Nothing could possibly have been more impressive than the statement. made by Mr. Neville Chamberlain in the, House of Commons on Tuesday and the manner it which it was received by the members. In an unimpassioned review of the situation the Prime Minister outlined what was being done, the success which had already attended British endeavours with regard to the protection of shipping and the suppression of the submarine menace, and the transport of a large British army to France without sustaining any casualties en route. It speaks volumes for the efficiency of the British ganization that such a feat could be per-ionned despite the activities of the enemy. The whole survey was a businesslike speech accepting the prospects of a prolonged war, and showing what arrangements had been made to prosecute it to a successful conclusion. Mi. Lloyd George struck a wrong note. He is not usually maladroit in the House of Commons, and there must be some speculation as to what lies behind his ill-timed statement. His suggestion that the government might come to a hurried conclusion over any peace overtures which Herr Hitler may make, ang his further remark that it was clear that something would be offered going far beyond Poland, and that there were certain questions which would have to be considered, were preludes to a request that when the Prime Minister received a proposal—one which was less suspect than anything announced up to the present,—the House should be consulted in secret session. This created a sensation which in all probability the aged statesman himself was far from desiring. The assurance given by the Prime Minister that if any such proposal were put forward the Government would not be in a hurry to answer it, is sufficient indication that any proposal which may be put forward will be earnestly considered, and that the House would have ample opportunity of considering any proposals which may be put forward. A Parliament fully apprised of what is happening and wholeheartedly behind ihe policies of the Cabinet would be, in such times as these, a veritable tower of strength, and it is clear that Mr. Chamberlain deserves that support.
With Mr. Attlee's remark that while they fust carefully examine every kind of peace offer, always remembering that the Government will have to deal with' the realities, there will be nothing but agreement. It would be the height of recklessness to decide beforehand that no offer of peace could possibly be expected, for the only question which has td be decided is as to what price Herr Hitler is prepared to pay for a peace which he apparently now so strongly desires. This is no longer a case in which the Allies can accept a peace which is in effect no peace at all but merely a cessation of hostilities to await another time, and that point is emphasized by the Prime Minister when he said that no mere assurances from the present German Government could be acceptable, for they have proved too often in the past that their undertakings are worthless when it suits them that they should be broken. If that means anything at all it is a declaration reaffirming what has already been said before that one of the essentials to any immediate settlement is that Herr Hitler, his accomplices, and his system must go. The Allies are determined that the rule of violence must cease, and that the words of Governments once pledged must henceforth be kept. International friendship cannot be based on such worthless a currency as the scraps of paper which have figured too largely in contemporaneous German history. Sovereignty cannot be permitted to retain qualities which permits any nation to be a law unto itself, providing it feels strong enough to test the strength of others, for even sovereignty,—taat is real scvereignty,—is subject to the laws of common decency, such laws as those for which Great Britain and France and indeed most of the nations of the world stand. The issue at stake is a great one. How it is decided will either restore orderly processes to the world or condemn it to endless struggle, and appalling chacs.
There is only one set of criteria by which any proposal emanating from Herr Hitler can be judged. If the principles of righted onsness, justice, humanity can be sat; süed by any suggestion he puts forward then, but only if there can be effective guarantees that the German Government will abide by its word, can there be any possibility of peace. It is doubtful whether anything that Herr Hitler can offer could ever satisfy the test which those principles envisage, and the more the subject is studied the more it becomes apparent that the only future safeguard of Europe is that he, and those with him shall be deprived of any further power for evil.
There is at present current a suggestion that Moscow, Rome and Berlin between them may be able to devise an offer which would confer seeming success upon the Allies while securing to M. Stalin and Herr Hitler the spoils of their outrageous conduct. That looks very much like an attempt to cozen children with comfits, and, in the face of such realists as the French, and such disillusionment as that which the British Government has endured, is doomed to failure. What possible success can the Allies have obtained so long as a dismembered Poland lies at the feet of Russia and Germany, what achievements for peace can have been secured so long as small, proud nations remain beaten down into the dust as Czechoslovakia, what certainty for the future can exist while men such as those which comprise the German Government are allowed to give reign to their inordinate ambitions atthe expense of their neighbours? The account is a long and tragic one which Herr Hitler wil have to pay for peace, for a peace on any other basis would Be {or the Allies one of bitter dishonour, and Der Fuehrer, charm he never so wisely, cannot arm away that very patent and uncomfortable fact. Hence the steadfast display of determination by British and French leaders. They are facing the realities of a tragic situation, and their concentration is not likely to be diverted by any face-saving bauble, such as, it is reported, is being contemplated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.