Evening star., 1939-03-18

South Carolina's priority, a
resolution was rushed through.
not fomented from without? And
can anybody outside Germany take
seriously the idea that they could
be a danger to that great country,
that they could provide any justi-
fication for what has happened?
Doesn't the question inevitably
remain in our minds, If 1t Is so
easy to discover good reasons for
ignoring assurances so solemnly and
so repeatedly given, what reliance
can be placed upon any other as
surances that come from the same
source?
There is another set of questions
which almost inevitably must occur
to our minds and to the minds of
others, perhaps even in Germany
herself. Germany under her present
regime has sprung series of un-
pleasant surprises upon the world:
The Rhineland, the Austrian an
schluSs the severance of Sudeten-
land-all these things shocked and
afronted public opinion through
out the world.
Yet, however much we might take
exception to the methods which were
adopted in each of those cases, there
is something to be said, whether on
account of racial affinity or of just
claims too long resisted-there is
cnyvonfhir,n fn hn cold fAr 4hn
sity Of change in the existing situa-
ton.
But the events which have taken
place this week in complete dis
regard of the principles laid down
by the German government itself
seem to fall into different category
and they must cause us all to be
asking ourselves: Is this the end of
an old adventure or Is 1t the be-
ginning of new?
Will Others Follow?
Is this the last attack upon a small
state or is it to be followed by 9TH
ers? Is this in fact step in the
direction of an attempt to dominate
the world by force? Ladies and
gentlemen, those are grave and Sc
rious questions.
I am not going to answer them
tonight but I am sure they will re-
quire grave and serious considera-
ton, not only of Germany's neigh
bors but of others perhaps even be-
yond the confines of Europe.
Already there are indications that
the process has begun and it is OBJ
vious that it is likely now to be
speeded up.
We ourselves will naturally turn
first to our partners in the British
Commonwealth of Nations and to
France to whom we are so closely
bound and have no doubt that 9TH
ers, too, knowing that We are not
disinterested in what goes on in
Southeastern Europe, will wish to
have our counsel and advice.
In our country we must all review
the position with that sense Of re-
sponsibility which its gravity de-
mands. Nothing must be excluded
from that review which bears upon
the national safety. Every aspect
Of our national life must be looked
at again from that angle
The government as always must
bear the main responsibility, but
know that every individual will wish
to review their own position, too.
and to consider again If they have
done all they can to offer their
service to the state.
Will Never Surrender Liberty.
do not believe there is any one
who will question my sincerity when
I say there is hardly anything
wouldn't sacrifice for peace. But
there is one thing that I must ex-
Cept and that is the liberty that
we have enjoyed for hundreds of
years and which we will never sur
render.
That I, of all men, should feel
called upon to make such a declara-
tion-that is the measure of the ex-
tent to which these events have
shattered the confidence which was
just beginning to show its head and
which, if it had been allowed to
grow, might have made this year
memorable for the return of all Eu-
rope to sanity and stability.
1t was only six weeks ago that
was speaking in this city and that
I alluded to rumors and suspicious
which I said ought to be swept
away. pointed out that any de.
mand to dominate the world by
force was one which democracies
must resist and I added that I
couldn't believe such a challenge was
intended, because no government
with the interests of it's own people
at heart could expose them for such
a claim to horrors of world war.
And indeed, with the lessons Of
history for all to read, it seems in
credible that we should see such q
challenge, and feel bound to repeat
that while am not prepared to en-
gage this country by new and un-
specified commitments operating un-
der conditions which cannot now be
foreseen, yet no greater mistake
could be made than to suppose that
because it believes war to be a sense
less and cruel thing, this nation
has so lost it's fiber that It will not
take part to the utmost Of its power
in resisting such challenge If it
ever were made.
And for that declaration am
convinced that I have not merely
the support, sympathy, the conf
dence Of my fellow countrymen and
countrywomen, but shall have also
the approval of the whole British
Empire and of all the other nations
who value peace indeed, but who
value freedom even more.
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