Britain Ready To Listen, But Not To Accept Dictation

Northern Advocate, 12 May 1939, Page 5

Britain Ready To Listen, But Not To Accept Dictation

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. r JpHE DECLARATION THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE DANGER OF WAR IN EUROPE, AND THAT WAS IF THE IMPRESSION SHOULD GET ABOUT THAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE WERE NOT IN EARNEST, AND COULD NOT BE RELIED UPON TO CARRY OUT THEIR PLEDGES, WAS A NOTABLE FEATURE IN A SPEECH TO WOMEN CONSERVATIVES IN THE ALBERT HALL BY MR NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN. The Prime Minister said that no greater, and no more deadl} r , mistake could be.made abroad than to be misled by such, an impression. In reference to Danzig he added emphatically that if an attempt were made to change the situation there by force in such a way as to threaten Polish independence, that would inevitably start a general conflagration, in which Britain would be involved.

In another allusion to the interna-' tional situation Mr Chamberlain said that the British people had settled down in a mood of firm and fixed resolve. confident in their strength, and clear in their consciences that their Government had done, and was doing, all that men could do to preserve peace, and convinced of the right and unselfishness of their aims Attitude Toward Germans. He added that Britain was as ready as ever to listen to the views of others, hut was determined not to submit to dictation. It had never been Britain’s wish to isolate or encircle Germany, nor to stand in the way of her natural and legitimate trade expansion.

Neither in armaments nor in economics did Britain desire to enter into unbridled competition with Germany.

Britain would not refuse to discuss with Germany measures for an. increase of trade or improvement oi economic conditions, provided only that Britain could have unmistakable signs from Germany of a desire to restore the confidence which had been so severely shaken. Mr Chamberlain repudiated the suggestion that the basis of the naval treaty between Britain and Germany had been removed, as Herr Hitler had attempted to claim, by a change in the British attitude towards Germany. World’s Only Hope.

Speaking of the great burden of .armaments which lay upon the world, the Prime Minister observed that if only the world could get a respite from international tension, and from anxiety regarding war. they could look confidently forward to great expansion of trade and prosperity, from which not one, but every people in the world would benefit.

Anglo - French Visits

LONDON, May 10. The French Socialist leader, and former Prime ' Minister, M. Blum, lunched today with Mr Winston Churchill. Later he saw the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, and in the evening dined with the leader of the Labour Opposition, Mr C. K. Attlee, and other members of the Parliamen-

tary Labour Party. The French Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, will also be on a brief visit to England at the end of this week. He will fly to Southampton to deliver a speech there on Saturday, but lie will not pass through London or see any British statesmen. However, on his return to Paris, lie will probably make contact with Lord Halifax, who will be on his way to Geneva for Monday’s meeting of the League Council.