THE ONLY WAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 55, 14 December 1938, Page 5

THE ONLY WAY

TO ENSURE WORLD PEACE. t MR CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH. THE GOAL OF HIS EFFORTS. (United Press Association— Copy right.) (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 13. Mr Chamberlain, in a speech at the foreign press dinner, described how we faced a situation in which our relations with Italy and Germany wore rapidly deteriorating. ... , He had come to the conclusion that the only alternatives were to make up our minds that war was inevitable and prepare for it, or a prolonged effort to eradicate the possible causes of war, and try out the method of personal contact. While pursuing rearmament for defence, he believed that those who express the opinion that the countii should have taken the first course were a -small minority. He chose the second course. „ •

His goal was not only peace, but confidence that peace could lie maintained, “ahd,- as long as I sun where l am, I will never leave off trying.” Proceeding, he .instanced accomplishments, and mentioned the Anglo-Fire, Anglo-Italian, and Munich agreements. The latter was followed by the AngloGerman declaration, and also by- the Anglo-American trade agreement. All were concluded within 12 months. Tone of German Press. Mr Chamberlain continued: ‘‘l must deplore, the recent attitude of the German press, which in one case did not scruple to pour vituperation against our most, respected statesman (Earl Baldwin), himself only recently Prime Minister, and in few cases has it shown much desire to understand our viewpoint.” Nevertheless'he was convinced that the English and German peoples’ wish was never again to go to war with another. Alluding to his visit to Signor Mussolini, Tie said lie presumed that again some would speculate who would he the winner or’ loser, but that was not the spirit in which he and Lord Halifax were making the journey. • Neither Nazi Nor Fascist. ' Mr' Chamberlain denied the suggestioit that, because he advocated an Understanding with dictators, lie favoured the Nazi or Fascist system. : teaches that no form of government ever remains the same. Change may come by. slow degrees or suddenly, like an explosion; but change in one form or another is inevitable. It would seem to follow, therefore, that we should be careful not to shut ourselves from contact with any country on account of its system, which in the course of time may well undergo such modifications as to render it very different from what it is to-day.” Limitation of Armaments.

Alluding to British rearmament, Mr Chamberlain said it was the British people’s hope that these armaments may never be required. Certainly they would not be required for aggressive purposes, but none would be more glad than he to welcome a limitation or reduction by international agreement. He continuedl have recently sustained a certain shock in seeing myself described as ' That old man,’ but in one respect, perhaps, the passage of years has left its mark—recognition of the futility of ambition, if ambition leads to a desire- for domination. For again history teaches that attempts at domination are never long successful and have never added to the happiness of the natioils which attempted it. Resistance to Domination. “Past experience has shown that there is an innate resistance force, arising from fear of loss of liberty, combined with an ever-present passion for national self-expression, which makes domination difficult and precarious. “It is absence,of peace of mind which to-day weighs upon the world, and by destroying confidence prevents us reaping the material advantages of human progress.” He concluded bv appealing to the nations, through the press, to realise that happiness can only be attained if we cease seeking for points of difference and search instead for points oi agreement. He described our relations with France as so close as to pass beyond mere legal obligations, since they were founded on identity of interests.

GERMAN AMBASSADOR ABSENT. ALSO GERMAN JOURNALISTS. /Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 10. - A sensation was'caused by a lastminute refusal by the German Ambassador and . German journalists to attend the Foreign Press Association s jubilee dinner, because they objected to Mr Chamberlain’s reference to the German Pi ess not scrupling to vituperate Earl Baldwin.: : The speech was issued in advance, and there is comment on the fact that the diplomatic action was taken regarding it. before delivery. The journalists’ decision not to attend the dinner was conveyed to the committee 45 minutes before tie t inner. There was no message from the Embassy, but;.the invited officials, including Sottfried Asehmann (the German Foreign Press chief) were absent. Very loud and long applause greeted the criticised passage.