Evening star., 1939-01-29
Text of Prime Minister Chamberlain Speech
Address Birmingham Calls for Peace, but Gives Notice
Of Btons Speeding Arms Industry
Nv the Associated Press.

-Follo,Ding is the tert OF Prime
Minister Neville Chdmberloin,s ad-
dress tonight to the Birmingham,
JeDelers' Association, as giuen out
OFFICIALLY:
Once more find myself in these
familiar surroundings, repeating the
practice of my father and brother
before me, and once more receiving
from the jewelers. Association well
come no less cordial than you al
ways gave to them.
I wish I could find words adequate
to express to you how deeply I
value your support and good will
and how much I am encouraged and
fortified in my tasks by the knowl-
edge that have the sympathy and
approval Of so many Of my fellow
citizens in the work I am trying to
do. For I need hardly tell you that
the burden which must be carried
today by the head Of the govern
ment, who must, in the last resort,
take the responsibility of decision
in every major problem, is as great
or greater than it has ever been
in our history and only young
fellow like myself. with a good con-
science and a cast-iron digestion,
can stand the strain for very long.
1t is a particular satisfaction to
me to reflect that my native city,
which has long played such an i'm
portant part in the industrial life of
the country, now has in these ,stren-
uous days acquired new impor-
tance by reason of the contribution
she is making to the defense pro-
grams. With her unrivaled sup
plies of skilled labor, her wealth Of
highly equipped technicians and
managers and her ample resources
of power, water and other necessary
services, Birmingham acts like
magnet to industrial enterprise and
suppose no town can show a
greater record in recent years OF
new factories and extensions of old
ones, very largely in connection with
the rearmament program.
Grim Necessity Now;
Production Change Hoped.
1t is, of course, not to be expected
that this activity in the production
of the weapons and equipment OF
war will remain a permanent fea-
ture of our life For the time being
1t is a grim necessity, but we trust
it Is only preliminary to return
to sanity in Europe, when we can
devote ourselves chiefly to the arts
of peace, and I am confident that
those who are responsible for the
direction of industry in Birmingham
are not losing sight of the impor-
tance to this country of our export
trade, which in the past has been to
so large an extent the source OF
our economic and financial strength.
In few weeks you shall see the
reopening of the Birmingham Sec
ton of the British industries fair
which this year is to receive the
much-prized honor of visit from
their majesties, the King and Queen.
It was great disappointment that
their majesties had to postpone the
visit they were to have paid to the
city last year and we are all the
more gratified on that account that
they should have given us this early
opportunity of showing our loyalty
and affection to our soverelgnS.
If it were not for one considera-
ton, I should be disposed to take
rosy view of the prospects OF busl-
ness this current year, for until
quite lately there were a number OF
features such as a rise in the price
of primary commodities and the
Improvement Of trading in the
United States, which seemed TO
show that the recession OF last year
had passed its peak.
But am bound to record that at
the present time there exists Ger
tain amount of political tension in
international affairs which may or
NAV not be we'll founded, but which
is undoubtedly holding back enter
prise. That shows how closely pol
itics are entwined with economies
and finance, and apart from any
other consideration it justifies the
efforts which the government are
continuously making to ease this
tension and bring about a better
understanding between the nations:
The proposer of this toast has SAID
something about the events OF last
September which eliminated IN the
Munich agreement. A great deal OF
criticism has been directed against
that agreement and against the &C
ton took in attempting by personal
contact to obtain a peaceful solu-
tion of problem which very nearly
involved the world in a catastrophe
of the first magnitude.
Critics Lack Responsibility
And Full knowledge.
The criticism has come from vari-
c,1s quarters which are perhaps only
unanimous in one respect, namely.
that they take less favorable view
of the actions of his majesty's pres
ent ministers than you have been
good enough to indicate. But there
is one feature common to all critics.
None of them has the responsibility
that lies upon me, and none OF them
has that full knowledge of all the
circumstances that is only open to
his majesty's government.
For myself, looking back, I see
nothing to regret nor any reason to
suppose that another course would
have been preferable. War today is
30 terrible in its effects on those
who take part in it, no matter what
the ultimate outcome may be, it
brings so much loss and suffering
even to those who stand aside and
watch the combat from the ring that
It ought never to be allowed to be-
gin unless every practicable and
honorable step has been taken to
prevent it.
That has been the view of this
government from the beginning, and
the Munich agreement, though it Is
the most important illustration Of its
practical working, was only an Incl
dent IN consistent, unwavering
policy of peace.
I 60 further and say that the