YIELD NOTHING TO FORGE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 282, 26 August 1939, Page 11

YIELD NOTHING TO FORGE

Momentous Statements By British Leaders WARNING OF CONSEQUENCE OF AGGRESSION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. August 24. Confronted, as Mr. Chamberlain said, “with the imminent perils of war,” a crowded and hushed House of Commons listened to the Prime Minister’s momentous statement of the issues raised by Nazi Germany’s actions and threats and Britain’s determination to yield nothing to force.

They heard from him that in a communication made yesterday to Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden by the British Ambassador. Sir Nevile Henderson, it was made plain that “if the case should arise, Britain was resolved and prepared to employ without delay all the forces at her command,” and they cheered his final appeal that in this critical hour they should show the world that as we think, so shall we fight—as a united nation.” With particular interest members heard, too. Mr. Chamberlain's admission that Monday’s announcement of the SovietGerman Non-aggression Pact came as a complete surprise to Britain, and a surprise of a very unpleasant character. The close attention with which his comments on this development and his refusal in the meantime to pass final judgment on it were followed took on an increased alertness as the Prime Minister passed on to speak of the false deductions that had been made in certain quarters as to its effect on British policy and the steps that had been taken to correct them and to reaffirm in very deliberate terms the fidelity of Britain to its pledges. “I earnestly hope that reason will prevail, in face of the consequences of resort to force and before an unretractable. step is taken. I pray that the appeals by the Pope and President Roosevelt may find a response in the hearts of men,” said the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, in a world broadcast on the lines of Mr. Chamberlain’s statement in the House of Commons.

Tracing the history of the German-Polish minority dispute, he said that if causes for complaints existed let them be coolly examined before world opinion was worked up and made settlement a hundred times more difficult.

“I am confident,” he said, “that the Poles are ready at all times to discuss differences with Germany. Free from menace of force, the problem ought not to be incapable of settlement, Ibutthe real difficulty springs from deeper causes. It must be remembered that the life of all nations depends on mutual respect for each other’s rights. Britain throughout history has felt bound to oppose attempts by one Power to dominate Europe at the expense of another, and therefore we have pledged our assistance to threatened countries, including Poland. It is not the British way to go back on our obligations.”

UNITED IN FACE OF AGGRESSION

Unanimity In House Of

Commons

LONDON, August 24.

Speaking after the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, the actingLeader of the Opposition, Mr. A. Greenwood, said it was hoped all clouds might yet be dispelled. Unity in resistance to aggression was complete and the issue was faced with confidence and fortitude. “I still hope,” he said, “that there may be influences in Germany which are becoming powerful enough to respond to the appeal to reason and realise that if there are legitimate grievances they are not incapable of settlement.” Britain, he declared, would not march with an aggressor law-breaker. Labour would never acquiesce in further aggression. "The peril of war,” he said, “has not come from us. We are not hositle to the German people, for whom war would be equally disastrous. Victor and vanquished alike would be crushed in the ruins.”

Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader, said it was not a time for controversy and recrimination when a thrust for world domination was threatening British homes and families, depriving them of the light and blessing of peace. It was a time for closing their ranks. Mr. Anthony Eden said that the situation was as grave and perilous as any in Britain’s history. The chief danger was Germany’s refusal to believe they were in earnest. If _ the German people did not believe Britain and Prance would support Poland it would be the grayest error in history.