MR. CHAMBERLAIN DEFENDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1940, Page 3

MR. CHAMBERLAIN DEFENDED

MUNICH SAVED LONDON. LONDON, November 19. Sir Neville Henderson, who was British Ambassador in Berlin before the war, yesterday defended the late Mr Neville Chamberlain’s peacesaving action at Munich in September, 1938. He declared, in a speech, that London was then defenceless against air attack. “On September 28, 1938, we did not have a single Spitfire and only one or two experimental Hurricanes,” he said. “There were exactly seven modern anti-aircraft guns with which to defend London out of the 400 estimated as the minimum necessary. “Germany could have dropped 2,000 bombs a day (on London and we could not have replied. Marshal Goering told me: “If you insist on making war, there will be very little left of London and absolutely nothipg of Czecho-slovakia.’ He was undoubtedly perfectly correct. “Mr Chamberlain failed to avert this war, but it was not his fault. I think Hitler regretted Munich more than anyoner He thought he had missed an opportunity. I agree with him. “Mr Chamberlain made a singlehanded effort to bring back Europe to a negotiated agreement for the rectification of past errors.”

“WAS NOBODY’S FOOL.” CANBERRA, November 20.' High tributes were paid to Mr Neville Chamberlain by the Prime Minister and other leaders of Federal Parliament in the House of Representatives to-day. A resolution was passed recording sincere regret at his death and placing on record appreciation of his devoted services to the British nation and the, cause of peace. “Mr Chamberlain was a man of great virility and great reality,” Mr Menzies said. “Some of the things which Mr Chamberlain did as Prime Ministei’ displayed extraordinary imagination. I believe that historians will say he made a great contribution to winning this war, because he achieved 12 months of peace in which to prepare for it. “Mr Chamberlain was nobody’s fool. He was a man of shrewdness and coolness of judgment. He knew he was purchasing a breathing space for the world, and I say ‘Thank God we