SCARCELY A FRIEND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 147, 24 June 1939, Page 9

SCARCELY A FRIEND

GERMANY'S POSITION

RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN

CONFIDENCE SHAKEN

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, June 22.

The First Commissioner of Works, Mr. H. Ramsbotham, in a speech today said that, while Britain asked for nothing better of Germany than friendship and good-neighbour relations, her experience in the past few years, and particularly last spring, discouraged all those who hoped that genuine co-operation with Germany could be achieved. , .

Could Britain, therefore, be blamed, he asked, if in concert with those nations who shared her apprehensions she took such steps as could safeguard herself and her friends from the fate which already had befallen others?

Germany . had scarcely a real friend in the world, for friendship based on fear was merely concealed enmity.

Confidence in, international order and decency had been terribly shaken; it must be re-established, and that soon, if a: catastrophe were to b.e avoided/ :

It should be made known that, although Britain was prepared to go to great lengths to obtain a peaceful solution of international problems, she was equally prepared if necessary to meet force with force, and "a fight with iis would,be a fight to the finish," Mr. Ramsbotham said.