Armed Invasion of Austria

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 63, 16 March 1938, Page 5

Armed Invasion of Austria

Arms Programme Must Be Reviewed Hopes of Peace Prejudiced United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. RUGBY, March 14. In a House crowded in every part the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, who on entering was greeted with a roar o. sympathetic cheers, rose at the beginning- of the business to mak a statement on Austria. The statement was heard for the most par in attentive silence, but cheers g-reeted a passage in which Mi Chamberlain rebutted the German Government’s contention the the British Government was not within its rights in interesting itsel. in the independence of Austria, in which question the interest o. the British Government, he declared, could not on any tenable ground be denied. The cheers were renewed when he sternly condemned the methods adopted throughout Friday's events and said that thej had administered a profound shock to all who were interested in th; preservation of European peace. It followed, he said, that what had passed could not fail to have prejudiced the hope of the British Government of removing international misunderstandings between the nations and promoting international co-operation.

The g-rave consequences of the events on which Mr. Chamberlain had spoken were underlined in his concluding references to their effect on the Government’s rearmament programme. They must consider the new situation with cool judgment, he said, but “I am confident that we shall be supported in asking that nobody, whatever his preconceived opinion may be, shall regard himself as excluded from any extension of national effort if it is called for.

“We have always made it clear that our defence programmes were flexible and would have to be reviewed in the light of developments in the international situation. It would be idle to deny that recent events might constitute a change of the kind we had in mind. Accordingly, we have decided to make a fresh review, and in due course we shall announce what further steps we think it necessary to take. ’ ’ *■

The Prime Minister was cheered from all parts of the House rhen he sat down.