London, July 1.
British opinion has taken a definite stend against aggression and every party in the Parliament is ready to support the Government in a policy of resistance—such is the implication derived from speeches delivered by various political leaders yesterday.
The Majority's point of view was voiced by Sir John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech delivered at the University of Sheffield. Commenting on the recent statement by Lord Halifax, Sir John said: "Lord Halifax, in his declaration, spoke not only for the British Government but also for the British people and for a large part of the world outside the British Empire. His declaration was not Provocative, but firm and clear.
"There is no doubt today where Great Britain stands. Our purpose has never been more clearly understood: to serve the cause of peace. At the same time, there is no country more determined to accept to endure, if need be, sacrifices that might have to be undertaken for us io recreate a basis upon which world Peace may rest."
The extreme leftist point of view was expressed by Sir Stafford Cripps, in a speech at Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire), Leuchars, Scotland.
Britain and the Empire, he declared, were associated with friends who spoke the same language across the Atlantic, and represented a tremendous body of opinion. Allied to the Empire and to the United States, he continued, were a whole host of smaller countries, wanting only to be left alone, "We have rearmed," he declared, "not so much to defend ourselves, but because small countries have found that smooth words lead to violation and absorption in a regime they detest."
Whoever contemplated attacking the United Kingdom, he emphatically declared, had "signed their own death warrant."
Referring to the description of the "peace bloc" as "encirclement," Mr. Burgin said he wanted to make it plain to every man and woman in Germany that Great Britain was not their enemy, but that no lunatic country need think that the British Empire was an orchard ripe for the plucking.
"We have the greatest Navy it the world," Mr, Burgin stated in conclusion, "We have an Air Force which is expanding beyond all knowledge, and a highly-trained, mechanized army equipped with the most up-to-date weapons. Beyond everything, our greatest cause for satisfaction is the magnificent spirit of the people, who are not likely to be cowed, and to take kindly to threats.
"We are resolute and determined to seek peace, but not to go beyond certain bounds, whatever dictation there may be from outside."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.