GERMAN THREAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 68, 22 March 1939, Page 7

GERMAN THREAT

RECENT HAPPENINGS LORD HALIFAX'S REVIEW [ British Official ] RUGBY, March 20. An unusually large attendance of Peers heard the statement by the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, in the House of Lords. He began by reviewing explanations or excuses offered by the German apologist lor the actions of Her Adolf Hitler's Gov-ernment-explanations which, he said carried scant conviction. It was impossible to believe that the sudden decision of certain Slovak leaders to break away from Prague, followed by the 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 Hitlers ultimatum to the Czech President, Dr. Emil Hacha, that the German Press renewed its campaign of last summer for the minorities, which had been deliberately encouraged to remain in Czechoslovakia after Munich as centres of German activity and propaganda. It was difficult to aovid the conclusion that the bulk of the incidents held out as justifying German intervention were deliberately provoked. Coming to the visit of Dr. Hacha to Berlin and the suggestion that in freely consented to the subjugation of his people Lord Halifax observed; Ultimatum Under Threat of Violence. “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 the most sensible people must conclude that there was little pretence of negotiation and it is more probable that the Czech representatives were presented with an ultimatum under threat of violence and that they capitulated to save their people from tne horrors of a swift destructive aeriai bombardment." The Foreign Secretary then referred to the British protest, the cancellation of the trade ministers visit to Berlin, and the recall of the British Ambassador. The Government, he said, felt that the development of an understanding on trade matters was now out of the question and that and many other things would have to remain indefinitely postponed. After defending the Munich settlement and the policy which followed it as one not personal to the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, but one supported by himself and the whole Cabinet and as fully justified, Lord Halifax said that the long term policy envisaged in the Hitler-Cham-berlain declaration of the building of a peaceful Europe on the basis of free consultation on all differences had been disastrously belied by events. All Germany’s Neighbours Uncertain. "What inference," he asked, “arc we to draw from this pressure under threat of force and intervention in the internal struggles of other States? Every country which is Germany’s neighbour is now uncertain of tomorrow and every country which values its national identity and sovereignty stands warned against the danger from within inspired from without." After mentioning the denial by 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 in Bucharest, like other Governments, should view with the gravest misgivings the happenings of the last few days. Lord Halifax reviewed the situation and said the Government was placing it.sclf in consultation with other Govjernments on this question and would j continue to do all in its power for I these unhappy people. 1 Frustration of Efforts for Understanding. I Finally he spoke with regret of the ; frustration of efforts to create a better British-German understanding. I The British people had not been backI ward in recognising that there wer? some mistakes in Versailles, but I whenever there had been a chance of making progress, Germany had taken j some action which made it impos- ■ sible. Now the initiative of Munich I had been frustrated by Germany’s | __