Evening star., 1939-10-12

interest Is to be does not clearly
emerge from his speech, but it
is evident that he regards it as
q matter for the consideration Of
Germany alone, to be settled
solely in accordance with German
interests.
Cannot Negotiate
On Conquest Basis.
The final shaping of this terri
tory and the question of the res
toration of a Polish state are, in
Herr Hitler's view, problems
which cannot be settled by war
in the west but exclusively by
Russia on the one side and Ger
many on the other.
We must take it, then, that the
proposals which the German
chancellor puts forward for the
establishment of what he calls
the certainty of European secu-
rity" are to be based on recogni-
ton of his conquests and his
right to do what he pleases with
the conquered.
1t would be impossible for
Great Britain to accept any such
basis without forfeiting her honor
and abandoning her claim that
international disputes should be
settled by discussion and not by
force.
The passages in the speech de-
signed to give fresh assurances to
Herr Hitler's neighbors I pass
over since they will know what
value should be attached to them
by reference to the similar assur-
ances he has given in the past.
Other Broken Pledges
Cannot Be Overlooked.
1t would be easy to quote SEN
tences from his speeches in 1895.
1886 and 1888 stating in the most
definite terms his determination
not to annex Austria or conclude
an anschluss with her, not to fall
upon Czecho- o-Slovakia and not
to make any further territorial
claims in Europe after the Su-
detenland question had been set
tied in September, 1898.
Nor can we pass over Herr Hit
ler's radical departure from the
long-professed principles of his
policy and creed, as instanced by
the inclusion in the German
Reich of many millions of Poles
and Czechs despite his repeated
professions to the contrary and
by the pact with the Soviet
Union, concluded after his re-
peated and violent denunciation
of Bolshevism.
Unsupported Word
Now Held Valueless.
This repeated disregard of his
word and these sudden reversals
Of policy bring me to the funda-
mental difficulty in dealing with
the wider proposals in the Ger
man chancellors speech. The
plain truth is that, after our
past experience, it is no longer
possible to rely upon the unsup-
ported word of the present Ger
man government.
1t is no part of our policy to
exclude from her rightful place
in Europe a Germany which will
live in amity and confidence with
other nations. On the contrary,
we believe that no effective rem
edy can be found for the worlds
ills that does not take account
Of the just claims and needs of
all countries, and whenever the
time may come to draw the lines
Of a new peace settlement, his
majesty's government would feel
that the future would hold little
hope unless such a settlement
could be reached through the
method of negotiation and agree
ment.
Entered War Only
To Defend Freedom.
It was not, therefore, with any
vindictive purpose that we en-
barked on war, but simply in
defense of freedom. It is not
alone the freedom of the small
nations that is at stake; there
is also in jeopardy the peaceful
existence Of Great Britain, the
dominions, India, the rest of the
British Empire, France and in
deed of all freedom loving coun-
tries. Whatever may be the is
sue of the present struggle, and
In whatever way it may be
brought to a conclusion, the
world will not be the same world
that we have known before.
Looking to the future, we can
see that deep changes will in
evitably leave their mark on
every field of mems thought and
action, and If humanity is to
guide Alright the new forces that
will be in operation, all nations
will have their part to play.
His majesty's government know
all too well that in modern war
between great powers, victor and
vanquished must alike suffer
cruel loss. But surrender, to
wrongdoing would spell the ex-
tinction of all hope and the an
Inhalation. of all those values Of
life which have through centu-
ries been at once the mark and
the inspiration Of human prog
reSS.
We seek no material advantage
for ourselves; we desire nothing
from the German people which
should offend their self-respect.
We ara not aiming only at VIC