TERMS BRITISH LETTER TO FUEHRER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 207, 2 September 1939, Page 11

TERMS BRITISH LETTER TO FUEHRER.

EFFORT FOR PEACE. Mr. Chamberlain Suggests Truce For Parleys. | CALAMITY OF CONFLICT. British Official Wireless. (Received 3 p.m.) RUGBY, September 1. The communications recently exchanged between the British and German Governments are published as a White Paper. The correspondence begins with a letter addressed by the Prime Minister on behalf of the British Government to Herr Hitler on August 22. Ho opened with a reference to the precautionary measures which Britain had started to take and said: "These steps, in the opinion of the British j Government, have been rendered neces-! sary by military movements which have ! been reported from Germany, and by the fact that apparently the announcement of the German-Soviet agreement is taken in some quarters in Berlin to indicate that intervention by Britain o% behalf of Poland is no longer a contingency that need be reckoned with. No greater mistake could have been made. "Difficulties in the way of any peaceful discussion in the present state of tension are, however, obvious. The longer tension is maintained' the harder will it be for reason to prevail. "These difficulties, however, might be mitigated, if not removed, provided that there could for an initial period be a truce on both sides—indeed, on all sides, to Press polemics and to all incitement. Suggested Truce. "If such a truce could be arranged, then at the end of that period, during which steps could be taken to examine and deal with complaints made by either side as to the treatment of minorities, it is reasonable to hope that suitable conditions might have been established for direct negotiations between Germany and Poland upon the issues between them—with the aid of a neutral intermediary. The letter goes on: "Having thus made our position perfectly clear, I wish to repeat to you my conviction that a war between our two peoples would be the greatest calamity that could occur. I am certain that it is desired neither by our people nor by yours, I cannot see that there is anything in the questions arising between Germany and Poland which could not, and should not, be resolved without the use of force, if only a situation of confidence could be restored to enable discussions to be carried on in an atmosphere different from that which prevails to-dav.

"We have been, and at all times will be, ready to assist in creating the conditions in which such negotiations could take place and in which it might be possible concurrently to discuss wider problems affecting the future of international relations, including matters of interest to us and to vou.

"Whatever may prove to be the nature of the German-Soviet agreement, it cannot alter Britain's obligation to Poland, which the British G.vernment has stated in public repeatedly and plainlv, and which it is determined to fulfil."

Emphasising the British Government's intention that there should be no possibility of misunderstanding its attitude, aa it was sometimes alleged there had been in 1&14, Mr. Chamberlain made a striking affirmation, which he cited in the House of Commons on August 24, that if the case should arise "the Government is resolved and prepared to employ without delay all the forces at its command."

Impossible to Foresee End of Hostilities

He added: " — and it is impossible to foresee the end of hostilities once they are engaged. It would be a dangerous illusion to think that if a war once starts it will come to an early end, even if success on any one of the several fronts on which it will be engaged should have been secured." "I am bound to say, however, that there would be slender hope of bringing such negotiations to a successful issue unless it were understood that any settlement reached would, when concluded, be guaranteed by the other Powers.

"The British Government would be ready, if desired, to make such contribution as it could to the effective operation of such a guarantee. At this moment I confess I can see no other way to avoid a catastrophe that will involve Europe in war.

"In view of the grave consequences to humanity which may follow from the action of their rulers, I trust Your Excellency will weigh with the utmost deliberation the considerations I have put before you."