PRESS APPROVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 9

PRESS APPROVAL.

BRITAIN'S ACTION. Mr. Chamberlain's Statement On Aid For Poland. VIOLENCE OF NAZI METHODS.] I British Official Wireless. KUGBY, April 2. Press comment in London on Mr. Chamberlain's statement regarding j Polish independence is unanimously I approving. j "The Times" points out that the violence of Xazi methods has created an intense conviction, particularly among the democratic countries, that international dealings will degenerate into habits of the jungle if differences between larger and smaller nations continue to be settled by reliance on threat or the use of brute force. The paper emphasises that the historic importance of the British Government's declaration is that it commits it to stand for fair and free negotiations. Any statesman at present who takes up an attitude differing ever so slightly from what is expected of him in Berlin runs the risk of being noted as an enemy of the Reich and of being marked down for harsh treatment if German influence should ever become dominant in his country. Crude Terrorism Argument. This crude terrorism argument will, ; t may be hoped, now lose most of its sfficacy and the minor States of Europe, n associating themselves with the nioveuent started by Britain. France and Poland, may henceforth feel that they iave a solid safeguard for fair negotia:ion. "This country has never been an idvocate of the encirclement of Germany," continues "The Times," "but jther States have the right to live their jwn lives. They have the same claim as the Reich to be free." The "Daily Telegraph" says: "Here is a plain proclamation that the frontier jf this country is no longer the Rhine sut the region of the Vistula, and that ive shall regard an attack upon that [rentier as an attack upon ourselves. k more complete reversal of the policy tenaciously adhered to over many decades it would be impossible to imagine. Military Commitments. "The military commitment which we refused even to France—our next-door neighbour and political ally before 1914 and after 1918, and indeed right down l to January this year —we now grant outright to a country at the other end of Europe. Thus " have we finally' broken the last link with the 1930 era j of splendid isolation, and now for the! first time do we assume military as well as political engagements on the Continent." Mr. Anthony Eden, speaking at Newcastle, expressed his complete agreement with Mr. Chamberlain's statement on Poland. He said he was convinced it would be endorsed by the whole nation. "I warmly resent the intolerable suggestion that in anything I have said I have sought to imply the existence of differences between those responsible for the conduct of foreign affairs," said Mr. Eden. He closed his speech by appealing for a still greater measure of national unity. Viscount Samuel, speaking in Yorkshire, expressed the Liberals' approval of Mr. Chamberlain's statement. He said there was no desire to hem Germany in economically. He was sure the "statement would be warmly welcomed and approved by the whole of the people, irrespective of party. Labour Support. Mr. Herbert Morrison, Labour MJ». for Hackney, speaking at Taunton, said the statement of the Prime Minister was all in the right direction. He hoped, the smaller Powers would be willing to play their part in this new development. The Foreign Office issued a statement that official quarters were surprised at the attempts made in London to minimise Mr. Chamberlain's statement to the House of Commons. It is regarded as a declaration of outstanding importance, the meaning of which is perfectly clear and categorical. Official quarters feel no doubt that the Polish Government will wish to keep the British Government fully informed, although Britain does not seek in any way to influence Polish conduct and relations with Germany. The Polish Ambassador, Count Raczynski. conferred for an hour with Viscount Halifax.