MR CHAMBERLAIN PRAISED

Southland Times, Issue 23646, 22 October 1938, Page 7

MR CHAMBERLAIN PRAISED

Criticism Condemned By Home Secretary HERR HITLER’S PLEDGES TRUSTED (British Official Wireless) (Received October 21, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 20. Speaking at Clacton the Home Secretary (Sir Samuel Hoare) said that under present conditions air raid precautions covered the whole field of home security and meant a comprehensive organization of people for the purpose of maintaining the nation in the face of an air attack. He had vividly in mind the need of organised home security, in which willing citizens would have a full part to play as trained helpers rather than newly joined amateurs. The first part <tf Sir Samuel’s speech contained an eloquent tribute to the achievement of the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain), which saved the world from chaos and catastrophe as it had never suffered in all the centuries. “Looking back through the chapters of modern history, I can find no similar case in which a single man, by his own efforts, physical, mental and moral, so completely changed the course of events,’’ said Sir Samuel. “The world rightly rang with his praises. Parliament acclaimed him and the peoples of England and Germany gave him a triumphant welcome. They knew his air-borne peace saved them from death and< devastation.” / Sir Samuel Hoare complained bitterly of the criticism of Mr Chamberlain which was now raising its head and denied that it was possible to obtain better terms for Czechoslovakia, because, if better terms could be obtained, Mr Chamberlain would have secured them. Sir Samuel read'the Munich Declaration and said he refused to accept the view that Herr Hitler’s .pledges could not be accepted. He must admit there were occasions»when, having disclaimed the use of force, Herr Hitler had yet had recourse to it. This inevitably gave cause for anxiety, but he recalled the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, by which Germany had stood faithfully, as a powerful reassurance of Herr Hitler’s desire for friendship with Britain. REARMAMENT PLANS

Sir Samuel next discussed the question why, if the Government had faith in a peaceful future, it felt the necessity of pushing on with rearmament and mentioned the doubts expressed in the German Press on that point. The answer—surely convincing to the Germans—was to be found in the Saar-' brucken speech, in which Herr Hitler said the German motto was that they must be always willing for peace and at any hour ready for defence. “That was exactly the British position,” said the Home Secretary. ‘‘The very condition of future peace was British strength, for the great British interest is peace and British strength is certain to be thrown into the scales of peace.” Discussing the lessons of the crisis in relation to defence, he said he thought the spirit of public service in the country was greater than ever before in its history and declared that one of the first duties of the Government was to organize it. The problem was very different from that in 1914, when national service meant conscription for a continental army for foreign service. Today the need was different. It was for the organization of the great industrial community to protect itself against a knock-out blow from the air. Willing helpers were there, but the problem of training remained. While reserving fuller details for the House of Commons, Sir Samuel Hoare gave an assurance that the Government was taking every possible step to improve the air raid precautions organization. He and his under-secretary had been engaged in a conference with their advisers on reports collected from local authorities and at a series of meetings between officials of the Home Office and air raid precaution workers and he would soon be in a position to announce the new matters they considered necessary.

Among the items which must be put on the credit side in examining the air raid precautions organization created in the few days of the crisis, Sir Samuel expressed particular satisfaction at the immediate and spontaneous emergence of local leadership—of men and women ready to undertake great responsibilities at a moment’s notice. GUARANTEE DESIRED BY OPPOSITION REARMAMENT AND OTHER MEASURES (Received October 21, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 21. The Daily Telegraph says that on the resumption of Parliament the Opposition, supported by sections of the Government parties, will fight strenuously for a guarantee for rearmament and other defensive measures being pressed on at the fullest speed. Political and industrial branches of the Labour and Socialist parties are meeting next week to formulate details of the Opposition attitude. GOOD UNDERSTANDING URGED BRITISH AND GERMAN PEOPLES (British Official Wireless) (Received October 21, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 20. At the Anglo-German Fellowship dinner, Lord Rennell said Germany and the British people had far more in common to unite them than to divide them. A good understanding between the two peoples was one of the most essential factors for restoring in Europe that atmosphere of goodwill and confidence without which he would have grave misgivings about the future of our present civilization. The German Ambassador (Dr Hubert von Dircksen), who was the guest of honour, said the recent time of strain and crisis had proved a blessing in disguise, as it had served to bring the two peoples nearer together and create a better understanding. They were now convinced that they were both fundamentally peaceful and did not want war. DEFENCE OF EAST AFRICA

MINISTER LEAVES FOR LONDON

(Received October 21, 5.5 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, October 20. Mr O. Pirow, Minister of Defence, has left for London. It is understood that

he is discussing with Portugal . South African co-operation in the defence of East Africa. He is authorized to investigate all matters concerning South Africa, including colonies. He may see Herr Hitler.

AUSTRALIAN ACTION DURING CRISIS

EXTENSIVE PLANS TO FACE WAR

(Received October 21, 6.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, October 21. The Minister of Defence (Mr H. V. C. Thorby), in Parliament, detailing the defence preparations that were made in Australia during the recent crisis, revealed that the Commonwealth had made extensive plans to face war. The armed forces had been prepared for mobilization, he said. The defence preparations showed it was a serious weakness to have the headquarters of the Defence Department in Melbourne and these would be transferred to Canberra. Five hundred cottages would have to be constructed at Canberra to house the members of the staff and their families.