"NEW TEMPER OF BRITAIN"

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 9

"NEW TEMPER OF BRITAIN"

Quiet Confidence In Strength PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYED (UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.) (Received August 21, 9 p.m.) LONDON, August 21. “The Times” in a leading article says: “Mr Chamberlain’s return a day earlier is one of the many signs of heightened tension. Critical days lie ahead of Britain, France, and like-minded nations which are determined that the German fulminations, but with the Poles as the criminals instead of the Czechs, shall not achieve their purpose. “Britain’s temper nowadays is very different from that of last autumn. The machinery of Herr Hitler’s technique has become visible. There can be no settlement until these methods are discarded. “If the outcome is war, it will be because other countries find Herr Hitler’s Germany an impossible neighbour. Britain has given Poland a pledge from which she will not and cannot recede. She gave no such pledges to Czechoslovakia whose encirclement before her destruction is paralleled by Germany bringing Slovakia under her control in order to pursue the encirclement of Poland. If Germany cannot live with her neighbours except by subyugaVum, \Yveu they must unite against her with Britain by their side.” A British Official Wireless message says both the “Sunday Times” and the “Observer” remark upon the unity of the British nation behind the policy which Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax have repeatedly made clear —a policy of readiness to be conciliatory and constructive in discussion, once confidence in the peaceful intentions of all governments is restored, but of determination to resist aggression. “A United Nation” The “Sunday Times” says; “This is a united nation. Neither friend nor foe need doubt that if duty calls it will render a faithful account of itself. The seas before us may be threatening, but the course to steer is agreed. There at least we have an advantage over the men of July, 1914.” , „ . Of the apparent aims of the Nazi Government, as declared in the policy proclaimed in the German newspaners, the “Sunday Times” says: “We in Great Britain know well that if such a policy were Dressed too far the end could only be war—a war in which our country would' participate with all its forces. We are confident that we could win it, but we do not-want it to occur.” Mr J. L. Garvin, in the “Observer,” seeks to define the qualities demanded of the British people in the hour of “stern awakening.” He says: “It must be unswerving in reason. but impervious to fear; it must be prompt to reciprocate genuine goodwill, ready for conference or negotiation on level terms, but absolute in its resolve to meet threats by rejection and repel force by force.” , , . He finds that “one wholesome factor in the immense complex of forces and influences is. that this determined quietness among us is already assured. The nation is as solidly united in that mood as it ever was in all its annals.” • Something of the same impression of the state of mind of the country has struck the veteran political writer. Mr J. A. Spender, who in the “Sunday Times,” writes: Last vear the British people were ready to face the grim necessity, if it had been unavoidable, of fighting • with their backs to the wall, in a state of comparative unpreparedness. This year they have a quiet confidence, based on their own knowledge of the immense efforts they have made in the intervening months.” * MINISTERS RETURN TO LONDON (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, August 20. The Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), after preparing the report he will make to his Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday, left for Yorkshire by train last night, and will, return to London early to-morrow morning. . Mr - Chamberlain is expected m London early to-morrow morning, and the Secretary for War (Mr L. Hore-Belisha) left Cannes to-day for London.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST SWITZERLAND

TROOPS CONCENTRATED NEAR BASLE LONDON, August 20. A message from Basle states that a whispering campaign against Switzerland in Southern Germany and a heavy concentration of troops near Basle have resulted in the strengthening of the Swiss garrisons on the Italian-German frontiers. All roads and bridges have been mined and are being guarded incessantly.

The Italian border garrisons are being strengthened. . Troops are moving up to the French frontier from Trieste, from Venice, and from Milan. -. - ■

German troops are passing across the Brenner Pass to Italy repeatedly, arousing the hostility, of the Italian Tyrolese.

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