ANXIETY IN BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 284, 12 September 1938, Page 5

ANXIETY IN BRITAIN.

GOVERNMENT READY FOR EVENTUALITY. NEED FOR. A FIRM STAND. LONDON, September 10. The increased public interest and anxiety over the' international situation was manifest to-day in the large crowd which collected at Downing Street, Conflicting press reports from Prague and Nuremberg and free speculation in many quarters regarding the British Ministerial consultations of the last two days have given rise to a variety or newspaper comment. Papers which have discounted speculation base their comment principally upon the importance which is attached to Herr Hitler’s speech at Nuremberg on Monday. They express concern that there should be no room for a misunderstanding of Britain’s position, which has been clearly defined ever since Mr Chamberlain’s speech of March 24. The “Daily Telegraph” in a leading article headed “Britain Cannot be Indifferent,” says: “The consultations, prolonged for hours yesterday, between Mi* Chamberlain and other Cabinet Ministers are evidence enough to our own people of the grave view of the situation taken by the Government and of its readiness for any turn of events. “It would bo the most serious of all misunderstandings if the impression remained that we should disinterest ourselves in any attempt to coerce Czechoslovakia. One wish of our people is for peace. We believe that peace is desired by the mass of German people, but peace is* not to be preserved by indifference to the coercion of a small nation by her powerful neighbour.” The “Daily Telegraph” insists “There is yet time to remove any lingering impression of doubt in the German mind that Britain takes, and must continue to take, the keenest interest in the settlement by ordered discussion of the Czech problem.”

“The Times” thinks it should be impossible, after Sir Neville Henderson’s conversation yesterday with Herr Ribbentrop, that there should be any uncertainty in German minds concerning the British view.

It adds: “Public opinion here has always considered—and recently more firmly than ever—that a settlement by agreement between the Czechs and Sudetens should be possible, given any degree of goodwill on both sides. “However, while any settlement by agreement would earnestly be welcomed, an attempt to effect a settlement by force would be universally condemned. The Czech case is pre-eminently a case for seeing whether mankind has at last learned the lesson that the only civilised way to settle disputes is by .peaceful negotiation—particularly after the conciliatory attitude which the Czechs are now showing. “There can no longer he any pretence that there is stubbornness in Prague. For these reasons it is natural that the situation should be viewed with the greatest concern, but in this light it should bo viewed with unmitigated pessimism.

“If what is said at Nuremberg will have regard for what is felt in London, Herr Hitler has it in his power to grasp an unparalleled opportunity for promoting peace and justice.” It is stated in official quarters in London that the Ambassador at Berlin (Sir Neville Henderson) has not either had or sought any interview with Herr Hitler other than a courtesy meeting during the diplomatic reception, but this is not supposed to have been the occasion for anything more than a general conversation. Nor indeed was this necessary. Having obtained a full report of the contacts Sir Neville Henderson made, there is every reason to feel assured that the views of Britain have been fully conveyed to tho proper quarters.—British Official Wireless. THE ATTITUDE OF JAPAN. ALOOFNESS TN EARLY STAGES. LONDON, September 9. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” states that the German Ambassador' discussed the European situation and its possible development with the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr K. Horinouclii). It is understood he disclosed the Japanese attitude, namely, aloofness in the opening phases of a European war

and intervention later under certain contingencies connected with the military position and Russian strength.