Britain and Germany

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

Britain and Germany

4 6 UARANTEE us peace and peaceful evolution in Europe, and # Germany will find that she has no more sincere and, I beH lieve, more useful friend in the world than Great Britain.” J|» With these words, Sir Neville Henderson, British Ambassador

in Berlin, concluded an appeal for understanding between the two countries at a banquet given in his honour by the German-English (Society in Berlin. Sir Neville said: —

“Though I have only been here a few'weeks I have heard constantly repeated that Great Britain is attempting to hem Germany in on every side. I can assure you that Great Britain is making no such attempt and has no desire to make it.

“We fully appreciate Germany’s great mission in the world. German culture, German philosophy and German ideals are among the noblest in the world; German thoroughness, German industry and German commerce have always been objects of unstinted British admiration. “Commercial rivalry, such as there is always bound to be between us, Is a stimulus which benefits consumers and never has been and never will be a cause of national ill-feeling or ill-will in England. A modern proof of this is the Anglo-German agreement which has proved to be one of, if not the most liberal and successful trade agreement which Germany has concluded, and it has brought about a notable increase of AngloGerman trade.

“The most vital problem of Germany to-day is that of raw materials.

I do not believe that Germany will find in any country more than in Great Britain greater willingness to do what may be possible to help her in this matter. And where, more than in the City of London, with its long financial experience, has there always been greater readiness shown to help others and to discuss difficulties? No. Great Britain in no. way contemplates hemming Germany in or injuring in any way her legitimate commercial, cultural or national ambitions. “I can tell you quite definitely and truly what England wants and all that England wants. It is peace—peace in Europe and in a world that surely had enough of war in those ghastly years, 1914 to 1918. “1 always remember one verse of a popular song which swayed an election in the United States in 1916. It runs:— “ ‘I didn’t raise my son to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy. Who dares to put a rille on his shoulder, To kill some other mother’s darling boy?’ “That verse was at the back of ray mind when I said to the Reich Chancellor three weeks ago that I was convinced there was no question between Germany and England which could not be solved by peaceful goodwill and mutual co-operation. Those words came from the bottom of my heart.”