the seven entrances, none of which was in a state of strength or efficiency to make anchorage absolutely proof against submarines. Measures had been taken to improve the physical obstructions. It was essential that while the defences were incomplete that patrolling craft should be numerous, but the number was reduced below what was required for a variety of reasons which he could not disclose, as it would reveal information valuable to the enemy. Lord Chatfield said that after the torpedo struck the Royal Oak none of the vigilant experienced officers conceived it could be a torpedo, thus indicating the strong sense of immunity prevailing at Scapa. At first an air raid was apprehended, and large numbers of the crew took up their air raid stations under armour and were therefore doomed, while the admiral and captain were examining the alternative possibility of an internal explosions, and a second salvo of torpedoes was discharged. He added: “We mourn the lost of 800 gallant officers and men. The Admiralty, on whom the responsibility broadly rests, has resolved that it has learnt a bitter lesson, but the Government does not propose to hold a judicial inquiry, which would impose an additional burden on those engaged in an intense and not wholly unsuccessful struggle.”

ORDERS IN CANADA

AIRCRAFT AND MUNITIONS ALSO ANTI-SUBMARINE BOATS (Uoited Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlg&t) OTTAWA, Nov. 9 The Controller-General of Supplies said aircraft, anti-submarine boats, ammunition and gun barrels would form the basis of the initial orders which the British Supply Board was placing in Canada. He added that he was unable to estimate the volume of the orders but said Canada had sufficient potential resources to provide all Britain’s war needs, although not without extraordinary industrial expansion. It us not expected that there will be any volume of production of aircraft engines in Canada, but fuselages will be built in large numbers, and motors will be imported, either from the United Slates or from Lng--1 land.