ILLUSION ENDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 72, 27 March 1939, Page 9

ILLUSION ENDED.

CALL TO BRITAIN. Time For Argument Past; Unity Now Vital. MB. EDEN'S STIRRING SPEECH. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 26. Mr. Anthony Eden, former Foreign Secretary, addressing men's associations at Grimsby, declared that a period of facile, dangerous illusion had ended. Britons were awar» of the issue confronting them and the nature of the forces unleashed. Peace depended upon the determination of Britain's leadership and the vigour of its action. Therefore, the people's message to their leaders was blunt and urgent, namely, "The time for argument is past. Tliese are not the days for bickering, delay and hesitation. * There has been enough of that.

"I'nite now and act now. Waste not an hour. Act so as to convince the world that Britain is awake and in earnest."

DIVERSE VIEWS. Conscription Issue Dividing British Cabinet. GERMANS CALLED HOME. LONDON, March 26. The French Press confidently asserts that Mr. Chamberlain gave M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, definitely to understand that some form of conscription would be introduced in Britain soon. Official quarters in Whitehall are reticent on the matter, but a section of the British Sunday Press asserts that the Cabinet is split from top to bottom on the question.

Sir John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is said to be leading the opponents of the proposal, which is stated to be supported by Lord Chatfield, Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Kingsley Wood, Air Minister, and Mr. Hbre-Belisha, Minister of War. It is announced from Berlin that conscripts of the 1920 class residing abroad must return to Germany for compulsory labour and military service, beginning on April 1. MAORI LOYALTY. HOMAGE TO THE THRONE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORXE, this day. A large assembly of leading natives yesterday carried the following resolution; —"That this meeting of Maori subjects of His Majesty King George VI., desires to tender its homage, loyalty and allegiance to the Crown and to assure the Sovereign and his Ministers of their confidence and sympathy, and the support of the Maori people in this time of stress." The meeting desired the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court Bench, Mr. R. N. Jones, to have the message transmitted through the Governor-General to His Majesty.