Evening star., 1940-02-24
Aim Is toFree
Oppressed, Says
Chamberlain
independence for
Poles and Czechs
Stated as Goal
BY the Associated Press.

| os tHe ASSoCldleu FreSS.
BIRMINGHAM, England, Feb. "a.
Prime Minister Chamberlain to-
day lauded Finland's heroic strug-
gle" against what he called "a
gigantic and unwieldy adversary
the Russian apprentice who has
nothing to learn from the master
in brutality"
Speaking in his home city in the
last of a series of pep talks" by
British cabinet members, Mr..
Chamberlain declared IF Germany:
THE German tyrants. not con-
tent with conquest, seek the ex-
termination of people who resist
their aggression"
Neutrals, he said, are fearful to
maintain their neutrality before
the German bully"
His native city gave Mr.. Cham
berlain an ovation. Cheers repeat
edly punctuated his speech.
At one point from the back Of the
hall came the cry, I'VE want Mosley
for peace" (Sir Oswald Mosley,
leader of British Fascists0 The Prime
Minister went right on.
Neutrality Breach Held Technical
He made a bristling reference to
| the Altmark case, in which a Brit
ish warship on February Is freed
captive merchant seamen from a
German ship in Norwegian waters.
Germany, said the prime minister,
has sunk neutral ships without
warning and helpless crews have
drowned.
However, he said. "a neutral must
not complain if Britain commits
a mere technical breach of neu-
trality, taking no neutral life and
touching no neutral property" in
rescuing 300 men illegally made
prisoners"
The Nazis, he commented, "ex-
haust themselves in hysterical ex-
clamations of indignation"
Independence OF the Poles and
Czechs and proof that Germany
has once and for all abandoned the
thesis that might is right" were
summed up as basic war aims of the
allies today by Prime Minister
Chamberlain.
Mr.. Chamberlain said the allies
were fighting Ito free ourselves from
the barbarities of the Middle Ages
and establish an order more in keep
ing with the fundamental principles
OF Christianity"
He gave Germany's war aims, in
phrases which he attributed to Ger
man Propaganda Minister DR.. Paul
Joseph Goebbels and Foreign Min
lister Joachim Won Ribbentrop as
obstruction of this nation and DOM
ination Of the world"
The next move, he said, Is up to
Germany.
We have no reason to fear the
result of this struggle. however
long it may last" the Prime Min
lister declared.
Reiterates Concrete Terms"
Reiterating the concrete terms" of
British war aims, Mr.. Chamberlain
listed them as follows:
First. independence of the Poles
and Czechs must be secured: sec
ondly, We must have some tangible
evidence that will satisfy us that
any pledges or assurances given
will be fulfilled"
He said that under the present
German government there can be
no security for the future. Its
rulers have repeatedly shown that
they cannot be trusted to keep their
word either to foreign governments
or to their own people.
"It is therefore for Germany to
take the next step and to show us
that she has once and for all aban-
doned the thesis that might is
right"
France and Britain, Mr.. Cham
berlain declared, "are determined
to insure security by continuance
of the complete identity of purpose
and policy which now unites us and
which after tine war will form the
foundation on which international
relations between our two countries
are built."
Disarmament Held Necessary.
However, he said, France and
Britain cannot and would not wish
alone to settle the new Europe.
Others must come in and help us
above all to bring about disarma-
ment, which is the essential feature
of lasting peace"
Kidding nations of their fear of
abandoning the power of defense"
said the Prime Minister, can only
be a gradual process; it will prob
ably take many years to achieve it,
but once we have re-established
confidence among nations in each
others good faith, we can make a
beginning, and each step forward
will make easier the step that fol-
lows"
He held out the promise of eco
nomic aid for Germany after the
war, saying. "Re-establishment of
confidence in Germany herself can
do more than any other nation,
since she herself has done most to
destroy it, and when she is ready to
give reliable proofs of her good will,
she will not find others lacking in
the will to help her overcome the
economic difficulties that will ac-
company a transition from war to
peace.
I'm that which I have put for
(see CHAMBERLAIN, Page A-6)