Evening star., 1939-04-03
Text of Chamberlain Speech
Describes Aid Pledge as Cover Note
Issued Before Full Insurance Policy
(Story on Page Al.

to a misunderstanding of the mean
ing of the declaration. confess that
I was myself surprised that there
could be any misunderstanding of
that statement. l thought 1t was
clear and plain to all who run or
read.
OF course, declaration of that
Importance is not concerned with
some minor little frontier incidents.
1t is concerned with the big things
that may lie behind even frontier
incident and the independence of
the state of Poland if it should be
threatened, and if it were threatened
1 have no doubt that the Polish
people would resist any attempt
upon it.
Allies to Unite in Aid.
Then the declaration I made
means that France and Britain
would Immediately come to her as
sistance.
Mr.. Greenwood quoted a passage
from speech of mine which I
made very recently but perhaps I
may be permitted to recall to the
House that as long ago as last Sep
tember I, myself, gave warning of
the possibility of such departure
as we are now contemplating.
On that Tuesday-the 9th I
think it was of September-at a
moment when it hardly seemed
possible to cherish any longer the
hope that peace might be preserved,
it was my duty to broadcast mes
sage and would like if I may to
recall to the House one or two SEN
tences which I spoke then.
I am myself, 1 said a man of
peace to the depth of my soul.
Armed conflict between nations is a
nightmare to me but if were con-
vinced that any nation had made
up its mind to dominate the world
by fear of its force I should feel
that it must be resisted Under
such domination. life for people
who believed in liberty would not be
worth living.
At that time I did not feel that
the events that were taking place
in connection with CZecho-S -Slovakia
necessarily involved such an as
sumption as that. My opinion at
that time was, as it is now, that war
as it is waged in these days is such
a frightful thing that I could not
ask the country to accept new COM
mitmentS which involved us in war
unless some really vital principle.
like that which have just described
were to be at stake.
Cites Roosevelt Speech.
A little later, at the end of the
year, members will recall that the
President of the United States in a
New Year message dWelt upon the
same talk and at the end of that
month, jalluding to that New Year
message, said that a challenge
OF that kind, a demand to dominate
one by one the other nations.
might give us the only challenge
that could endanger the peace of
the world, and if it were to be made.
I felt, like President Roosevelt, that
1t must be resisted
There were many at that time
there were some in September-wno
believed that the first steps had
been taken toward making that chal-
lenge. At that time, it was pos
slole to quote to those who held
that view the assurance that had
been given to me, and not to me
only, but to the world, that the
German government had no wish
to dominate other races, but that all
they wanted was to assimiliate Ger
mans living in adjacent territories
within their own country.
We were told that when that was
done it would be the end and that
there were to be no further terri
torlal ambitions. Those assurances
have now been thrown to the winds
absolutely. That has completely de-
stroyed confidence and has forced
the British government to make
this great departure, of which gave
the first intimation last week.
We are now told that there are
other reasons for recent events in
Observation-Disclosures associa-
tionS, the fear of attack. They NAV
all be excellent reasons, but they do
not accord with the assurances that
were given before. It was inevitable
they should raise doubts as to
whether other reasons might not be
found for further expansion. I am
not asserting that today this chal-
lenge has been made.
Events Have Penetrated Far.
No official statement that know
OF has even formulated such an
ambition, although there has been
plenty of unofficial talk. But the
effect of these recent events has
penetrated far beyond the limits
Of the countries concerned, probably
far further than was anticipated by
those who brought them about.
1t Is no exaggeration to say that
public opinion throughout the whole
world has been profoundly shocked
and alarmed. This country has been
united from end to end in the con-
viction that we must now make our
position clear and unmistakeable
whatever may be the result
No one can regret more than I do,
the necessity to have to speak such
words as these. I am no more