PEACE AT PRICE OF HONOUR

Southland Times, Issue 23651, 28 October 1938, Page 7

PEACE AT PRICE OF HONOUR

MR LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEW OF CRISIS

BROADCAST TO AMERICA BY LORD HALIFAX

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, October 26.

Speaking at the City Temple, Mr David Lloyd George said that the relief experienced after the Munich conference was beginning to be suffused with shame as a result of “the purchase of peace at the price of conscience and honour,” and Britain had not gained tranquillity, as the feverish demand for rearmament showed. Herr Hitler had not aimed to redress the grievances of the Sudeten Germans, said Mr Lloyd George. He only wanted to abolish democracy, which he regarded as a plague spot whence the germs of freedom could cross the frontier into Germany. “We abandoned our pledges and handed over Czechoslovakia, wrapped in the Union Jack and the Tricolour, to a ruthless dictator who will deny freedom to both Czechs and Germans,” said Mr Lloyd George. “Our only excuse was our muddled defence preparations.” Referring to China, Abyssinia and Spain, Mr Lloyd George declared: “We have descended the ladder of dishonour rung by rung. Can we go any lower? Instead of 58 nations we could not get two to follow us today. In the end there will be no peace, but a war without friends.”

The Foreign Secretary (Viscount Halifax), broadcasting to the United “Britain has fully accepted America’s desire not to be involved in remote disputes, but she is aware that America is following the events in Europe wifli acute interest. This could be seen in the sharp criticisms in the American Press against Britain’s actions in recent weeks. This is the best proof that America feels as strongly as Britain about the things which it is vital for the world to hold on to if international relations are to be based on secure foundations. The criticisms, therefore, brought America nearer than would have indifference.” Throughout the crisis, said Lord Halifax, there had been before Britain two inescapable facts:

(1) If Germany had marched Britain, France, Russia and the others could not have saved Czechoslovakia from being over-run. (2) The nations would have gone- to war knowing that the statesmen after the war would not be able to redraw the Czech boundaries as they were

drawn at Versailles. Lord Halifax paid a warm tribute to the efforts for peace of the President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the United States Sercetary of State (Mr Cordell Hull).