ANXIOUS DAYS

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 9

ANXIOUS DAYS

WAR CLOUDS IH EUROPE TENSION CONTINUES ACUTE BRITAIN CALM AND PREPARED Press Associate— By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 21. 'The Times,’ in a leader, says: " Mr Chamberlain’s return a day earlier is one of many signs of heightened tension. Critical days lie ahead of Britain and France, like-minded nations who are determined that German fulmmations, but with the Poles as the criminals instead of the Czech®) shall not achieve their purpose.” “ Britain’s temper nowadays is very different, from those of last autumn. The machinery of Herr Hitler’s technique has become visible, and there can be no settlement until these methods are discarded. If the outcome is war it will he because other countries find Herr Hitler’s Germany an impossible neighbour. Britain has given Poland a pledge from which she will not and cannot recede. She gave no «uch pledges to Czecho-Slovakia, whose encirclement before destruction is paralleled by Germany bringing Slovakia under control in order to pursue the encirclement of Poland. If Germany cannot live with her neighbours except by subjugation, then they must unite against her, with Britain by their sWe.” RESISTANCE TO AGGRESSION UNITY OF BRITISH NATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 20, Both the ‘ Sunday Times ’ and the ‘Observer’ remark upon the unity of the British nation behind the policy which Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax have repeatedly made clear—a policy of readiness to bo conciliatory and constructive in discussion once confidence in the peaceful intentions of all Governments is restored, but of determination to resist aggression. The ‘Sunday Times’ says: “This is a united nation and neither friend nor foe need doubt that if duty calls it will render a faithful account of itself. The seas before us may be threatening, but the course to steer is agreed on. There at least we have an advantage over the men of July, 1914.” Of the apparent aims of the Nazi Government, as declared in the policy proclaimed in German newspapers, the ‘Sunday Times’ says: “We in Great' Britain know well that if suoh. policy were pressed’ too far the end could only be war—war in which our country would participate with all its forces We are confident we could win it. but we do not want it to occur.” Mr J. L. Garvin, in the ‘ Observer,* seeks to define the qualities demanded of British people in the hour of “ stern awakening.” He says: “It must be unswerving in reason but impervious ,to fear. It must be prompt to reciprocate genuine goodwill and ready for •onference or negotiation on level terms, but absolute in its resolve to meet threats by rejection and repel force by force.” He finds that “ one wholesome factor in an immense complex of forces and influences is that this determined quietness among us is already assured. The nation is as solidly united in that mood as it ever was in all its annals.” Something of the same impression of the state of mind of the country has struck the veteran publicist, Mr J. A. Spender, who, in the ‘ Sunday Times,’ writes: “Last year the British people were ready to face the grim necessity, if it had been unavoidable, of fighting with their backs to the wall in a state of comparative nnpreparedness. This year they have a quiet confidence based on their own knowledge of the immense efforts they have made in the intervening months. FULL CABINET TO MEET LONDON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 9.15 a.m.) Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax conversed for three and a-half hours. Virtually a full Cabinet meeting will be held to-morrow. POSITION TO BE REVIEWED BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE UNCHANGED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 21. (Received August 22, at 11 a.m.) In London principal interest is now fixed on to-morrow’s meeting of Ministers, when Lord Halifax will report upon the international situation. This meeting was arranged before .the Ministers dispersed on holiday, but in view of the developments of the European situation in the last few days there is satisfaction that Mr Chamberlain and his colleagues will have the opportunity at this stage of reviewing together the more critical position which has followed from the reappearance in Central Europe of the tactics by which the crisis of last September was inaugurated, and from the clamant reiteration in tho German Press of the impossibility of compromise upon demands which the whole world knows mean war if they are persisted in. This growing tension is bound to engage the Ministers’ most serious attention, though it is generally recognised here that Britain has done almost all that lies in its power to ensure peace by defining with precision and clarity its attitude and obligations.

On June 29 Lord Halifax declared: “ In the event of further aggression we are resolved to use at once the whole of our strength in fulfilment of our pledges to resist it.” Mr Chamberlain subsequently emphasised that these words represented Britain’s considered policy

Ministers will no doubt be concerned to see if there remain any means, over and above all that has already been done to that end, to ensure that no slightest doubt survives in any quarter of the significance of that pledge. One matter which it may be assumed will not be excluded from consideration at to-morrow’s meeting of Ministers is the summoning of Parliament. Before the adjournment Mr Chamberlain assured the House that the Government would not hesitate—if it thought developments made it desirable—to call Parliament together before the date fixed ’for reassembly, October 30. At the same time he resisted an amendment to the adjournment motion which sought to fix a special session for to-morrow’s date, and it may still be his and his colleagues’ views that the meeting of Parliament is not at present necessary or opportune. Callers on Mr Chamberlain included Mr A. Greenwood, Sir. Samuel Hoare, Dr Burgin, and Lord Chatfiold. Mr Hore Belisha had nn hour’s conversation at Paris with M. Daladier. INTEREST CENTRED ON ROME POSSIBILITY OF CONFERENCE DISCUSSED LONDON, August 21. Interest in the swiftly-moving European drama has ben temporarily moved to Rome, which is tense with excitement and seething with speculation. Reuter reports the possibility of Count Ciano calling a conference of British, French, and Polish Ambassadors in a last effort to reach a settlement. British circles deny knowledge of such initiative, but it is understood that the Ambassadors’ interviews with Count Ciano postponed from Friday because of the arrival of Count Csaky, will be resumed to-day. It is expected that Count Csaky will return to Rome to-day to see Count Ciano. The American Press believes that events of recent days indicate that a concrete formula for negotiation is imminent, rejection of which will decide whether Europe’s problems be solved at the conference table or on the battlefield. Attention is drawn to the increasing general use of tho words “ Der Tag ” in Berlin. THE ANGLO’PDLISH PAOT GERMAN SPECULATIONS BERLIN, August 21. (Received August 22, at 8 a.m.) Tho ‘ National . Zeitung,’ , FieldMarshal Goering’s mouthpiece, questions whether the Anglo-Polish pact will contain a clause under which Britain will regard any change in the political position of Danzig as automatically involving fulfilment of British obligations. “ The week now commencing will bring a decision in regard to this, also' other important questions.” POLAND UNPERTURBED TROOP MOVEMENTS TO FRONTIERS WARSAW, August 21. (Received August 22, at 8 a.m.) The considerable Polish troop movements toward the western and Slovakian frontiers are regarded as a normal precaution in view of the German dispositions. The public continues; unperturbed, chiefly because the threat of German invasion long antedates the present crisis. The newspapers predict that it is a matter of days before Germany’s final demands. THE GERMAN MANOEUVRES CIVIL LIFE DISLOCATED BERLIN. August 21. It has. been announced that the whole of the Cologne and Ruhr districts will have air-raid precautions exercises over 36 hours, beginning at dusk to-day. Largo military manoeuvres in Germany are dislocating every-day life, and nearly 1,000,000 German women are grass widows because their husbands have been called up. Many have taken over their husband’s jobs and carry on businesses. ISOLATION IMPOSSIBLE CHANGING OPINION IN AMERICA NEW YORK, August 20. Apparently sharing the opinions of 76 per cent, of Americans, as expressed in the Institute of National Opinion poll, that American isolation is impossible, the strongly isolationist ‘ New York Daily News,’ with a circulation of 2,000,000, has taken a new stand. In an editorial to-day, it says: “ Maybe we cannot keep out of Europe’s troubles; then the thing for us is to keep out as long as we can and lot European countries spill their own blood for two or three years, so we won’t have to stop in for so long when we finally come to settle peace terms. It was bad enough that we finally had to get into tho World War, but it was a mighty good thing we didn’t begin spilling our blood copiously until the last few months of it.”

The newspaper adds that the American navy is a sure guarantee that the standard of living will not slump when the rest of the world goes Jo war.

ON POLAND'S FLANK QUARTER QF A MILLION GERMAN TROOPS LONDON, August 21. (.Received August 22, at 10 a.m.) THe correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain in Zilina (Slovakia) reports that 250,000 German troops, accompanied by artillery and aircraft, are now stationed on the Slovak frontier, Poland’s southern flank. DANZIG CUSTOMS DISPUTE ANOTHER SETTLEMENT EFFORT DANZIG, August 21. (Received August 22, at 10.30 a.m.) Officials of the Polish Ministry of Finance conferred with representatives of the Senate and the chief inspector of Customs in an effort to settle the prolonged Customs dispute. The two Polish Customs officials who were arrested on August 16 on charges of distributing anti-Nazi leaflets have been released. GERMANY NOT ANXIOUS FOR WAR OFFICIAL BELIEF IN LONDON (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 10.10 a.m.) The ‘ Evening Standard ’ says a fairly optimistic view prevails in British Government circles despite the increase in international tension. Official circles do not believe that Germany is anxious to risk war, while England and France have made every effort to leave no doubt that an attack on Poland would mean a general conflict. BRITISH WAR MINISTER CONFERENCE IN PARIS PARIS, August 21. (Received August 22, at 10.10 a.m.) M. Daladier and Mr Hore-Belisha conferred at the War Ministry and covered the international situation in great detail. The French Cabinet meets to-morrow. POLISH TROOP MOVEMENTS REPORTED MINING OF ROADS, AND BRIDGES . BERLIN, August 21. (Received August 22, at 11 a.m.) Strong Polish troop movements and concentrations are reported along the borders of Moravia at many point's and roads and bridges are reported to be mined in the vicinity of Jablunlca. British journalists have not received an official warning to prepare to evacuate’, but.are meeting this’evening to discuss methods of quickest evacuation in the event of war. WILL NOT MEDIATE MUSSOLINI'S ADVISE TO POLAND ROME, August 21. (Received August 22, at 11 a.m.) Dr Gayda says Signor Mussolini will not mediate over Danzig. He has already told Poland to negotiate directly with Germany and make the necessary adjustments or suffer the consequences. GERMAN JURISTS ARRIVE MEETINGS IN DANZIG DANZIG, August 21. (Received August 22, at 1.30 p.m.) Some 250 Gorman jurists arrived with the Minister, Dr Frank, and Herr Stafthaltor and Dr Soyss luquart, in older to hold meetings to emphasise why Danzig should legally return to Germany.

WAR SCARE IN AMERICA FALL IN STOCK EXCHANGE PRICES NEW YORK, August 21. (Received August 22, at 1.5 p.m.) Stocks tumbled up to 3 points in a nervous war scare. Over 1,500,000,000 dollars have been erased from New York Stock Exchange market values-iu the last fortnight.