SIAM'S ATTITUDE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 85, 12 April 1939, Page 9

SIAM'S ATTITUDE

FRIENDSHIP WITH ALL

(Received April 12, 11.30 a.m.)

TOKIO, April 11,

The Siamese Minister, Mr. Fhya Sri Sena, denies that Siam is forming an anti-Japanese bloc with Britain and declares that Siam seeks only continued independence and friendly cooperation with all nations.

had engaged merely in "consultations," had acquiesced in the countries of Eastern Europe not merely fulfilling a proper economic function as a source of German supplies and market for German goods, but falling into complete political and military subservience—there would have been an outburst. The House of Commons would have moved and the Government would have fallen. I believe that that will surely happen if any similar case should arise. NATIONAL UNITY COMPLETE. The national unity as to aims is complete, from the extreme Right to tbhe_ extreme Left. But that there are wide - differences as to methods is obvious. Large sections of opinion are convinced that the Cabinet, as now constituted, does not possess the vigour, the courage, the initiative to handle successfully the situation that now faces us. There is an "open division of opinion on the question of compulsory military service. Its advocates take for granted that conscription would add to the strength of Britain. But we should consider with the greatest care whether, taking into account total strength—on land, at sea, and in tha air, and industrial and financial strength also—it might not lessen it. They assume that the introduction into Parliament of a.Bill for universal service would furnish an impressive demonstration, to Germany and to the world, of the national unity. The result might in fact be just the opposite.

These questions are still in debate. But there is no debate as to the urgent necessity for the maximum of armament and of civilian defence. And there is no debate as to the duty, and the willingness, of the nation to take its full part in saving itself, and Europe and the world, from subjection to a military domination.

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