PEACE OR WAR?

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4814, 24 July 1939, Page 3

PEACE OR WAR?

BRITAIN IS READY. FIRM ATTITUDE GENERAL. London, July 3. The situation over Danzig has not caused the nervous flutterings in Britain that ocurred over Prague, and the calmness with which the ordinary man-in-the-street is following the news has impressed a number of New Zealand visitors during the past few days.- For some time now it has been realised that the July-Septem ber period will be full of difficulty, but there is confidence that Britain is prepared at last to make a stand aiainst Nazi aggression.

The newspapers are filled with the possibilities of what may happen in Danzig and how Hitler may fulfil his promise of returning it to the Reich. One suggestion is that he will declare Danzigers members of the Reich without actually claiming Danzig territory; another is that he is following his practice of bluff and that if the democracies hold out to the last minute, a conference will follow in Danzig.

There is a certain amount of talk that Hitler is not being kept fully informed of speeches by British statesmen, and that, speaking no English, he has to rely on what his advisers tell him. The effect of this, it is suggested, is that Hitler does not believe that Britain will fight over Danzii.

This view, indeed, appears to be widely held in Germany, fostered by subtle propaganda. In London, at any rate, it is generally believed that while there was a loophole of retreat from Czecho-Slovakia, there is none from Danzig, and that this time a stand will be made. All Parties United.

Rarely have Ministers and prominent leaders been so united in emphasising British armed strength and preparedness. It is interesting to recall that while the Czecho-Slovakian trouble was brewing many different opinions were expressed on the course of action that should be taken. To-day all views coincide; a firm stand must be made over Danzig.

Labour Party members have also baked up the statements of their political opponents, and they issued a manifesto to the German people. Here are the points recently made: Air Marshal Lord Trenchard: “Not only do we mean to fight, if there is any more aggression of any sort, but we have the power now to do so. Our Navy, Army and Air Force are more powerful now than they have ever been in peace, and woe betide those who do not believe it. The sooner this is realised abroad the better.”

Sir Stafford Cripps, M.P., joined the Labour leaders who have backed

Lord Halifax’s “no aggressions” warning to Germany. “We wil not tolerate domination by others or the loss of our liberties,” he said, “and if that is attempted we are ready now, as a united nation, to defend ourselves, an dto that end we shall gather all the allies and resources that are available.”

Mr. Anthony Eden, speaking at Ealing, said:— -“The outlook for the immediate future is admittedly irave, even dangerous. It is not yet desperate. I for one certainly do not hold the view that war is inevitable. On the contrary, lam convinced that if the true firmness of will and purpose Britain can once be understood abroad there will be no war. The era of unchecked aggression is at an end.”

Reaching German People.

The manifesto of the Labour Party to the German working people is complementary to the approaches made to them by what are referred to as “underground” channels. In addition to these contacts, it is reported that anti-Nazi propaganda is being steadily distributed in Germany.