The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-31

of force for the method or negotia- ton.
 Poland To Be Helped Consultation is proceeding with other governments, Chamberlain continued. He then added his statement of Britain's course if Po- land is threatened during the con- Sultations.
 The prime minister's statement was an historic departure from Britain's traditional policy of con- lining her European commitments to the west. It was clear that Soviet Russia was among those being consulted. Before his statement, Chamberlain read it to Joseph P. Kennedy and Ivan Maisky, the United States and Soviet ambassadors.
 Arthur Greenwood, acting leader of the labor opposition, said Cham berlain's statement might prove in it's consequences to be as moment ous a statement as has been made in the house for quarter of cen- tury."
 Greenwood suggested that the statement might be regarded as the first step in development of po- Hey to deter or restrain aggression and urged the government speedily to try to extend the arrangement to other powers, especially the Soviet Union.
 Pledge Of Chamberlain
 The exact phrasing of Chamber lain'S pledge was:
 "In order to make perfectly clear the position of his majesty's gov- ernment in the meantime before these consultations are concluded, I now have to inform the house that during that period, in the event of any action which clearly threatened Polish independence and which the Polish government accordingly con- sidered 1t vital to resist with their national forces, his majestys gov- ernment would feel themselves bound at once to lend the Polish government all the support in their power"
 Chamberlain told Greenwood that the pledge to Poland is intended to cover the interim period" He add- ed that others, including the Soviet Union, are being consulted, saying:
 "Col. Beck's visit (Col. Josef Beck, Palish foreign miniSter) next week will afford an opportunity of dis cussing various measures that might be taken to accumulate the maxi mum amount of cooperation in any efforts that might be made to put an end to aggression and substitute more orderly methods of discussion"
 Greenwood asked Chamberlain to consider calling conference. Cham berlain said the government had not reached any decision on the matter, but would call a conference if it thought that the best way to deal with the problem.
 Commons adjourned for the week. end at 3:10 p. m.
 In preparation for the statement, the cabinet held an urgent meet ing which lasted nearly an hour.
 Statement in Brief
 The statement as drafted was brief, containing four points, as follows:
 I. An allusion to Chamberlain's statement in commons earlier in the morning concerning rumors which he will say should not be taken too seriously adding that the real sit- uation is not too desperate
 2. The British government be- lieves all differences between gov- ernments should be settled peace fully and such settlement is possible if there is good will on all sides.
 3. In order to increase security in Europe and prevent the spread of aggression, Britain has been con- sulting other nations.
 4. The British government will support Poland with all their pow CT" if Poland resists attack or men, ace to its vital interests.
 Chamberlain's decision. which was officially communicated to the Polish government yesterday, rep resents an historic departure from Britain's traditional policy fo limit ing her European commitments to the west.
 Foreign Secretary Lord Hs1ifax