![]() ![]() ![]() There never can be any absolute certainty that there will be a fight if one side is determined that it will give way completely. And I will say this, that I believe the Czechs, left to themselves and told they were going to get no help from the Western Powers, would have been able to make better terms than they have got after all this tremendous perturbation they could hardly have had worse. The terms which the Prime Minister brought back with him could easily have been agreed, I believe, through the ordinary diplomatic channels at any time during the summer. Nevertheless, I am not quite clear why there was so much danger of Great Britain or France being involved in a war with Germany at this juncture if, in fact, they were ready all along to sacrifice Czechoslovakia. Never has there been such instance and undaunted determination to maintain and secure peace. No one has been a more resolute and uncompromising struggler for peace than the Prime Minister. Now I come to the point, which was mentioned to me just now from some quarters of the House, about the saving of peace. and the rest in promises of goodwill for the future. Finally, the dictator consented to take £1 17s. When it was given, £2 were demanded at the pistol’s point. They can be very simply epitomised, if the House will permit me to vary the metaphor. We really must not waste time after all this long Debate upon the difference between the positions reached at Berchtesgaden, at Godesberg and at Munich. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said it was the first time Herr Hitler had been made to retract – I think that was the word – in any degree. Edinburgh Scotland, 5-7 October 2023 More ![]() Join us for the 40th International Churchill Conference. Friend the Prime Minister has been able to secure by all his immense exertions, by all the great efforts and mobilisation which took place in this country, and by all the anguish and strain through which we have passed in this country, the utmost he has been able to gain for Czechoslovakia in the matters which were in dispute has been that the German dictator, instead of snatching the victuals from the table, has been content to have them served to him course by course. I will begin by saying what everybody would like to ignore or forget but which must nevertheless be stated, namely, that we have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat, and that France has suffered even more than we have. I will, therefore, begin by saying the most unpopular and most unwelcome thing. Having thus fortified myself by the example of others, I will proceed to emulate them. If that be so, such qualities and elevation of mind should make it possible for the most severe expressions of honest opinion to be interchanged in this House without rupturing personal relations, and for all points of view to receive the fullest possible expression. Law), to whose compulsive speech the House listened on Monday, was quite right in reminding us that the Prime Minister has himself throughout his conduct of these matters shown a robust indifference to cheers or boos and to the alternations of criticism or applause. Friend the Member for South-West Hull (Mr. He showed that firmness of character which is utterly unmoved by currents of opinion, however swift and violent they may be. We had a shining example of firmness of character from the late First Lord of the Admiralty two days ago. We have always, over a great many years, had very pleasant relations, and I have deeply understood from personal experiences of my own in a similar crisis the stress and strain he has had to bear but I am sure it is much better to say exactly what we think about public affairs, and this is certainly not the time when it is worth anyone’s while to court political popularity. Nevelle Chamberlain returns from MunichIf I do not begin this afternoon by paying the usual, and indeed almost invariable, tributes to the Prime Minister for his handling of this crisis, it is certainly not from any lack of personal regard. ![]()
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