"Yet I repeat once more, our opposition is not to change, for in a changing world there must be adjustments from time to time. But what we are resolved to oppose is the use of force to bring about changes which should be determined by discussion and by ce-operation, and I trust that, in spite of the dangerous possibilities which are only ioo apparent, people who in all countries cry for peace may yet find ihe patience and the will to adhere to it."
Mr, Chamberlain described the last three and a half years as amongst the most anxious Britain had passed through since the Great War.
Referring to the general election, he declared that the date must to some extent be governed by the state of the international situation. He refused to be more precise than say that the general election would be forthcoming some time between now and the autumn of next year, Sometimes, the Prime Minister proceeded, we are described as one of the haves' as opposed to the have not' countries. Tt was, of course, {rue that the British flag flew over a large portion of the earth's surface, yet no historian who took a full and impartial account of the fact would say that Britain treated her colonial possessions as a field to be exploited and plundered in the interests of the mother country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.