BRITAIN STANDS OPPOSED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN STANDS OPPOSED

DOMINATION OF SMALL STATES (British Official Wireless.) Received March 24, 10.5 a.m. RUGBY, March 23. The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain), in the House of Commons, to-day, said that he could not at present say anythino, on the progress of the consultations with other (jovemments on the international situation but he redefined in very precise terms Britain’s attitude, which he had already indicated in his Birmingham speech. “Britain has already made it clear that the recent action of Germany raised the question of whether Germany was not seeking by successive steps, to dominate Europe, and perhaps even go further than that. Were this interpretation of Germany’°s intentions to prove correct the British Government would feel bound to say that this would rouse the successful resistance of Britain and other countries who prize their freedom, as similar attempts have done m the past. lam not yet in a position to make a statement on the consultations which have been held with other Governments as a result of the recent developments.

TRADE EXPANSION NOT OPPOSED “I wish to make it clear however, that there is no desire on the part or Britain to stand in the way or ai y reasonable efforts on the part of Dermanv to expand her export trade, the Prime Minister proceeded. Un tne contrary we were on the point ot ai - cussing in a most friendly way the possibility of trade arrangements, which would have benefited both coun tries, when the events took place which, for the time being at any rate, have put a stop to those discussions; nor is this Government anxious to set up in Europe opposing blocks of countries with different ideas about the forms of their internal Administration. “We are solely concerned with the proposition that we cannot submit to the procedure under which independent States are subjected to such pressure under the threat of force as to be obljnred to yield up their independence, and we are resolved by all the means in our power to oppose attempts if they should he made, to put such a procedure into operation. ~, 1 Replying to a question, Mr Chaml m-l-iin indicated that he could not I', v hen he would be able to rcinrT 1 + p outcome of the present RSLSmSS “th u» other Governments.