RECENT CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23221, 15 December 1938, Page 15

RECENT CRISIS

POLICY DEFENDED MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEWS THE OFFENDING PASSAGES NATURE OF DICTATORSHIPS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 31, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13 In his speech at the jubilee dinner of the Foreign Press Association the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain described how he had faced a situation in which British relations with Italy and Germany were rapidly deteriorating. He said: "I reached the conclusion that the only alternatives were to make up our minds that war was inevitable and prepare for it, or to make a prolonged effort to eradicate the possible causes of war, and try out personal contact while pursuing rearmament for defence." Mr. Chamberlain went on to say he believed that those who were of the opinion that the country should have taken the first course were in a small minority. Ho chose the second course. The Prime Minister proceeded to give instances of the Government's accomplishments. Ho mentioned the agreements with Eire and Italy, and the Munich agreement, the latter followed by the declaration by Britain and Germany, and also the trade agreement between Britain and America. All were concluded within 12 months. Changes of Government Inevitable Continuing, Mr. Chamberlain said: "I must deplore the recent attitude of the German press, which, in one case, did not scruple to pour vituperation against our most respected statesman, himself only recently Priino Minister (Earl Baldwin), and in few cases has shown much desire to understand our viewpoint."

Nevertheless, bo was convinced that the British and German peoples wished never again to go to war with one another.

Alluding to his forthcoming visit to Signor Mussolini, Mr. Chamberlain said he presumed that some people would again speculate as to who was the winner or the loser, but that was not the spirit in which he and Viscount Halifax would make tho journey to Rome.

Mr. Chamberlain denied the suggestion that because he advocated an understanding with the dictators that he favoured the Nazi or the Fascist system. "History teaches," he said, "that no form of Government ever remains the same. Change may come by sloiv degrees, or suddenly, like an explosion, but change from one form to another is inevitable. Rearmament for Defence "It would seem to follow, therefore, that we should be careful not to shut ourselves from contact with any country on account of a system, which, in the course of time, may well undergo such modifications as to render it very different from what it is to-day." Alluding to British rearmament, Mr. Chamberlain said it was the British people's -hope that these armaments might never be required. Certainly they would not be required for aggressive purposes, but nono would welcome more gladly than he a limitation or reduction of armaments by national agreement, "We have obligations not only to our own people at home, but to those throughout tho Empire and to our allies, who are bound to us by treaty," continued Mr. Chamberlain. "These obligations we must be ready to fulfil. Preparations have now proceeded far enough for us to say with confidence that we are in a position to do so.

Precariousness of Domination "Recently I sustained a certain shock," said the Prime Minister, "on seeing myself described as 'that old man.' However, in one respect perhaps, tho passage of the years has left its mark —in a recognition of the futility of ambition if ambition leads to a desire for domination. For again history teaches that attempts at domination are never long successful, and have never added to the happiness of the nations which attempted it. "Past experience has shown that there is an innate resistant force, arising from the fear of loss of liberty combined with tho ever-present passion for national self-expression, which makes domination difficult and precarious. It is tho absence of peace of mind which to-day weighs upon tho world, and by destroying confidence prevents it from reaping the material advantages of human progress." Mr. Chamberlain concluded by appealing to the nations, through the press, to realise that happiness could be attained only if they ceased seeking for points of difference and searched instead for points of agreement. He described Britain's relations with France as so close as to pass beyond a mere legal obligation, since they were founded on identity of interests.