Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1939 “A DUTY AND A SERVICE”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1939 “A DUTY AND A SERVICE”

7 HERE was little in the British Prime Minister’s momentous statement in the House of Commons yesterday that was not unexpected by those who have been closely following the course of international events. Unilateral guarantees have been given to Greece and Rumania similar to that given Poland. Britain, said Mr Chamberlain, found it difficult to reconcile what had happened to Albania with the preservation of national sovereignty as contemplated by the Anglo-ltalian agreement. Britain felt it had both a duty and a service to perform by leaving no doubt in the mind of anybody as to its posivion. “I therefore take this opportunity of saying on its behalf,” continued Mr Chamberlain, “that His Majesty’s Government attaches the greatest importance to the avoidance of disturbance, by force or by threats of force, of .the status quo in the Medi- | lerranean and the Balkan Peninsula, j Consequently the Government has

come to the conclusion that in the < event of any action being taken which ! clearly threatens the independence of Greece or Rtunania, and which the Greek and Rumanian Governments ( respectively consider it vital to resist with their national forces, His Majesty’s Government will feel it- . self bound to lend at once to Greece , or Rumania, as the case may be, any support in its power. "We arc communicating this de- : claration to the Governments directly concerned, and to the Powers—especially Turkey—whose close relationships with the Greek Government are known.” A similar intimation has been . given by Prance which has kept in close consultation with Britain throughout. As M. Daladier emphasised, there is no threat by the non-aggression Powers against the vital interests of any people. Although reports have been received of ominous activities of Italian troops in Spain, Mr Chamberlain states that within the last six days Signor Mussolini had repeated his assurances previously given that all Italian volunteers would withdraw from Spain immediately after taking part in the victory parade. Fresh assurances had also been given by Count Ciano that Italian aeroplanes and pilots would also leave Spain. Britain looks forward to the early fulfilment of these assurances as it was a vital element in the AngloSaxon agreement. Germany and Italy have many strategic and other advantages which they did not possess less than a year ago. They have gainj ed these by pursuing a policy of aggression and because of the reluctance of Britain and France to act—a reluctance due to their hatred of war. But the two peaceseeking nations and those now associated with them still command vast material and moral strength. Herr Hitler, who has displayed complete contempt for treaties and pacts and his pledged word, declared in his recent speech at Wilhelmshaven —when he studiously avoided any reference to Poland— that “we will not fight anyone who leaves us alone.” As was commented at the time, the Nazi right to tje left alone, as the condition of peace, is no more than the demand of the international brigand for freedom to wreak his will on lesser peoples under the shadow of his air force or within reach of his trampling armies. The “old German right” of annexation which Hitler has boasted of having employed against Czechoslovakia is no more than the right of the strong to plunder and enslave the weak. It was to contest that right that millions died in 1914-18. It is to resist that right—which Italy now also claims to possess—that the forces of freedom and justice are gathering in 1 939. In the concluding portion of his speech in the House of Commons yesterday, the British Prime Minister spoke of how intolerable was the state of international affairs “which keot the whole world in a continually recurring series of alarms, blighted commerce and industry, depressed social conditions and poisoned every phase of human activity.” Events of which Britain had cause to complain in the past and which again it had to condemn to-day, could not have failed to stir the minds and consciences of all people. He took hope from that fact “that the patience Britain had exercised over a long period, with many disappointments of its efforts to remove suspicion, promote goodwill and ensure peace, would yet be rewarded.” People outside the Totalitarian States will accept unreservedly Mr Chamberlain’s assurance that without prejudice or preconceived ideological motives, “Britain was endeavouring to the utmost of its ability, successfully to marshal the forces still favouring peace and willing to resist aggression.” There was nothing that could be called provocative in Mr Chamberlain’s statement. Indeed it is being regarded as “an olive branch to Italy.” As Lord Halifax said, following on his statement in the House of Lords:

The Government is fully aware of the gravity of the decision recorded, but it has taken this course, after full reflection and consideration, in the belief that as things stand today, a perfectly clear declaration of its attitude in certain events, from which in no Can Britain properly stand aside, would render those event? less likely.

Most of the nations of the world will hope fervently that this belief will prove to have been justified.