“TENSE MOMENT IN HISTORY.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 292, 23 September 1935, Page 5

“TENSE MOMENT IN HISTORY.”

IMPORTANCE OF PEACE TO ITALY NEED FOR REARMAMENT. LONDON, September 21. “Wo are faced with a difficult and very dangerous problem in Europe, and a tense moment in history,” .said Mr Neville Chamberlain (Chancellor of the Exchequer), who interrupted his holiday to speak at Kelso. “The whole nation, practically unanimously', is behind the Government. It is still too soon to say whether the declarations which Britain and Franco have made, and the efforts of the Conciliation Committee can avoid war, but let us hope that the demonstration of support by Britain and Franco has restored faith in the power of the League to limit, if not avert, hostilities. “Unfortunately the Italian authorities, in a campaign of almost incredible misrepresentation and calumny, have been led to regard Britain as a monster of hypocrisy and selfishness. But wo must keep our tempers, trusting that when passions have cooled, the Italians will once again do justice to their old friends, and be willing to cooperate to maintain European peace, which, perhaps, is more essential to them, if they are to regain prosperity, than to the remainder of us. “Unilateral disarmament has been a complete, costly and dangerous failure. Britain lias been gravely handicapped by the fact that her defensive forces are dangerously low, which has shaken the confidence of our friends and encouraged those- less friendly to think we can be treated with indifference, if not contempt. “That is intolerable for a great country, and is also not helpful to world peace. Moreover, the Dominions and India would not feel safe if the na\y were unable to keep the seas. AY e must face realities and bring our defensive forces to the minimum required by selfrespect, simultaneously recognising that disarmament must follow', not piecode, the establishment of a sense ot security.”