GRAVE BUT NOT HOPELESS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 March 1938, Page 7

GRAVE BUT NOT HOPELESS.

VIEWS OF CABINET MINISTERS. I —_____ I OPPOSITION WANTS ACTION 1 (British Official Wireless.) Received Sunday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, March 19. Speeches dealing with the international situation were delivered by Government and Opposition leaders at the week-end. Pleas for a stronger Britain, the belief that the position was not without hopes on the one hand and a demand for a return to League policy combined with vigorous denunciations of Mr. Chamberlain's “drifting policy," were the keynote of the addresses.

“We are united in’the determination that our country should be strong not merely to protect our own interests but the strength of Britain is, perhaps, the greatest factor in the preservation of the peace of the world," said the Air Minister, Viscount Swinton, speaking in the Midlands. What had happened in Austria had been a great shock to confidence in the world and was a serious deterrent to the promotion of good relations, which the Government continuously sought to achieve. “It is well that not only we in this country but that Germany should understand why what happened has been such a shock to this country, which is only too anxious to be on good terms and have reasonable agreements and fair relations with that great country. It is not in the least a question of the merits of the union of Austria with Germany—probably many people think that in itself was a reasonable arrangement —it was the way in which it happened that shocked, alarmed and made indignant not only Britain but probably every other country in Europe." Sir Samuel Hoare, Home Secretary, speaking in the West Country, said the international situation was grave, but by no means hopeless. The Opposition leader, Mr. C. R. Attlee, attacked the Prime Minister's policy, and declared that the drift to war must be arrested. The forces on the side of peace and the rule of law were very powerful, but awaited the decisive word.

The Liberal leader, Sir A. Sinclair, speaking in the country, emphatically denied war was inevitable, but condemned the “drifting policy of the Prime Minister,” and demanded the return to League policy.

PLAN FOE EMERGENCY AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION (British Official Wireless.) Received Sunday, 7.5 p.m, RUGBY, March 19. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr, W. S. Morrison, said the Government had a plan for a switch over to emergency agricultural production should an emergency occur, and the Government would not heritate to put this plan into operation.