BRITAIN UNITED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23389, 4 July 1939, Page 9

BRITAIN UNITED

STRIKING SPEECHES

ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY DETERMINED TO RESIST NO FURTHER CONCESSIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Brifish Wireless LONDON. July 2 The remarkable rallying of national sentiment behind the declaration made by the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, that in the event of further aggression Britain was resolved to use the whole of her strength in the fulfilment of her pledges to resist it—a declaration to which special point has been given by the developments and rumours of the last few days concerning Danzig— was illustrated in a notable series of speeches yesterday. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal leader, said: "If anyone forces war upon this country or upon some other country the independence of which wo are pledged to defend, he will find there will be 110 defeatists here."

Mr. Bainsay Muir, vice-president of the Liberal Party organisation, expressed the view that the British people were united and resoluto to resist any further attack on democracy and upon the freedom of other nations. Mr. Anthony Eden, former Foreign Secretary, said the British people were determined that henceforth there should be neither hesitation before threats nor concession to force. Enough of Continual Threats Air-Marshal Lord Trenchard, in a speech at Stirling, Scotland, said: "The time has come to say that this living under continual threats of aggression must stop. We have bad enough of it.

Britain has given way in this or that in order to preserve peace, but there comes a time when a people will say this must stop. That time has come now.

"Not only do we mean to fight if there' is any more aggression, but Ave have the power now to do so. Our Army, Navy and Air Force are more powerful than they have ever been in peace time. Woe betide those who do not believe it."

Sir Stafford Cripps, in backing Lord Halifax's speech, said: "We will not tolerate domination by others, loss of our liberties or dictation in our affairs, and if these things are attempted we are now ready as a united nation to defend ourselves, and to that end we will gather all the allies and resources available." No Uncertainty as to Policy This demonstration of an identical view in all the political parties, combined with the firm, clear statement by Lord Halifax last week, leads the Sunday newspapers to emphasise in their comment on the international situation that now there is no excuse for anyone anywhere to misunderstand the position of Britain. Thu Sunday Times heads its leading article, "British Intentions Placed Beyond Doubt," and, like several other commentators in the last 48 hours, it raises the memory of 1914 and the uncertainty which is alleged to have surrounded British policy at that time. The same paper also makes a point of how different the position is to-day after the series olr declarations by the Government and Lord Halifax's frank, forceful definition of British purposes. Mr. J. L. Garvin in the Observer, regarding this speech, says: "Lord Halifax has done what was most needed if there is to be the faintest chance this summer, and this month, for any peace that would not he a peace of disgrace and disaster."