VARIED VIEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20718, 31 January 1939, Page 7

VARIED VIEWS

*s MR CHAMBERLAIN’B BPEECH PRESS COMMENT United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright' LONDON, Jan. 30 The majority of the English newspapers received enthusiastically Mr Chamberlain's statement regarding the big increase in British armaments and the democracies' intention to resist force. “Mr Chamberlain might have been considerably less modest,” says the Times, referring in a leading article to the Prime Minister's speech. ‘‘He has discharged Britain’s share of the general obligations in the pursuit of peace and he had every right to remind the other signatories to the Munich agreements of the necessity for their contribution.” The News Chronicle, in a leading article, says: “The masterpiece of ingenuity in the speech was the fact that Mr Chamberlain spoke for an hour without mentioning Spain. There was not a word of warning* to the dictators or of enlightenment for the British people.’’ The paper adds that a warmer tone and a firmer declaration of AngloFrench solidarity would have been welcome and useful to both countries. Other commentators see little hope of Mr Chamberlain’s speech greatly affecting the international situation insofar as it may calm extreme nervousness. But, it is pointed out, the coming crisis is not like that of September, because British and French interests now are directly threatened. Too Tender to Dictators There is some criticism of Mr Chamberlain's continued anxiety not to hurt the feelings of the dictators. Senor G-ayda, in II Giornale d’ltalia, says the speech was clear and honest, slates a message from Rome. Mr Chamberlain's goodwill is readily recognisable. Italy has nothing to ask England except an understanding of her vital problems, which do not affect England herself, and nothing ought to divide the two countries provided that England keeps at a distance mischievous internal forces and pressure from other Powers opposing Italian and German rights. A message from Berlin says comment there is restrained. Mr Chamberlain's pursuit of his own foreign policy, in spite of opposition, is welcomed. All German newspapers emphasise that peace must be based on rignt and justice among equal nations. The newspapers publish brief summaries of the speech.