NO ILLUSIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 9

NO ILLUSIONS

DICTATORS warned WORDS ■CONTINENTAL COMMENT italo-gekman eights By Tdesrraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 80 Commenting on Mr. Chamberlain's speech, the Sunday Times said the Frime Minister, in dwelling on the magnitude of British rearmament, intended to answer domestic critics, but his words had a value for foreign hearers. . The dictators, before deciding on their next moves, should indulge in no perilous illusions. "Mr. Chamberlain might have been considerably less modest," says the 'Times, referring in a leading article to the Prime Minister's speech. "He has discharged Britain's share of the general obligations in the pursuit of peace and he had every right to remind the other signatories to the Munich agreements of the necessity for their contribution." The News Chronicle, in a leading article, says: "The masterpiece of ingenuity in the speech was the fact that Mr. Chamberlain spoke for an hour without mentioning Spain. There was not a word of warning to the dictators or of enlightenment for the British people." The paper adds that a warmer tone and a firmer declaration of AngloFrench solidarity would have been welcome and useful to both countries. French Opinions Mixed The French press praises Mr. Chamberlain's speech, says a message from Paris. Le Petit Journal says he still expresses his faith in peace, but has clearly defined the limits beyond which it is impossible to go. He has done this with calmness and firmness, which should make the heads of nations who are animated by a warlike spirit reflect. Other commentators see little hope of Mr. Chamberlain's speech greatly affecting the international situation insofar as it may calm extreme nervousness. But, it is pointed out, the coming crisis is not like that of September, because British and French interests now are directly threatened. There is some criticism of Mr. Chamberlain's continued anxiety not to hurt the feelings of the dictators. "Sights" of Dictator States Senor Gayda, in II Giornale d'ltalia, feays the speech was clear and honest, states a message from Rome. Mr. Chamberlain's goodwill is readily recognisable. Italy has nothing to ask England except an understanding of her vital problems, which do not affect England herself, and nothing ought to divide the two countries provided that England keeps at a distance mischievous internal forces and pressure from other Powers opposing Italian and German rights. A message from Berlin says comment there is restrained. Mr. Chamberlain's pursuit of his own foreign policy, in spite.of opposition, is welcomed. All German newspapers emphasise that peace must be based on right and justice among equal nations. The newspapers publish brief summaries of the speech. The majority of the English newspapers received enthusiastically Mr. Chamberlain's statement regarding the big increase in British armaments and the democracies' intention to resist force, says the Independent Cable Service.