FRENCH CONFIDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 13

FRENCH CONFIDENCE

M. DALADIER'S PART

THE MUNICH AGREEMENT

VOTE IN CHAMBER

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received October 5, 10.20 a.m.)

PARIS, October 4.

The Chamber of Deputies passed a vote of confidence in the Government by an overwhelming majority.

A crowded Chamber gave an ovation to the Premier, M. Daladier, who declared: "We have saved the peace." He defined the Government's attitude during the crisis as being animated |by two equally strong sentiments, (firstly, the desire not to be compelled jto take military action, and, secondly, ! the wish to fulfil its word if that hope were disappointed. "We had the alternative," he said, "of saying 'No' to the i German demands, thus pushing the ; Czech Government, into obstinacy and | the German Government to aggression, iprovoking a conflict which would ! rapidly have destroyed Czechoslovakia, or of trying to find a compromise. We chose peace, resulting in the Anglo-French plan, which, despite the' painful propositions submitted to Czechoslovakia, have secured a British guarantee."

M. Daladier was loudly cheered when he paid a tribute to Mr. Chamberlain's efforts for peace, and further cheers greeted his, statement that he did not regret having accepted Herr Hitler's invitation, and his praise of the Czech sacrifices.

"I was aware of German esteem for France when I went to Munich," he said. "We must feel esteem for that great people, our neighbours, who were our enemies, but with whom we should be able to live in a durable peace. It is not our intention to substitute new for old and tried friendships, but we want to make new friendships." He added regarding Czechoslovakia: "Certainly the Munich agreement had made her territory smaller, but the, Czech Republic can freely pursue its life, and we will help it." He emphasised the need for working out a basis of general settlement in order to maintain the peace. Frenchmen must consider themselves permanently mobilised.

A number of deputies demanded a debate on M. Daladier's statement, which M. Daladier refused, saying that he would make the matter a vote of confidence.