HOURS REMAIN TO DECIDE FATE OF NATIONS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 11

HOURS REMAIN TO DECIDE FATE OF NATIONS

Since Mr Chamberlain’s broadcast, the city has sought unsuccessfully for a glimmer of hope in the early morning news frorh Europe. All are waiting now to see what happens at the reported German mobilisation hour of 2 p.m., and the momentous meeting of Parliament at 2.45 p.m.

Throughout the night there were scenes of activity as messengers raced about Lopdon. Trench diggers have redoubled their efforts and streams of sandladen lorries are moving continuously.

In the vital areas anti-aircraft units are fully in position. Londoners awoke to the spectacle of long guns pointing silently to the sky.

Naval officers and men are standing by to respond to the call for the fleet mobilisation. Thousands of civilians, mainly women and children, have already evacuated the city and taken up residence in the country.

In the meantime, Mr Roosevelt has made another attempt to persuade Herr Hitler to the acceptance of a peaceful settlement, and it is regarded as significant that the full, text of his first appeal has now been published prominently in all the Berlin morning newspapers.

A faint glimmer, of hope is seen in a report from Warsaw, which states that an agreement between Czechoslovakia and Poland for a territorial revision is officially announced. The communique adds that a practical plan for the settlement of the Teschen problem has been submitted to Prague.

MR CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS

BROADCAST ADDRESS TO WORLD “DONE ALL ONE MAN COULD DO” OFFER TO MAKE THIRD VISIT TO. GERMANY (Received September. 28, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 27, “I have done all one man could do to compose this quarrel. I am going to work for peace until the last moment. We cannot undertake to involve the whole British Empire in a war, however much we may sympathise with a small nation. "How horrible and incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying out gas masks because of a quarrel in a far-away country.”

THE SUDETEN FRONTIER

PLAN FOE IMMEDIATE DEFINITION INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION SUGGESTED (Received September 28, 10 p.m.) LONDON. September 28. A report is current in Paris that negotiations now centre on a plan to appoint an international commission to define the Sudeten frontier immediately, enabling Herr Hitler to fulfil his pledge to take possession of the territory on Saturday.

cept the terms of the German memorandum, yet I believe, after all the talks by Herr Hitler, if only time will allow, it ought to be possible to reach a settlement on agreement under conditions which will ensure fair treatment of the populations concerned. “After my visits to Germany realise vividly how Herr Hitler feels he must champion every German whose grievances have not been met. He told me privately, and yesterday repeated publicly, that Sudeten German land is the end of Germany s territorial claims in Europe. “After my Visit to Berchtesgaden 1 gave the Czech Government Herr Hitler’s proposals, and T was taken completely by surprise when I returned to Germany, and he insisted that the territory he wanted should be handed over to him immediately and occupied by German troops without previous arrangements forsafeguarding the people who are not Germans, and who do not want to join the German Reich.

These were sentences from Mr Chamberlain’s broadcast speech tonight. in which he stated that Herr Hitler’s demands were unreasonable, and appealed to the people to await calmly the events of the next few days.

Mr Chamberlain said: “To-mor-row Parliament meets. To-day there was a brief lull.* I thank those who have written to my wife and me. H was heartbreaking to me when they thought too soon that the danfer was past. An earlier statement Would not have been possible, when I was flying backwards and forwards Europe and the position was Ranging hourly.

“Hitler’s Attitude Unreasonable” “1 must say I find that attitude unreasonable. If it arose from any doubt that Herr Hitler feels about the intentions of the Czech Government to carry out its promises, and hand over the territory, I have offered. on behalf of the Czech Gov* ernment, to guarantee their words. If I were convinced that any nation had made up its mind to dominate the world by fear of its force, I should feel it should be resisted. Under such domination the life, of the people who believe in liberty would not be worth living. “But war is a fearful thing. We must be very clear before we embark on it, that it is a really great issue that is at stake, and that the,

“Armed Conflict a Nightmare” “I am myself a man of peace to depth of my soul. Armed conbetween nations is a nightmare • Me. I ask you to wait as calmly *• you can for events during the *•** l few days. •- So long as war has not occurred djere is always a hope that it may prevented. I can well under--s*ud the reasons why the Czech Government has felt unable to acfcl,-

London Calmly and Terribly Anxious

MR ROOSEVELT MAKES LAST GESTURE FOR PEACE

Poland and Czechoslovakia Reach Agreement On Teschen Dispute (WITBD PftKSS ASSOCIATION • COPTaiOHT.) (Received September 29, 12.45 a.m.*) LONDON, September 28. Faced with the grim fact that hours and not days remain to decide the fate of nations, London is calmly and terribly anxious.

call to risk everything in its defence when' all ’ the consequences are weighed is irresistible.” Mr Chamberlain concluded by appealing to his countrymen to offer their services to the authorities and not to be alarmed if they heard of men being called up for anti-aircraft services or for ships. These were onlv precautionary measures, and the> did not necessarily mean Britain had determined on war, or that war was imminent.

“However much we may sympathise with a small nation confronted by a big, powerful neighbour.” he added, “we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve the whole British Empire in war simply on hep account.”

Speech Broadcast in German

Mr Chamberlain spoke for eight minutes in deep, anxious tones. There was pathos in his voice when he prefaced hie address with a touching reference to the premature letters of thanks received by himself and his wife when it was thought the Berchtesgaden consulta tion would produce peace.

Mr Chamberlain’s emotion was noticeable when he mentioned his willingness to go a third time to Germany, followed by an admission of the apparent uselessness of such a visit.

Mr Chamberlain did not falter, but the stress under which he was labouring was obvious when, in a few Simple words, he expressed his passionate hatred of war. followed by a chilling reminder of national tasks lying at hand. He expressed the common people’s sense of frustration when he asked; “Is it not horribly incredible that we are digging trenches and trying on gas . masks, because of a quarrel in a far-away country?” After Mr Chamberlain’s speech a German speaker translated it and read a news bulletin containing items which have not appeared in the German press, beginning with Mr Roosevelt’s message to Herr Hitler. This was the first time news was broadcast from Condon in German.

The French Prime Minister (M Daladier) issued a statement which said;

“The struggle for peace is not ended. Negotiations are continuing. Do not. believe that our diplomacy is inactive. It is manifested tb-day in numerous capitals. France will neglect no possibility for the maintenance of peace.”

NEWSPAPERS PRAISE MR CHAMBERLAIN

(Received September 28, 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, September 28

The principal newspapers devote their leading articles to Mr Chamberlain’s broadcast.

They endorse his claim that “no man could do more.” and say that Parliament must thank him.