British Intentions Placed Beyond Doubt; Ready & Able to Fight

Northern Advocate, 4 July 1939, Page 5

British Intentions Placed Beyond Doubt; Ready & Able to Fight

(Received 2.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, July 2. •'JpiIE REMARKABLE RALLYING OF NATIONAL SENTIMENT BEHIND THE DECLARATION OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, VISCOUNT HALIFAX, THAT IN THE EVENT OF FURTHER AGGRESSION BRITAIN WAS RESOLVED TO USE THE WHOLE OF ITS STRENGTH IN THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS PLEDGE TO RESIST IT—A DECLARATION TO WHICH SPECIAL POINT HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE DEVELOPMENTS AND RUMOURS OF THE LAST FEW DAYS CONCERNING DANZIG— . WAS ILLUSTRATED IN A NOTABLE SERIES OF SPEECHES YESTERDAY. NO DEFEATISTS HERE. ' Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal Party leader, said: “If anyone forces-war upon this country, or on some other country, the independence of which we v are pledged to defend, he will find there will be no defeatists here.” Mr Ramsay Muir, vice-president of the Liberal Party organisation, expressed the view that the British people were united and resolute to resist any further attacks on democracy an d upon the freedom of other nations.>' 1 J NO CONCESSION TO FORCE. Mr Anthony Eden, former Foreign Secretary, declared that the British people were determined henceforth that there should be neither hesitation . before threats nor concession to force. Air Marshal Lord Trenchard, in a speech at Stirling, Scotland, said; “The time has come to say that this living under continual threats of aggression must stop. We have had enough of it. Britain has given way in this or that in order to preserve peace, but. the re comes a time when a people will vf say this must step. That time has come now. '■ ■ , POWER TO FIGHT. ' “Not only do we mean to fight if there is any more aggression, but we have the power now to do so. Our Army, Navy and Air Force are more powerful than they have ever been in peacetime. Woe betide those who do •,% not believe it.”

NO DOMINATION. J . Sir Stafford Cripps, K.C., M.P., (Labour, Bristol), backing Lord Halifax’s speech, said: “We will not tolerate domination by others, loss of our liberties or dictation in our affairs, and if such is attempted we are now ready as a united nation to defend ourselves, and to that end we will gather all the allies and resources available.” • ~., 'V NO EXCUSE FOB MISCONCEPTION. i This demonstration of an identical view in.all parties, combined'witfi the firm clear statement by Lord Hali fax last week, led the Sunday newspapers to emphasise, in their comment on the international situation, that now there is no excuse for anyone anywhere to misunderstand the position of Britain. / . The “Sunday Times” heads its leading article, “British Intentions Placed Beyond Doubt,” and, like several other commentators during the last 48 hours, it raises the memory of 1914, and of the uncertainty which is alleged to have surrounded British policy at that time. A DIFFERENT SITUATION. ' The same paper also makes a poi nt of how different the position is today following the series of declarations by the Government, and. Lord Halifax’s frank, forceful definition of British purposes. ■ Mr J. ,L. Garvin, in the “Observer,” says, regarding this speech, that Lord Halifax “has done what was mo st needed if there is to be the faintest chance this summer, and this month, for any peace that would not be a peace of disgrace and disaster.”