NO RESPONSE TO PEACE GESTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 300, 20 December 1938, Page 11

NO RESPONSE TO PEACE GESTURES.

BRITISH COMPLAINT. Germany Fails to Implement Spirit of Munich. CONTRIBUTION AWAITED. British Oljicial Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 19. Turning to Germany in the course of his speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Chamberlain said that the relations he would like to see were as set forth in the Munich declaration. There was, among the British people, recognition of the great qualities of the German people, and a strong desire to see them co-operat-ing in the restoration of European civilisation. No spirit of vindictiveness remained trom the (.'reat War. There was no desire to hamper Germany's development or cramp its tremendous vitality. "Oil the contrary, we are firm in the conviction that unless this strong, virile people can lie induced in partnership with others to improve tlie general lot, there will be neither peace nor progress in Europe in things that make life worth living,lie declared.

"If by an\ word spoken in this House." Mr. Chamberlain added, "I can give some sort of assurance, going deeper than any formal statement of policy, that in this country there is an earnest and constant desire that the peoples of Britain and Germany, together with other members of the European nations, should find means to co-operate in removing the menace of war I believe I should be expressing not only our own feelings, but those of many other countries throughout the world which are looking to us to lead them out of their troubles.

'"At the same time I must add that it is not enough for us to express that desire. It takes .two to make an agreement it takes two to make war. and I am waiting for a sign from those who speak for the German people that they share tiiis desire and are prepared to make their contribution to peace."' Inefficacy of Reason. Mr. Chamberlain added: "To reproach us with going on with rearmament after Munich is strangely to ignore facts patent to all. We are ready at any time to discuss limitation of armaments on the basis that all will contribute to that limitation with due regard to their own safety, but as long as others are going on arming day and night we are bound to do the same because, although reason is the finest weapon in the world it has little chance to assert itself where force is supreme.

[ "It would l>e a tragic blunder to | mistake our love of peace and our ' faculty for compromise for weakness. The democratic system lias its failures, but it has this virtue that in moments of crisis it invokes strength and unanimity which spring from conviction and, which are expressed in the wholehearted will of the people." Far East Position. Mr. Chamberlain continued to refer to the position in the Far East, which had to be considered, he said, when taking account of the position nearer home. Long-established interests in China had suffered during IS months of conflict with Japan, the end of which was not yet in siirlit. 'in the face of forces -which had been loosed simultaneously in the Far East and in Europe, however, it could not lie expected that the present or any other British Government could secure satisfaction for every claim as it arose under such abnormal conditions.