Evening star., 1939-03-18
Text of Chamberlain Address
Prime Minister Defends Escape From
War, Cites HitIer's Promises

is sometimes called European ap-
peaSement although I don't think
myself that that is a very happy
term or one which accurately de-
scribes its purpose.
If that policy were to succeed 1t
was essential that no power should
seek to obtain general domination
OF Europe; but that each one should
be contented to obtain reasonable
facilities for developing its own re-
sources, securing its own share of
international trade and improving
the conditions OF its own people.
And I felt that although that
might well mean clash of inter-
ests between different states, never
theless by the exercise of mutual
goodwill and an understanding of
what were the limits of the desires
of others, it should be possible to
resolve all differences by discus
sion and without armed conflict.
I had hoped in going to Munich
to find out by personal contact
what was in Herr Hitler's mind and
whether it was likely that he would
be willing to cooperate in a prog
ram of that kind.
Well, the atmosphere in which
our discussions were conducted was
not a very favorable one because
we were In the midst Of an acute
crisis.
But nevertheless, in the interval
between more official conversations
I had some opportunity of talking
with him and Of hearing his views
and I thought the results not alto
gether unsatisfactory.
When I came back after my Sec
ond visit I told the House of Com
mons of the conversation I had had
with Herr Hitler. of which I said
that speaking with great ernestness,
he repeated what he had already
said at Berchtesgaden-namely, that
this was the last of his territorial
ambitions in Europe and that he
had no wish to include in the Reich
people of other races than Germans.
Confirmed View in Speech.
Herr Hitler himself confirmed this
account of the conversation in a
speech which he made at the Sports
palast in Berlin, when he said {:
This is the last territorial claim
which I have to make in Europe"
And q little later in the same
speech he said: II have assured
Mr.. Chamberlain and I emphasize
it now that when this problem is
solved, Germany has no more terri
torial problems in Europe" And he
added: Il shall not be interested in
the Czech state any more and I car
guarantee it, We don't want any
Czechs any more"
| And then, in the Munich agree
ment, which bears Herr Hitler's sig
nature. there is this clause: THE
final determination of the frontier
will be carried out by an interna-
| tional ommission"-the final de-
termination. And lastly, in that
declaration which he and I signed
together at Munich We declared that
any other question which might con-
Germ our two countries should be
dealt with by a method of consuIta-
| ton.
Well, in view of those repeated
assurances given voluntarily to me
considered myself justified In
founding the hope upon them that
once this Czecho- -Slovakian problem
was settled, as it seemed at Munich
it would be possible, to carry fur.
ther that policy of appeasepent
which I had described.
But Notwithstanding, at the same
time I was not prepared to relax
precautions until I was satisfied that
policy had been established and had
been accepted by others, and there
fore after Munich our defense
program was actually accelerated
and it was expanded SO as to remedy
certain weaknesses which had be.
come apparent during the crisis.
am convinced that after Munich
the great majority of the British
people shared my hope and ardent
ly desired that that policy should
be carried further, but today I shar'
their disappointment, their indig.
nation. that those hopes have beer
so wantonly shattered.
Takes Law in Own Hands.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, how
can these events which happened
this week be reconciled with those
assurances which I have read ou.
to you? Surely as a joint signatory
to the Munich agreement I was
entitled, If Herr Hitler thought ii
ought to be done, to have the con-
sultation which Is provided for in
the Munich declaration. Instead OF
that he has taken the law into his
own hands.
Before even the Czech President
was received and was confronted
with demands which he had no pow
er to resist, the German troops were
on the move, and within few hours
they were in the Czechs capital.
According to proclamation which
was read out in Prague today, Bo-
hemia and Moravia have been an
nexed to the German Reich. Nov
German inhabitants, which include
Of course, Czechs, are placed under
German protectorate.
They are to be subject to the polit-
ical, military and economic needs
of the Reich. They are called self.
governing states, but the Reich is tc
take charge of their foreign policy
their customs and their excise, theil
bank reserves and the equipment o.
disarmed Czech forces. And per-
haps most sinister of all, we hear
again Of the appearance of the
Gestapo, the secret police, followed
by the usual tale of wholesale ar
rests of prominent individuals with
consequences with which we are all
familiar.
Every man and woman in this
country who remembers the fate OF
the Jews and the political prisoners
in Austria must be Allied today with
distress and foreboding. Who car
l