CABINET’S FAITH IN MEDIATOR

Southland Times, Issue 23612, 13 September 1938, Page 7

CABINET’S FAITH IN MEDIATOR

HOPE OF PEACEFUL OUTCOME ATTITUDE MADE PLAIN TO NAZI GOVERNMENT (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, September 11. The close contact which the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) is maintaining with the Foreign Secre- ; tary (Viscount Halifax) and the other leading Ministers is a measure of the deep preoccupation the situation of danger and suspense in Central Europe is causing Britain, as well as of the Ministers’ recognition of the growing feeling of anxiety in the country at a situation out of which war might arise. While thus recognising the seriousness of the position the view taken in official quarters is not unduly pessimistic. Herr Hitler’s speech tomorrow night is awaited in London with certain anxiety, in view of how much is believed to turn upon it, but it is not forgotten that Herr Hitler has repeatedly expressed a desire for peace and in all responsible quarters, there is every disposition to assume his sincerity. As far as the dispute between the Czech Government and the Sudeten German Party is concerned,. Britain has never varied in its opinion that, difficult as the problems might be, they ought to be capable of solution by peaceful negotiations. At the same'time it was recognized that the deep feelings aroused would put a great, strain on both sides during the period of deadlock and for that reason Britain welcomed and supported the idea of Viscount Runciman going to Prague, and experience has shown that Lord Runciman’s mission has overcome all the mental reservations with which it may originally have been met and has gained the confidence of all parties. GAP NARROWED On more than one occasion the mission has succeeded in bringing together the representatives of the two sides when the negotiations appeared to have come to an end, and in recent days it has contributed to the bringing about of an offer by Czechoslovakia of fresh proposals, which it is not questioned here will go a long way to meet the Sudeten Germans, and indeed much, further than at one time it would have been considered possible for Czechoslovakia to go. As a result of these new proposals the gap between the two sides has been narrowed to a point at which, although a good deal more negotiation may be necessary for the elucidation and modification to some extent of these proposals, no justification any longer exists for abandonment of the method of negotiation or recourse to violence. There is no doubt in Britain’s mind that any attempt to use force to solve the problem, after the measure of conciliation shown by Czechoslovakia, would incur condemnation throughout the world. Even now further setbacks may be met and an apparent deadlock reached again, but while Lord Runciman remains in Prague the possibility of mediation is not exhausted, and in Britain’s opinion there is no reason why the search for an agreed settlement should be abandoned. It is not denied in official quarters that one of the questions which British Ministers have had to'ask themselves in the last few days is whether there is full appreciation among the German leaders of the possible consequences of a recourse to force. Britain’s position was made perfectly clear by Mr Chamberlain’s speech on March 24, and it is felt in London that its terms could not easily be mistaken or that it could have been overlooked in any responsible quarter in Germany that Britain had felt bound to contemplate the possibilities not only of other Powers being involved as the result of a resort to force in the Sudeten German question, but also of Britain being unable to stand aside from a conflict in which the integrity and security of France might be menaced. VIEWS MADE KNOWN The Ministers, in fact, are clear that it is of first importance that Germany should be under no illusions in this matter, and in particular that Germany should not count upon being able to embark safely upon a brief and successful campaign against Czechoslovakia free from the danger of intervention by France, and perhaps by Britain. But having obtained a full report of the contacts which the British Ambassador (Sir Nevile Henderson) has been able to make with the principal German leaders, other than Herr Hitler himself, at Nuremberg,, the Ministers are satisfied that there is every reason to feel assured that the views of Britain have been fully conveyed to the proper quarter. Britain has not failed in. a matter which is of concern not only to Britain but also to the Commonwealth as a whole, to keep -in closest touch with the Dominions. It has also been in close touch with France, and. has felt that it owed it to the relations and sympathy and understanding between itself and the United States to keep the latter fully informed, throughout recent weeks, of its views on the European situation.