PURSUIT OF PEACE

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

PURSUIT OF PEACE

CHAMBERLAIN'S GOAL "WILL NEVER STOP. TRYING" HORRORS OF MODERN WAR WOMEN AND CHILD VICTIMS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 34, 8.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Dec. 13 Mr. Chamberlain, in the course of his speech at the Foreign Press Association dinner, said he doubted whether, with the exception of the period of the Great War, any of his predecessors during the last 100 years had had to contend with more trying and anxious conditions in relation to foreign affairs than had been encountered during the past 18 months. "My aim has been consistently the same from beginning to end," he added. He then proceeded to refer to the deterioration of relations between Britain on the one hand and Germany and Italy on the other. Not to be Lightly Incurred "War to-day," the Prime Minister said, "differs fundamentally from all wars of the past, inasmuch as to-day its first and most numerous victims are not the professional fighters, but the civilian population—workmen, clerks, housewives, and —most horrible of all—children. When a war is over, whoever may bo the victor, it leaves bohind a trail of loss and suffering which two generations will not obliterate), and sows dragon's teeth which are the seeds of fresh quarrels, fresh injuries and fresh conflicts. "Such consequences are not to be lightly incurred. They ought never to be incurred unless we can be satisfied, and our peoples are satisfied, that every honourable alternative has been tried and found to be impossible." Not Disheartened Mr. Chamberlain continued that he had never wavered from the goal of peace. His goal was not only peace, but confidence that peace could be maintained.

"I never imagined that the goal could be attained in the twinkling of an eye, or without disappointments and setbacks," he said. "I have had them all—perhaps in greater measure than I had contemplated—but I am neither disheartened nor deterred by these passing phases. It has been well said that failure only begins when you leave off. As long ds I am where I am, I will never leave off." Referring to the international agreement which had been effected within the past year, Mr. Chamberlain added: "Surely that is an achievement which calls for satisfaction rather than pessimism, and one which should encourage us to persist in the policy which has given such remarkable results. Alternative to Munich "In my view we should not try to assess the results of such meetings in terms of victory or defeat: we should rather remember what was the alternative which the Munich agreement averted, namely, an attempt to effect revision of the Treaty of Versailles by force instead of by discussion—an attempt which would certainly have resulted in a condition of affairs very different from the peaceful atmosphere in which wo are dining here to-night. "Moreover, other results followed tho Munich agreement besides the settlement of Czechoslovakia's frontiers. Last September the peoples of four great countries were brought face to face with the imminent horrors of war. When the news of the Munich agreement was known a sigh of relief and thankfulness went up from the whole world, which felt a load lifted from its heart. Do you think those days are forgotten?"

British People's Efforts Mr. Chamberlain recalled that Britain's armament programme was originally designed to bo carried out in five years, three of which had now gone by. "From the beginning we made it clear that the programme was flexible, and must be modified from time to time in the light of changing circumstances," said the Prime Minister. "In fact, the programme has been modified in two directions. It has been accelerated and it has been expanded, and those modifications demanded very considerable efforts on the part of industry, of Labour, of the taxpayer, and of the individual whose time and services have been called for. So far from resenting these demands, the people of this country have shown that they are ready to make even greater efforts if they should be demanded." SAFETY MEASURES BUILDING UP DEFENCES BRITAIN NOW STRONGER IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE LONDON, Dec. 13 The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, in a speech at a meeting of the Empire League, said Empire unity depended upon the maintenance of sea power. Singapore would mako a tremendous improvement to Imperial defence. It was essential for the defence of Australia and New Zealand, and it held the gate to tho Indian Ocean. With the addition of minor anti-air-craft equipment the base would be completed, after which it would profoundly affect tho safety and unity of tho Empire. The defences at homo and throughout tho Empiro were boing completed so that it was no longer necessary for Britain to refrain from prompt action or for the Prime Minister to be hampered by considerations of Britain's weakness