NAZI PEACE PLEA REJECTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20067, 13 October 1939, Page 7

NAZI PEACE PLEA REJECTED

STAND BY ALLIES i REPLY TO HITLER “NO UNEASY TRUCE” DEMAND FOR SECURITY RIGHTING OF WRONGS CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.)

Reed. 12 noon. RUGBY, Oct. 12. Speaking in the House of Commons to-day. the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, prefaced his reply to Herr Hitler's speech of Friday last in the. Reichstag, with the observation that when, at the time the RussoGerman pact was announced, there was a suggestion that some peace proposals were likely to be put forward,

he said that if such proved to be the case they would be examined in consultation with the Dominions and France,in the light of relevant considerations. This had been done and he proposed to state the position of the British Government.

Mr. Chamberlain recalled the background against which Herr Hitler’s proposals appeared. He referred to the correspondence with Germany at the end of August in regard fo Poland, stating that it was evident that the situation was dangerous but that Britain believed that it should be possible to arrive at a peaceful solution if passions were not deliberately stimulated, and felt quite certain that the German Government could, if it desired, influence its friends in .Danzig is such a way as to bring about a relaxation of tension and so create conditions favourable to calm and sober negotiation. Improved Relations It will be remembered that Herr Hitler had expressed a wish for improved Anglo-German relations as soon as the Polish question was settled. The British Government replied that it fully shared the wish, but everything turned on the nature and method of the settlement with Poland. It was pointed out that a forcible solution would inevitably involve the fulfilment of Britain’s obligations to Poland, and Herr Hitler was urged to enter into direct discussions with the Polish Government in which the latter Government had already expressed a willingness to take part. “As everyone knows,” he continued, ‘these efforts on the part of Britain to avoid war and the use of force were in vafn. "In August last, President Roose,elt made an appeal to Herr Hitlei ;o settle his differences with Poland by pacific means in order to prevent war breaking out in Europe. At about the same time, King Leopold, Queen Wdlhelm'ina, the Pope,l.and Signor Mussolini, all tendered their good offices, but equally in vain. It is evident now that Herr Hitler was determined o make war on Poland, and, whatever sincerity there may have been n his wish to come to an understanding with Britain, it was not strong enough to induce him to postpone he attack upon his neighbour.

“On September 1, Herr Hitler violated the Polish frontier and_ invaded Poland, beaming down by force of arms and machinery the resistance if the Polish nation and army. As ittested by neutral observers, Polish owns and villages were bombed and sheUed jnito ruins and civilians slaughtered wholesale in contravu,. ion, at any rate in the later stages, )f aU the" undertakings of which Herr Hitler now speaks with pride, is though he had fulfilled them. Wanton Act of Aggression "It is after this wanton act of aggression which cost so many Polish and German lives, sacrificed Ut> satisfy his own insistence on the use if force, that Herr Hitler now puts forward his proposals. If there existed any expectation that these proposals would include some attempt to make amends for this grievous •rime against humanity, following sc> mon upon the violation of the rights of the Czechoslovak nation, it has been doomed to disappointment. “The Polish State and leaders are •overed with abuse. What is to be the fate of that part of Poland which Herr Htflcr describes as a German sphere of interest does not clearly 'merge from his speech, but it is evident that he regards it as a matter for Germany’s consideration alone, to be settled solely in accordance with German interests. “The final shaping of this territory and the question of the restoration of a Polish State are, in HenHitler’s view, problems which canot be settled by a war in the west, ■it exclusively by Russia on the onp ■ : de and Germany on the oilier. We nust take it then that the proposals which Herr Hitler puts forward for he establishment of what lie calls the certainty of European security are o be based on a recognition of ms conquests and his right to do what he pleases with the conquered. “It would be impossible for Britain to accept any such basis with-

out forfeiting her honour and abandoning her claim that international disputes should be settled by discussion and not by force.

"The passages of the speech designed to give fresh assurances to Herr Hitler’s neighbours, I pass over, since they ' will know what value should be attached to them by reference to similar assurances in the past.

"It would be easy to quote sentences from his speeches in 1935, 1936, and 1938 stating in the most definite terms liis determination nui to annex Austria or to conclude an anschluss with her, not to fall upon Czechoslovakia; and |not to make any. further territorial claims in Europe after the Sudetenland question had been settled in September, 1938. Nor can we pass over Herr Hitler’s radical departure from the long-professed principles of his policy and creed as instanced by the inclusion in the German Reich of many millions of Poles and Czechs, despite ms repeated professions to the contrary, and by the pact with the Soviet Union concluded after his repeated violent denunciations of Bolshevism.

“This repeated disregard of his word and these sudden reversals ot policy bring me to the fundamental difficulty in dealing with the wider proposals in the German Chancellor's speech. The plain truth is that aftei our past experience it is no longer possible to rely upon the unsupported word of the present German Government.

Rightful Place

“It is no part of our policy to exclude from her rightful place in Europe a Germany which will live in amity and confidence with other nations. On the contrary, we believe that no effective remedy can be found for the world’s ills that does not take account of the just claims and needs of all countries whenever the

time may come to draw the lines of a new peace settlement.

“His Majesty’s Government would feel that the future woum hold irtfle hope unless such a settlement could be reached through the method of negotiation and agreement. It was not, therefore, with any vindictive purpose that we embarked on the war, but simply in defence of freedom “It is not alone the freedom of small nations that is at stake. There is also in jeopardy the peaceful existence of Great Britain, the Dominions, India, and the rest of the British Empire, France, and indeed, of all freedom-loving nations. Whatever may be the issue of the present struggle, and in whatever way it may be brought to a conclusion, the world will not be the same world that we have known before. “Looking to the future, we can see that deep changes will inevitably leave their mark on every field of men’s thought and action, and if humanity is to guide aright the new forces that will be in operation all nations will have to play their part. Cruel Loss “The British Government knows all too well that in a modern war between great Powers, victor and vanquished must alike suffer cruel loss. But surrender to wrong-doing would spell the extinction of all hope and the annihilation of all those values of life which through the centuries have been at once the mark and inspiration of human progress. “We seek no material advantage for ourselves. We desire nothing from the German people which should offend their self-respect. We are aiming not only at victory, but rather looking beyond it to the laying of the foundation of a better international system which will mean that war is not to be the inevitable lot of each succeeding generation. I am certain that all the peoples of Europe, including the people of Germany, long for peace —a peace which will enable them to live their lives without fear and to devote their energies and gifts to the development of their culture, the pursuit of their ideals, and the improvement of their material prosperity. “The peace which we are determined to secure, however, must be a real settled peace and not an uneasy truce interrupted by constant alarms and repeated threats. Barrier to Peace “What stands in the way of such a peace? It is the German Government and the German Government alone, for it is they who, by repeated acts of aggression, have robbed all Europe of tranquillity and implanted in the hearts of all their neighbours an everpresent sense of insecurity and fear.

“I am glad to think that there is complete agreement between the views of His Majesty’s Government and those of the French Government Members will have read M. Daladier’s broadcast speech on Tuesday. ‘We have,’ he said, ‘taken up arms against aggression. We shall not lay them down until we have sure guarantees of security—a security which cannot be called in question every six months.’

“Advantage has also been taken of the presence of the Polish Foreign Minister, who we are glad to welcome to this country, to consult with the Polish Government, and I am happy to say that we found an entire identity of view to exist between us. Britain’s Attitude “I would sum up the attitude of His Majesty’s Government as follows: Herr Hitler rejected all suggestions for peace until he overwhelmed Poland, as he had previously overthrown Czechoslovakia. Peace conditions cannot be acceptable which begin by condoning aggression. The proposals in the German Chancellor's speech are vague and uncertain, and contain no suggestion for righting the wrongs done to Czechoslovakia and Poland. “Even if (Herr Hitler’s proposals were more closely defined and contained suggestions to right these wrongs it would still be necessary to ask by what practical means the German Government intends to convince the world that aggression will cease and pledges be kept. “Past experience has shown that no reliance can be placed upon the promises of the present German Government. Accordingly, acts, not words alone, must be forthcoming before we British peoples and the French, our gallant and trusted ally, would be justified in ceasing to wage war to the utmost of our strength. “Only when world confidence is restored will it 'be possible to find, as we would wish to do with the aid ox all who show goodwill, solutions of those questions which disturb the world, which stand in the way of disarmament, retard a restoration of

trade, and prevent an improvement of the well-being of the peoples. There is thus a primary condition to be satisfied. Only the German Government can fulfil it. If they will not, there can, as yet, be no new or better world order of the kind for which all nations yearn. The issue is therefore plain. Either the German Government must give convincing proof of the sincerity of its desire for peace by definite acts and by the provision of effective uaran’ees of Us intention to fulfil its undertakings, or we must persevere in our duty to the end. It is l'or Germany to make her choice.”