ANXIOUS DAYS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20717, 30 January 1939, Page 9

ANXIOUS DAYS

BRITAIN’S STRONG POSITION SAFEGUARDING PEACE .United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 28 Measures for safeguarding the peace of the world were referred to to-day in speeches by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, and the Colonial Secretary, Mr Malcolm MacDonald. Mr MacDonald, s'peakiqg at Leeds, said many people were far too pessimistic about the prospects for 1939. “But we are certainly living in very anxious days,” he added. ‘‘All are conscious that over our heads hangs a dark shadow—the possibility of war.”

Much of the war talk was based on the extraordinary assumption that Britain was weak. Those who assumed this were wrong. More than once this apparently casual, careless but free people had suddenly shown at the testing time endurance, reserve of strength, i and an obstinate will to victory which would not have been equalled by any people who lived under a more remj strlcted form of government. The Beat Guarantee Sir John Simon said Britain would miss no opportunity of bringing about some measures of agreed and general disarmament. In the meantime a stronger Britain was the best guarantee for peace. A peace policy was the best contribution Britain could make in these dangerous times. To have one powerful Government which steadily set itself against the theory that war was inevitable, and which would do anything in its power to prevent insurable schisms among its neighbours, was what the world most needed. An ill-armerl Britain in a re-armed world would be no contribution to that peace which they all desired. Continuing, Sir John said : ‘‘When we assess the position of Britain in the world to-day let us not make the mistake of measuring everything by armed power alone, formidable as our gunpower is.

“There are other factors of great importance. There is our financial strength which remains as important a weapon of defence as ever before. The world knows that is so. Brtiain is far better equipped to face a financial crisis to-day than she was seven years ago.”