Evening star., 1939-10-12
Text of Chamberlain War Stotemer
Prime Minister Cites Broken Hitler Promises
In Post Years as Bor to Any Unsecured Peace

tory. but rather looking beyond 1t
to the laying of a foundation of
q better international system
which will mean that war is not
to be the inevitable lot of every
succeeding generation.
Believes All Peoples
Now Long for Peace.
1 am certain that all the peo-
piles of Europe, including the peo-
pie of Germany, long for peace
a peace which will enable them
to live their lives without fear
and to devote their energies and
their gifts to the development of
their culture. the pursuit of their
ideals and the improvement of
their material prosperity. The
peace which we are determined
to secure, however. must be a real
and settled peace, not an un-
easy truce interrupted by con-
slant alarms and repeated
threats.
What stands in the way of such
q peace? It is the German gov
ernment, and the German gov
ernment alone, for it is they who
by repeated acts Of aggression
have robbed all Europe of tran
quillity and implanted in the
hearts of all their neighbors an
ever-present sense of insecurity
and fear.
am glad to think that there is
complete agreement between the
views of his majestys government
and those Of the French govern
ment. The honorable members
will have read the speech which
was broadcast by M. Daladier last
Tuesday.
will Continue Fight
For Permanent Security.
I'VE have" he said, taken up
arms against aggression; we shall
not lay them down until we have
sure guarantees of security Sc
curity which cannot be called in
question every six months"
Advantage has also been taken
Of the presence of the Polish for
eign minister-whom we have
been glad to welcome to this
country-to consult with the
Polish government, and am
happy to say that we have found
entire identity of view to exist
between us.
I would sum up the attitude of
his majesty's government as fol-
lows:
Herr Hitler rejected all sug-
gestions for peace until he had
overwhelmed, Poland, as he had
previously overthrown Czecho-
Slovakia. Peace conditions can
not be acceptable which begin by
condoning aggression.
The proposals in the German
Chancellor's speech are vague
and uncertain and contain no
suggestion for righting the
wrongs done to Czecho-Slovakia
ana 10 roland.
Even if Herr Hitler's proposals
were more closely defined and
contained suggestions to right
these wrongs. it would still be
necessary to ask by what prac-
tical means the German govern
ment intend to convince the
world that aggression will cease
and that pledges will be kept.
Past experience has shown that
no reliance can be placed upon
the promises of the present Ger
man government. Accordingly,
acts-not words alone-must be
forthcoming before we, the Brit
ish peoples, and France, our GAL
liant and trusted ally, would be
justified in ceasing to wage war
to the utmost of our strength.
Confidence Must Come
Before Real Peace.
Only when world confidence is
restored will it be possible to find
as we would wish to do with
the aid of all who show good
will-solutions of those questions
which disturb the world, which
stand in the way of disarma-
ment, retard the restoration of
trade and prevent the improve
ment of the well-being of the
peoples.
There is thus a primary condi-
ton to be satisfied. Only the
German government can fulfill
1t. If they will not, there can as
yet be no new or better world
order of the kind for which all
nations yearn.
The issue is, therefore, plain.
Either the German government
must give convincing proof of
the sincerity of their desire for
peace by definite acts and by the
provision of effective guarantees
of their intention to fulfill their
undertakings, or we must perse-
we're in our duty to the end. It
is for Germany to make her