Not Hopeful Of Helpful Reply From Hitler

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1939, Page 5

Not Hopeful Of Helpful Reply From Hitler

—Cham herlain

(Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, November 9. IN A SPEECH TO HAVE BEEN DELIVERED AT MANSION HOUSE, MR. CHAMBERLAIN REFERRED TO THE HAGUE PEACE OFFER. iSir John Simon read tiro speech, ns Mr. Chamberlain is suffering' from an acute attack of gout. “Everyone,” he said, “ will appreciate the lofty motives which actuated the two Sovereigns in thus offering their good offices in the hope of avoiding a further extension of the war. “I confess I am not very hopeful of a satisfactory response from Hitler, in view of past experience. “Nevertheless, we do not want to continue a day longer than necessary, if a satisfactory settlement can be obtained in another way.

Allies in Strong Position. <1 “In due course it will be the Government’s duty to tender to His Majesty our advice as to the nature of the reply he should make, but before we can do so, it will naturally be necessary for us to consult the Dominions and our friends and allies, who are standing shoulder to shoulder with us in the struggle.” Speaking of the war itself, which to many seemed to be rather a sort of ciege, the Premier said: — “We do not know how long this phase will last, or whether at any moment it may not be changed into violent conflict, but we can see at any rate that the position of the Allies has, as the weeks have gone by, rather strengthened than deteriorated. Pacts Contrasted. “The treaty which we and our French allies concluded with Turkey will be a powerful instrument for peace in South-Western Europe. “On the other hand, the Ger-man-Soviet Pact) gained indeed great advantages for the Soviet, but brought only humiliation and loss to Germany, “The repeal of the United States Neutrality Act is a momentous event, for while it affords America a means of neutrality, it reopens for the Allies the door of the greatest storehouse of supplies in the world.” No Reason for Regret. Proceeding, Mr Chamberlain said; “We have no reason to regret that up to the present, while we are still strengthening our defences and building up our power, there has been no major battle. “We have, indeed, suffered losses, and we mourn with sorrow and yet with pride, the brave men who have given their lives for their country. “But we may be thankful our successes in hunting down submarines, and in numerous conflicts in the air have as yet been unclouded by the terrible casualty lists that were only too familiar to us in the last Great War. “We may be proud of the fact that the British Expeditionary Force has been transported to France without the loss of a single man or a single piece of equipment. Efficiency of Services. “Indeed, the efficiency of all three services has already proved such as to inspire us with confidence in their ability to meet any task which may be given them in the future.” After answering certain criticisms, of which, he implied, less would have been heard if the fii’st phase of the war had been of the violent character generally anticipated, the Premier said that despite such criticism what stood out before everything was the essential and fundamental unity of the British people.

“With that unity, with the unity of the Empire, and with the complete and cordial understanding of our French ally, with such spirit and such supporters and allies, we know we cannot fail,” he said. “I cherish the firm conviction that we shall, live to see the foundation laid of a new world, in which freedom and humanity will have superseded oppression and the rule of force.”