SCANT BELIEF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19892, 21 March 1939, Page 5

SCANT BELIEF

GERMAN EXCUSES REVIEW BY HALIFAX SUDDEN SLOVAK BREAK PROVCK .’ATT ON SUSPECT ED SUBJECTION OP CZECH'S (Klee. T«l. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed, noon RUGBY, March 20. An unusually large attendance of peers heard the statement made today in the House of Lords by the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax. Ho began by reviewing 1 the explanations or excuses offered by the German apologist for the actions of HenHitler’s Government explanations which, lie said, carried scant conviction. It was impossible to believe that

Viscount Halifax. the sudden decision of certain Slovak leaders tio break away from Prague, followed by a request for German protection, was reached independently of outside influence. As to the alleged maltreatment of the German minority, it was only very shortly [before Herr Hitler's ultimatum to the Czech President, Dr. Hacha, that the German press renewed its campaign of last summer on behalf of the minorities which had been deliberately encouraged to remain in Czechoslovakia after the Munich agreement as centres of German activity and propaganda. It was difficult to avoid the conclusion that the bulk of the incidents held out as justifying German intervention were deliberately provoked. Hacha's Berlin Visit Coming to the visit of Dr. Hacha to Berlin and the suggestion that he freely consented to the subjugation of his people, Lord Halifax observed: "In view of the circumstances in which he came to Berlin and of the occupation of Czech territory which had already taken place, I think that most sensible people must conclude that there was little pretence of negotiation and it was more probable that the Czech representatives were presented with an ultimatum under a threat of violence and that they capitulated in order to save their people from the horrors of swift, destructive aerial bombardment." The Foreign Secretary then referred to the British protest and the cancellation of the Trade Minister's visit to Berlin and the recall of the Ambassador to Germany. The Government, he said, felt that the development, of understanding on trade matters was now out of the question and that and many other things would have to remain indefinitely postponed. Munich Plan Defended After defending the Munich settlement and the policy which followed it as one not personal to the Prime Minister. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, but supported by himself and the whole Cabinet and as fully justified, Lord Halifax said that the long-term policy envisaged in the Hitler-Chamberlain declaration of building up a peaceful Europe on the basis of free consultation on all differences had been disastrously belied by the events. "What inference." he asked, "are we to draw from this pressure "exercised under a threat of force and intervention in the internal struggles of other States? Every country which is Germany's neighbour is now uncertain of to-morrow and every country which values its national identity and sovereignty stands warned against danger from within inspired from without." After mentioning the denial of the Rumanian Government of the reported German ultimatum on trade matters, he said that whatever the position might be, it was not surprising if the Government at Bucharest, like other Governments, should view with the gravest misgivings the happenings of the last few days.