Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 1939. BRITAIN’S PREPAREDNESS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 49, 26 January 1939, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 1939. BRITAIN’S PREPAREDNESS.

Confronted by a situation that is changing daily, and almost from hour to hour, Great Britain bears on her shoulders unprecedented responsibilities and has in her aims the welfare of a numerous people within and beyond the bounds of the Empire, keeping the peace, no matter how noble and humanitarian the sentiment, that evokes it, is a tremendous task, a synthesis of realism and idealism, the practical exposition of high international conceptions. Ever since he assumed office early in 1937 Mr Neville Chamberlain the third outstanding member of a famous Parliamentary family and the first to succeed to the Premiership has pronounced with crystal clarity the mission of the Empire and her method of accomplishing her purpose. At the height of the crisis in September he told the nation his deepest thoughts, declaring in well-remembered words that “I am myself a man of peace to the depth of my soul. An armed eouflict between nations is a nightmare to me.” These are sentiments that have found repetition in Mr Chamberlain’s speech inaugurating a nationwide national service campaign to ensure preparedness in the event of conflict but not, as the Premier took pains to elaborate, as a gesture of unfriendliness or aggressiveness. “We would never begin a war, but we might be forced to participate in a war begun by others, or might be attacked if the Government of another country thought that we could not defend ourselves.” In straightforward, unemotional terms the Premier told the country the position, discharging his obligations, yet remaining “a realist whose ideal is peace.” f fihe struggle for peace is being waged on many fronts, and it is with cognisance of all the facts that Great Britain and the Empire (if it will respond to an adequate extent) undertake side by side with unprecedented efforts for appeasement precautions to safeguard the future- In striking contrast to other regimes, compulsion is placed at a discount, being neither in accordance with the democratic system nor consistent with the British tradition of freedom. Confidence that volunteers will be forthcoming on this basis is certain not to be misplaced, and, without jingoistic sentiment,, a

free people are expected by Mr Chamberlain to show their preparedness to defend their ideals. Even tile Premier’s strongest critics, and they were very vocal after the Munich interlude, cannot deny a rightful tribute to the man who has moulded the nation into a purposeful entity at this critical juncture. Like his famous father, Joseph Chamberlain, and his brother, the late Sir Austen Chamberlain, before, him, he has striven to reach an agreement with Germany—and inevitably with Italy—at the same time discounting persistent rumours of “bargaining” as a palliative. A basis' of lasting peace has apparently still t.o be found, but the Prime Minister and the country are not perturbed or disheartened, though the problem becomes progressively more difficult. The policy he exercised in September, when he declared he had done all one man could to compose the quarrel, is still maintained, but signs are not wanting that the realism that accompanies Mr Chamberlain’s idealistic outlook clarifies the issue and warns the people of unhappy possibilities. There is a strong hand at the helm, with evidence of foresight and poise born of experience and instinct, and the response of the nation to the clarion call it has received is inevitable, both for its own.welfare and international harmony.