Evening star., 1939-04-03

oSPoSAAAS~A'
I have no intention, no desire
to treat the great German people
otherwise than as I would have our
own people treated. l was looking
forward with strong hopes to the
result of those trade discussions
which had already begun in Ger
many, which might have benefited
both our countries and many other
countries besides, but confidence has
been shaken and is not easily re-
paired.
Entering Specific Engagement.
We were obliged to consider
afresh. Not SO long ago I declared
my view that this country ought not
to be asked to enter into indefinite,
unspecified commitments operating
under conditions which could not
be foreseen. l still hold that view.
But to do what we are doing is to
enter into a specific engagement di-
rected to certain eVentualty,
namely an attempt-if such an at
tempt should be made-to dominate
the world by force. Mr.. Greenwood
rightly said that the matter could
not end where it stands today.
If this policy were the policy OF
the German government it is quite
clear that Poland would not be the
only country that would be endan.
gered and the policy which has led
us to give this assurance to Poland
could not be satisfied or carried out
if we were to confine ourselves 10
a single case These recent nap
penings have. rightly or wrongly,
made every state which lies adJa-
cent to Germany unhappy. anxious
and uncertain about Germanys fu-
ture intention.
If that is all a misunderstanding
if the. German government nave
never had any such thought, so
much the better. In that case. any
agreement which may be made to
safeguard the independence OF
these countries would never be
called upon to come into operation
and Europe may then gradually
simmer down into state OF quiet
ude when their existence might
even be forgotten.
But let me emphasize again that
whatever the outcome OF the de-
cisions which are now taking place
between his Majesty's government
and other countries, they contain
no threat to Germany so long as
Germany will be good neighbor.
Not Aggressive Encirclement.
I was glad to hear what Mr..
Greenwood said about encirclement.
1t is fantastic to suggest that a
policy which is a policy of self-de-
fense can be described as encircle-
ment, if by that term is meant en-
circlement for the purpose Of ag-
gressive action.
I do not wish today to attempt
to specify what governments we
may now or in the near future find
it desirable to consult on the situa-
ton, but I would make an allusion
to the Soviet Union because I quite
appreciate that the Soviet Union is
always in the thoughts of members
opposite and mat they are still ::
little suspic; JUS as to whether So
called ideoiogical differences may
not be dividing us in what otherwise
it would be in the interests of both
to do.
l 90 not pretend for one moment
that theological differences do not
exist They remain unchanged but
as l said on Friday, our point is
that whatever may be those ideolog-
ical differences they do not really
count in a. question of this kind.
What we are concerned with is to
preserve our independence when !
say our independence, do not mean
this country only. mean the inde-
pendence of all states which may be
threatened by aggression in pursuit
of such a policy as 1 have described
We therefore welcome the CO.
operation of any country, whatever
may be its internal system of gov
ernment, not in aggression, but in
resistance to aggression. I believe
that this nation Is now united, not
only in approval of what we have
said, but in approval of the aim
and purpose which lie behind it.
Believes Empire Approves.
believe that the whole empire
shares In that approval. Members
of the British Empire beyond the
seas have hitherto watched our ef-
forts for peace with the fervent
hope they might be successful.
All of them have had growing
consciousness taht we cannot live
forever in an atmosphere of surprise
and alarm from which Europe has
suffered in recent months.
The common business of life can
not be carried on in a state of un-
certainty. AS far as it has been
possible for His Majesty's govern.
ment to help to restore confidence by
plain words we have done our part,
and in doing so am certain we
have expressed the will Of this
people.
I trust that our action, begun but
not concluded, will prove to be a
turning point. not toward war which
wins nothing. cures nothing and
ends nothing, but toward some more
wholesome era when reason will
take the place of force and when
threats will make way for cool and
Well-marshalled argument.