London, Aug. 24.
emotional situation steadily deteriorated until today we found ourselves confronted with the imminent peril of ar New drastic steps are required by the gravity of the situa-dion," declared Mr. Neville Chamberlai the Prime Minister, in opening his momentous speech which met for its extraordinary before the House of Commons session today. Referring to the German-Polish dispute, Mr, Chamberlain declared that the reports spread by the Reich regarding the alleged ill-treatment of German ubjects in Poland "bear a strong resemblance to similar allegations made last year by the Germans against Czechoslovakia. Germany now in a condition of complete readiness for war.
"Declara ions made by Polish statesmen," he added," have always shown great ca im and self-restraint.
Poland was always ready and is ready now to discuss her differences with the Ger= man Government if she could be sure that these discussions could be curried on without threats of force or violence and with some confidence."
The Prime Minister, commenting on the German~ Soviet non-aggression pai said, make no attempt to conceal that the announcement came to the Government as a surprise of a very unpleasant character."
"For some time past there had been rumours of an impending change in relations between the German and Soviet Governments, but no. indica lon of the change had been conveyed either to us or 0 the French Government by the Soviet Government.
to say the least, highly disturbing to learn that while conversations Were proceeding on a basis of mutual trust, the Soviet Government was eeretly negotiating with Germany. for purposes which on the face of Ht, wore inconsistent with the object of their foreign policy as we under-slood i." (Cheers), "However," the, Prime Minister Continued, "t don't" propose to pass any "nal! Judument on esnes. thet, Think, would be tnmnture uni we silting with the Prench Government have" ad the "opportunity of con
fag to the meaning and consequences of this ayeeement"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.