"FLIGHTS OF FANCY"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 108, 3 November 1939, Page 7

"FLIGHTS OF FANCY"

MOLOTOV'S SPEECH

REFERENCE BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN

ALLIES' AIMS

STATED IN PLAIN TERMS

(British Official Wireless.) (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received November 3, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, November 2. The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in his weekly war survey in the House of Commons, referring to M. Molotov's speech, which he imagined occasioned some disappointment in Berlin, said that Britain had considered with interest the definition of the Soviet's future aims which it contained. Recalling M. Molotov's speech of May 31, in which M. Molotov pronounced Russia's intention "to stand for peace and the prevention of any ; sort of development and aggression," Mr. Chamberlain said: "That is also the position of the British Government, and I am not disposed to disturb myself over flights of fancy in which M. Molotov indulged when describing the Allies' aims. We have stated these aims in plain terms, and I am confident that they are fully appreciated by the great majority cf the nations of the world." Referring to the war situation, bMr. Chamberlain said:; "Activity on the French and German frontier has been confined to action by local raiding parties and occasional artillery fire. "Despite the exceptional cold and wet, the British Expeditionary Force has continued to work diligently at the task of strengthening the defences on their section of the line. We must not forget our numerous garrisons overseas. Though distant from the immediate scene of war and without the stimulus which its proximity provides, they have maintained constant vigilance and performed a. routine of duty which can never be relaxed." CONFIDENCE IN ANTI-SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. "The war at sea has been comparatively uneventful. Nothing has. occurred to shake our confidence in our ability to overcome the Submarine menace. "During the week there have been a number of encounters with German aircraft either engaged in reconnaissance or in attempted attack on convoys. No damage was sustained in these encounters eitherl by our aircraft or ships. The enemy, on the other hand, suffered some loss, and the net result has been to confirm the high opinion we have already entertained of the quality of our fighter aircraft and the skill and courage of their crews. A particularly gallant exploit was a successful reconnaissance flight over north-west Germany dur-j ing the week, when valuable photo- j graphs were secured, some of them! taken at a height of no more than 200 feet, despite a heavy concentrated barrage by anti-aircraft gunS." UNITED DETERMINATION OF EMPIRE. The Premier described the consultations between representatives of the Dominion and Indian Governments which are now taking place in London as "a striking demonstration of the united determination of the Empire," and said: "The fuller knowledge which we shall' now gain of the plans of the different Governments as a result of the presence of their Ministerial representatives here will be of great value to us. Equally striking is the wholehearted co-operation we are receiving from all parts of the Empire, including Burma, and from the colonies. The colonies have not been forced into the war by Great Britain against their will. The action of so many peoples of various races is witness to their consciousness that the threat to Great Britain is equally a threat to that freedom and well-being that has been assured them under British rule." j Although the war effort of the colonies at the beginning of the war could be mainly economic, Mr. Chamberlain said he wished to thank all those in the colonies who had offered personal service. The voluntary offers of service throughout the Empire so far exceeded Britain's immediate requirements.