Press Reaction to Mr Chamberlain's Foreign Policy Speech

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1939, Page 5

Press Reaction to Mr Chamberlain's Foreign Policy Speech

(Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, January 30. “Mr Chamberlain might have been considerably less modest,” say “The Times,” “referring in a leading article to the Prime Minister’s speech. “He has discharged Britain’s share of the general obligations in the pursuit of peace, and he had every right to rem ind the other signatories ,to the Munich aAgreement of the necessity for their contribution.”

The “News Chronicle,” in a leading article, says: “The masterpiece of ingenuity in the speech was the fact , that Mr Chamberlain spoke for an hour without mentioning Spain. There was not a word of warning to the dictators or enlightenment for the British people.” The paper adds ,that a warmer tone and a firmer declaration of Anglo-French solidarity would have been welcome and useful to both countries.

Other commentators see little hope of Mr Chamberlain’s speech greatly affecting the international situation in so far as it may calm extreme nervousness. But it is pointed out that the coming crisis is not like that of September, because British and French interests now are directly threatened. There is some criticism of Mr Chamberlain’s continued anxiety not to hurt the feelings of the dictators. Signor Gayda says the speech was clear and honest, states a message from Rome. Mr Chamberlain’s goodwill is easily recognisable. Germany has nothing to ask England except an understanding of her vital problems, which do not affect England herself, and nothing ought to divide the two countries, provided that England keeps at a distance internal forces and pressure from other Powers opposing Italian and German rights.

A message from Berlin says comment there is restrained. Mr Chamberlain’s pursuit of his own foreign policy, in spite of opposition, is'welcomed. All German newspapers emphasise that peace must be based on right and justice among equal nations.