BRITAIN ANSWERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1939, Page 9

BRITAIN ANSWERS

GERMAN ALLEGATIONS. UNYIELDING TO KGBCL. NO WISH TO UABM. (United Press Association —By Electric Telogra pit - Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) BUG BY, June 8. Answering a question in the House of Commons to-day, Ilte Prime Minister (Mr ('ltamlierlain) referred with regret to the allegations being made in Germany that Britain is planning the destruction of German trade ttnd till bases of German existence with the view of achieving the political and physical extinction of: the German people.

Such allegations, lie said, continued to lie made despite many positive declarations to the contrary by himself and the Foreign Secretary (laird Halifax).

Air Chamberlain went on, “In niv speech in Albert Hall on May 12, and my speech during the debate in the House of Commons on May 11). I stated that any suggestion that we wished to isolate Germany or stand in the way of natural and legitimate extension of her trade in Central Europe and South-Eastern Europe, or to plan some combination against her with the idea of making war upon her, were lantastic.

“f made it clear that if "'as still our firm desire that our two peoples should never go to war with one another again, and that we did not desire to enter into unbridled competition with Germany either in armaments or economics.

“On May 1!) I said we would not refuse to discuss any methods by which reasonable aspirations on the part ot other nations could he satisfied, oven if this meant some adjustment, of the existing state of things, but I insisted that such a discussion could only take place in an atmosphere ul mutual confidence.

“I can only repeat my regret that declarations, whether official or otherwise, should he made in Germany which do nothing to assist ill creating such an atmosphere.” VIEW 0E LORD HALIFAX. In the course of his speech in the debate in tife House of Lords to-day, the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), referring to the general international sitna t ion. said :

“The British policy seems to ourselves straightforward and plain, but it is perhaps nob difficult to imagine how different it may appear to many thinking people in Germany. ’There must lie many such who are not less shocked than ourselves at. the treatment of the .Jews, and who realise that, whatever Germany may have lelt about the relations between Germany and Czechoslovakia as they were lelt by the .Munich Agreement, to attempt to solve that problem bv the destruction of Gzech independence was —to state it in moderate terms—both unwise and wrong.

“Nevertheless, I suspect that such people ns 1 have in-hnim! in Germany, feeling all this, may, in the light of the history of the post-war years, feel 100, that Germany would never, in fact, have secured consideration for claims that seem Lo her people eminently reasonable and just, unless she had been prepared to hack them up by a. threat of toree.

“The British people, I think, have constantly sought, and still would earnestly desire if they thought it possible, to reach ail understanding with Germany such as might not only prove of assistance in the settlement of particular questions, hut also might place the two countries upon a secure footing of mutual confidence.

‘‘All tho same, I think it should he made clear that the people ol this country are not loss ready and not less determined than their Irionds across the channel to make whatever contribution is necessary to uphold their way of life and defend their position in the world.’’ OUTLOOK BRIGHTER. Making reference to the anti-ag-gression guarantees of Britain and France and their representation in Germany as an encirclement. Lord Halifax said : “If indeed it were true that in no country do the leaders cherish designs of imposing settlements under the pressure of overwhelming force, then no one of these engagements will ever ho called into operation.”

He added : “The way is open to new opportunities by which all may benefit. I am encouraged to say that by the words used by Signor Mussolini in a speech at Turin on May I I. Bui if these problems are Lo he solved by negotiation, there must he goodwill on both sides, and there must be a. conviction on both sides that the word of the other will he kept.

“If there is one thing certain in this uncertain world it is that Britain and France never will commit an act- of aggression or attack by indirect means tho independent security of another State.

“So far from our wishing to embarrass Germany in the economic field, a really prosperous Germany would he good for all Europe and for us; and so far from wishing lo obstruct a set-tlc-ment, our one aim is to throw the whole of our weight in the scale of peaceful settlement. But the day iias gone by when the independence of European nations can he destroyed by unilateral acts. It is clear that any further attempt to do so will meet with wide and resolute resistance.

“As to the possibility of n conference. I would express some doubt as to whether a conference by itself, whatever may he its appeal to our national feelings, offers a remedy. I can say, however, that il there seems to he a real attempt to reach a settlement and a conference is suggested .we should he prepared to make the best contribution we could to bring it to a successful result.”