Britain Saves World

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1938, Page 7

Britain Saves World

(Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 3,

The Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, winding up for the Government to-day’s section of the House of Commons debate, said it would have been courting fate if, while attempting to mediate, Mr Chamberlain had engaged in threats and ultimatums.

“That is the answer to Mr DuffCooper's main charge,” said Sir Samuel. “We made our position privately as clear as possible to Herr Hitler repeatedly.” Answering criticism as to why there had been no closer consultations with Russia, Sir Sameul Hoare said the Russian guarantee would have operated only when the French guarantee operated. Britain was content to let France take the lead in consulting the Soviet, whose position was analogous to theirs.

“I claim we took the only course possible,” said Sir Samuel. ‘‘No critic has yet suggested an alternative.”

Mr Attlee: A clear declaration earlier would have saved the situation. Sir Samuel Hoare: I am certain that if we had gone further than we did a world war would now be in progress. The course we took enables the Czech Republic to survive. Sir Samuel defended the guarantee, and said he contemplated that all the Great Powers would participate, and the new Republic would be made as safe as Switzerland. The Government was making inquiries about hostages.

The Government had no intention of diminishing its defence preparations until an opportunity arose of testing the strength of its conclusions; it would combine a persistent policy of peace with preparations to make and keep Britain strong. “We may be compelled to face problems that ought to have been faced years ago,” said the Minister.