COMMON GOOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 7

COMMON GOOD

Improving Economic Standards REPLY TO HERR HITLER GREAT BRITAIN READY [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Feb. 2. In a speech at Hull this evening, the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, commented at some length on Herr Hitler's recent speech. On those passages which dealt specifically with Germany’s relations with Britain and other Powers, he said he could add nothing to the Prime Minister's words on Tuesday, but he referred to Herr Hitler's statement that Germany must export or die. No doubt that was true of Germany, he said. It was certainly true of the

United Kingdom. He took exception to the suggestion by Herr Hitler that the last war was waged to exclude Germany from world trade, pointing out that Germany was England’s best foreign customer before the war and that German and British trade had flourished together. No two countries were more closely bound together by commercial and financial partnership than Germany and Britain. Why, then, should Britain wish to exclude Germany from world trade? What had destroyed trade was waste of capital and labour on unproductive purposes such as armaments, and lack of confidence and fear of war. Prediction of Long Peace Herr Hitler had predicted a long period of peace and no one hoped more devoutly than he (Lord Halifax! did that this prediction would be fulfilled, for with a real assurance of peace economic development would be possible. Ise did not propose to discuss the extent to which the difficulties of Germany or of any other country might be reduced by action which it was ; within the power of a single country . to take, but he did know that so - long as the world remained an armed i camp the present difficulties would > persist for all. If there was any one thing that was ' certain, it was that the basic economic i standards —the amount and quality ' and price of the food people ate, and ! the rent and taxes they paid—could 3 not be improved unless all nations ’ worked together for the common [ good. That Britain was prepared to ■ do at all times. ! As an example of better method he t cited the recent successful Anglo- " German coal negotiations and ex- ’ pressed the hope that the forthcomr ing negotiations, with wider scope between British and German industries, would be equally successful.

Resisting Forces Opposing I’eace Lord Halifax also commented on the statement a few weeks ago in which President Roosevelt gave striking expression to ideals many of which were held in common by the American and British peoples. In these times, which were revolutionary, they must recognise that things would be done which shocked the moral sense of the people, but responsible statesmen must bear in mind that the end of all their efforts must be to resist forces that would destroy peace. In another part of his speech, Lord Halifax analysed two elements which in the modern world added to the difficulties and complexities of international affairs. Relations between the State and the individual, which for the British people had been formally established on the basis of liberty and respect for human personality, were elsewhere replaced by philosophies which were opposed to many of he things that they in Britain regarded as fundamental. It was this Jack of philosophies which, in addition to the legacy of feeling and disturbance left by the Great War, was responsible for the present atmosphere in which intolerance was often regarded as a sign of strength and tolerance as a weakness. In such an atmosphere it was understandable if some people were tempted to abandon efforts for understanding that seemed to bring no reward.

Tribute to Mr. Chamberlain Lord Halifax went on to pay a tribute to the perseverance and courage of Mr. Chamberlain in his efforts to restore confidence in Europe. It was in the spirit of these efforts that Mr. Chamberlain had gone to Rome. With no country had British differences been sharper in the recent past than with Italy. The Fascist regime was totally different from the British, and Italy formed part of the Rome-Berlin axis, which was an essential point in Italian policy just as the Anglo-French Entente was in the British policy. Nevertheless the impressions which remained uppermost in the Foreign Secretary’s mind after his visit were the cordiality of Signor Mussolini, the spontaneous enthusiasm with which the Italian people greeted the Premier, and the very definite assurance which he and the Prime Minister had re-

ceived from Signor Mussolini that the policy of Italy was one of peace. Speaking of the Mediterranean in particular, Signor Mussolini had assured them that he was well satisfied with the Anglo-Italian agreement, whereby both parties undertook to respect the status quo in the Mediterranean and had also emphatically declared that once the Spanish civil war was over all the Italian military support would be withdrawn and he would have nothing to ask from Spain by way of territorial concessions.

Jutsifying non-intervention, Lord Halifax spoke of relations between Italy and France, and said that so long as they were what they were it was bound to cause concern in Britain, for whom close contact and cooperation with France, based upon identity of interest, were fundamentals of their foreign policy. Therefore, while that state of things between Italy and France continued it was not possible for international tension to be reduced in the way they would like to see in an area where British interests were directly and vitally concerned. Referring to the British armed strength, Lord Halifax said that on sea or land and in the air, as a result of the intensive drive of the last two or three years, Britain was a long way on the road to resuming her ancient strength, and if trouble came and there was a temptation in any quarter to think that Britain would not give a good account of herself those holding that opinion would make a very bad mistake.

A LONG PEACE

HERR HITLER’S STATEMENT. COMMENT BY SIR THOMAS INSKIP. I British Official Wirelabs 1 Received Feb. 5, 6.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 4. The Dominions Secretary, Sir Thomas Inskip, said last night that if Herr Hitler's profession of a desire for a long peace was to be given its true importance, it was proper to remember that Great Britain was a formidable nation, not easy to attack, and with great resources and great strength. The Prime Minister had asked for a contribution to peace and it was most likely to come from the rulers who knew in their hearts that they had nothing to gain, from a war.