THE AGREEMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 303, 4 October 1938, Page 5

THE AGREEMENT

-$r — HERR HITLER’S ADVANCE. TRIBUTES TO OTHER STATESMEN SPEECH BY MR CHAMBERLAIN. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 3. In the House of Commons the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain.) made his eagerly-awaited statement on the international situation. .Mr Chamberlain paid a tribute to Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini and M. Daladier for their respective contributions to the Munich agreement, and described his hopes—founded on the declaration signed by Herr Hitler and himself on Friday—for further progress toward wider appeasement and for a fresh approach to disarmament, though he laid stress on the necessity in the meantime for not relaxing Britain’s efforts in rearmament.

Mr Chamberlain analysed the differences between the Munich agreement and the l Godesberg ? ultimatum, and claimed that the agreement was a triumph in that it showed that the .representatives of the four great Powers found it possible to agree .in carrying out a- difficult and delicate operation by a discussion. He also announced that a credit of £10,000,000 would he granted to Czechoslovakia to assist her immediately in meeting economic and financial difficulties due to the settlement. Mr Chamberlain warned the House that it would be well to avoid describing the Munich agreement as a personal or national triumph for any person or country. He spoke of the country’s profound sympathy for the Czechoslovakian people and, referring to other representatives at Munich, said Jhat hard things had been‘said about the German Chancellor in the past, but lie thought the House ought to recognise that in consenting, even though only at the last minute, to discuss with other Powers things which lie declared he had already decided upon once and for’all, Herr Hitler had" made a real and substantial contribution.

Signor Mussolini’s,; contribution was certainly notable and perhaps decisive. Mi- Chamberlain mentioned that the Italian representatives early in the proceedings at Munich had produced a memorandum which both he and M. Daladier had been able to accept as the basis of discussion. M. Daladier’s courage and readiness ,to take responsibility, and his unfailing good humour had been invaluable throughout the discussions. Mr Chamberlain. also referred in appropriate words to messages from President Roosevelt, and said that in his view the strongest force of all was the unmistakable sense of unanimity among the peoples of the world that somehow war must be averted.—British Official Wireless. Mr Chamberlain said: The Dominion Governments have been kept in closest touch with events. m I would like to say how greatly I was encouraged on each of my journeys to Germany with the knowledge that I took the Dominion Governments’ good wishes. I believe the declaration of Herr Hitler and myself is something more than a pious expression. I made no new commitments. There was no secret understanding in our conversation hostile to the other nation.

Mr Chamberlain read the declaration, adding: “The significance of the document far surpasses actual words.” Mr Chamberlain said that for a long period Britain had been engaged in a great rearmament programme, daily increasing in pace and volume. “Let nobody think that because we signed the agreement of the four Powers at Munich we can afford to relax our efforts or call a halt in rearmament. British disarmament can never be unilateral. Wo tried that once and nearly brought ourselves to disaster. The people of Britain must renew their determination to build up the deficiencies remaining in its defensive precautions. Nevertheless he saw an opportunity opening up of approaching the subject of disarmament. He thought the prospects were more hopeful to-day than at any previous time, but if disarmament were to come at all it must come by stages and by agreement and active co-operation with other countries. In conclusion Mr Chamberlain declared: “It is to the tasks of winning back confidence and the gradual removal of hostility between the nations till they feel they can safely discard their weapons one by one—it is to such tasks that I would devote what energy and time may be left to me before 1 hand over my office to younger ,men.”

LIBERATED BY THE GERMANS. CZECH CAPTIVES OF SUDETENS. (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) PRAGUE, October 3. It is reported that the Germans liberated most of the Czechs the Sudetens captured and took to Germany. ENTRY INTO THIRD ZONE. TROOPS GREETED BY CROWDS. LONDON, October 3. A message from Berlin announces that German troops under the command of General von Reichenau crossed the frontier of Zone 3 at 8 a.m. between Selb and Markneukirchen. This zone includes the towns of Eger, Asch, and the famous spas of Marienbad, Carlsbad and Franzenbad. The procession lasted 20 minutes, and was greeted with chants of “One people, one Reich, one Fuhrer.” There were no untoward incidents.