Difficult and Very Dangerous

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 224, 23 September 1935, Page 7

Difficult and Very Dangerous

BRITISH CHANCELLOR IN SERIOUS MOOD

Received Sunday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 21

“We aie faced with a difficult and very dangerous problem in Europe and a tense moment in history,” said Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, interrupting his holiday to speak at Kelso. “The whole nation is practically unanimously behind the Government.

“It is stiff too soon to sny whether tho Anglo-French declaration and the efforts of tho Conciliatory Committee can avoid war, but let us hope the demonstration of support by Britain and France has restored faith in tho power of tho League to limit if not avert .hostilities. Unfortunately tho Italian authorities in a campaign of almost mcrediblo misrepresentation and calumny have been led to regard Britain as a monster of hypocrisy and scllishness, but wo must keep our tempers trusting that when passions have cooled tho Italians will once again do justico to their old friends and bo willing to cooperate to maintain European pcaco which perhaps is more essential to them if they aro to regain their prosperity than to tho remainder of us. “Unilateral disarmament has been a complete, costly and dangerous failure Britain has been gravely handicapped by tho fact that her defensive forces are dangerously low which has shaken the confidence of our friends and encouraged tho less friendly to think wc can be treated with indifffcrenco if not contempt. That is intolerable for a great country and also not helpful to world peace. Moreover tho Dominions and India do not feel safo if tho navy is unable to keep the seas. Wo must face tho realities and bring our defensive forces to tho minimum required by self-respect, simultaneously recognising that disarmament must follow not prcccao the establishment of a sense of security.”

Warlike Preparations in Mediterranean ITALY, GREECE, SPAIN AND TURKEY BUSY Received Sunday, 10.20 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 21. Reports arriving from Sicily and Sardinia declare that they resemble armed camps. Seventy Italian submarines arc concentrated at Augusta, while other warships and aeroplanes are continually arriving. Activities in tho Mediterranean continue. Greece has recalled her warships from a visit to Constantinople with orders to concentrate on Salamis. Warships are patrolling tho lonian islands.

Spain is strengthening her garrison at Ceuta and increasing the fortifications -of tho Balearic islands.

Tho Turks are reported to be strengthening the coastal fortifications and assembling troops and suppiios.

British. Troops for Suez

“MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WORLD” Received Sunday, 3.50 p.m. BERMUDA, Sept. 21. Genoral Sir Thomas Cubitt, Governor and Commauder-in-Chief, addressing a battalion of tho Manchester Regiment departing in accordance with tho customary trooping arrangements, said: “You are going to tho Suez Canal, at present tho most important part of the world. I cannot beliovo Mussolini deliberately intends war against our Empire. I hope and pray wo are not forced into war of which it, is impossible to foresee tho ramifications.”

French Limit Reached

ITALIANS’ CHANGED ATTITUDE AT GENEVA DUUE AND DESTINY LONDON, Sept. 20. It is understood that the reason for the interview at Romo between M. de Ohambrun, French Ambassador in Italy, and the Duco was to convey to Signor Mussolini a telegram from M. Laval saying that tho limit of conciliation had been reached and that Franco call do nothing more to help Italy, but will stand firmly by Britain in upholding the Covenant. M. Laval is believed to have repeated similar assurances to Mr. Anthony Eden. Several newspaper correspondents emphasise the remarkable change m tho attitude of tho Italian delegation at Geneva, tho Manchester Guardian’s Geneva correspondent going so far as to describe it as panic-stricken, adding that the delegates, including Baron Aloisi, who does not venturo to advise Signor Mussolini, express tho opinion that Italy should adopt M. Laval’s suggestion and negotiato on tho present proposals as the only way to save the Fascist regime, which any resort to sanctions would cause to collapse.

Well-informed circles in Rome assert that Signor Mussolini alternatively gives way to fits of rage during which nobody ventures to approach him, or inaccessibly shuts himself in his room. His obsession is that destiny compels him to make war, after which, he will end his days in exile on an island like Napoleon.

Action Demanded Against Germany

Received Sunday, 7.5 p.m. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Sopt. 20. The Trades and Labour Congress of Canada representing 105,000 workers, passed a resolution asking tho Canadian Government to sever diplomatic relations with Germany and appealed to the copntry to boycott German products and Olympics until Germany ceased her religious and political persecution.