Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939 BRITAIN’S DETERMINATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 June 1939, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939 BRITAIN’S DETERMINATION

IT has often been said that the war which began in 1914 might have been avoided had the Kaiser and his advisers realised that Britain would not treat her undertaking— to which Germany and Prance were also parties with Belgium, as a mere “scrap of paper.” The Government of the day has been blamed for not having made it quite clear at a

much earlier date that it would j fulfil its responsibilities and go to i the aid of Belgium and France, i Be that as it may, there can be no reason to-day for Germany to have the slightest doubt regarding Britain’s determination to resist further aggression. Since Herr Hitler’s flagrant breaches of his pledges and words at Munich, stern warnings have been issued by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, and Germany is also aware of Britain’s stupendous programme of re-armament. To the many warnings and frank statements of British intentions is added another. This is contained in an eloquent, impressive and memorable address by Lord Halifax to the Royal Institute of International Affairs which we are told was listened to with great attention by a distinguished company of men and women, many of them experts on one or other of the aspects dealt with. In this important speech, as well as declaring the immediate purposes of British policy in vigorous and unmistakeable terms, the Foreign Secretary entered into a detailed discussion of a number of problems fundamental to the reconstruction of an international order, including those issues of living spaces and expansion, and the position of the Colonies, which have been raised as challenges by the Totalitarian States. He made it clear again that British policy rests on twin foundations of purpose. One is the determination to resist force; the other is recognition of the world’s desire to get on with the constructive work of building peace. In the face of threats of military forces holding the world to ransom, the immediate task for Britain was to resist aggression. Again he emphasised that what was new fullv universally accepted in Britain, but might even yet not be as well understood elsew r here, was that in the event of further aggression, the British “were resolved to use at once the whole of their strength in fulfilment of their pledges to resist it.” That declaration was reiterated by the Foreign Secretarv several times. The commitments the Government had entered into in the past twelve months were referred to. To-day Britain s bound by new agreements for mutual defence with Poland and Turkey and has guaranteed assistance to Greece and Rumania against aggression. Mentioning the negotiations with the Soviet with a view to association with Britain for the defence of the States of Europe whose independence and neutrality may be threatened, Lord Halifax expressed the hope that there would shortly be a successful issue. To-day’s cables, however, seem to indicate that there are grave doubts of Russia joining the peace bloc, and a further reference is made to “pulling hot coals from the fire.”

“We have assumed obligations and are preparing to assume more, with a full understanding of their consequences,” declared Lord Halifax, who pointed out that such great changes in British policy could not have been made had they not been backed by the deep conviction of the British people. Referring to mischievous misrepresentations of British actions he said: “We read them with resentment knowing that they are false and knowing that those .who make them know it, too. These things do not pass unnoticed here, nor, I may say, do provocative insults offered our fellow-countrymen further afield.

“I can say at once that Britain is not prepared to yield either to calumnies or to force.” This was said calmly but very firmly as could be heard in the broadcast this morning. Every insult and every rude challenge united the British, increased their determination and strengthened their loyalty to those others who shared their feelings and aspirations and desired to observe old standards of conduct and ordinary human decency which some people would set aside with callous indifference. Boldly and plainly and with emphasis he declared: “Our first resolve is to call a halt to aggression.” Referring in general terms to recent acts of aggression he said that it was for that reason and for that reason alone that Britain joined with other nations to meet the common danger. T hese arrangements, as all the world knew, had no purpose other than defence. Replying to the most frequent misrepresentation that British actions constituted a policy of “encirclement” with a view to isolating Germany and cramp and <hrott!e the very existence of a 'Treat nation, Lord Halifax made the point that is obvious to all unbiassed minds: “Germany is

isolating herself and doing it most successfully and completely,’ politically, economically and culturally—the last-named by her policy of racialism. Speaking of the unity of the British nation in support of the Government’s attitude the speaker stressed that all classes were prepared to sacrifice their leisure, and, if necessary, their lives, in furtherance of the principles for which they stood. "The last thing we desire to see is any individual German —man, woman or child—suffering privations. But if they do so, the fault does not lie with us, and it depends on Germany, and Germany alone, whether this process of isolation continues or not, for any day it can he ended by a policy of co-operation.” As we write news comes from unofficial sources suggesting that “something is afoot in Danzig,” and the situation has changed for the worse. Ihe outlook is ominous.