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BRITAIN STAYS CALM:
Mr. aid Mrs. Neville
Chamberl~in
Walk in the Park -
Months of furious re-armament and growing tension come
to
a
head.
Russia and Germany sign a non-aggression
pact.
All over Europe, armies begin to
march. But Britain remains calm. In .the midst of the
cr:isis,
the .Prime Minister snatches a few minutes to walk
in
St. lames's Park with Mrs. Chamberl(#n.
Rumo~
have reached France and EngJand tIult
negotiations for a trade pact between Germany and
Russia are in progress.
On
August 19 the con–
clusion.of the trade pact is -announced. Germany
has
agreed
to grant credits to Russia for the
purchase of machinery. .Moreover, the Russian
communique hints that steps may be taken
s~ort1y
to
improv~
the political relations between
the two countries.
August 21, 1939.
The Nazis are to
sign
a non-aggression pact
with Soviet
Russia.
Like a bombshell comes the news that the Nazis
and the Russians have decided to get together
politically as well as commercially. Overnight
the whole basis of Nazi policy
has been
changed.
The Anti-Comintern Pact is jettisoned. Overnight,
the Peace Front has apparendy been deprived of
its most substantial bulwark. The German papers
make it clear that, according to Nazi calculations,
the
rest
of the Peace Front must automatically
dissolve. It is announced that Ribbentrop is
fiying
at once to Moscow
to
sign the pact.
The democracies cannot yet comprehend- the
extent of the disaster. Surely Russia
will
l~ve
itself a loophole. The world hopes there
will
be an
"escape clause" for the Soviet Union in the event
of Germany's aggression against a third State.
August 23, 1939• .
Von
Ribbentrop
flies
to
Moscow.
He signs the pact the same night.
n
August 24,
1939.~
into force immediately
after
it has
been
signed.
The
teruts
Qj
the pact are
announced.
There
Von Ribbentrop says: "The Fiihrer and Stalin
is
no "escape
c/ause."
have decided for friendship. The non-aggression
These _are the
terms :-
an.d consultation pact
has
established a
firm
and
(I)
The two
'contra~
powers undertake to
lfilshakeable foundation on which both States
will
refrain from any act of force, any aggressive act - build and develop."
and any attacks against each other or in conjunc-
Germany is jubilant. The neutrality of the
tion with any other powers.
_
SOVIet Union is established. The Soviet Union is
(2)
If
one of the contracting powers should
be-
detached from France and Britain for ten years
come the object of
warlike
action on the part of a
at the least. But Britain
remains
calm. Though
third power the other contracting power
will
in no
disappointed at the failure of the negotiations for
way support the third power.
the Russian alliance, France and Britain declare
(3)
The two Governments
will
in future
remain
their irrevocable determination to stand by .their
in consultation
with
one another in order to inform
pledge to Poland. This is something quite differ-
themselves about questions which touch their
ent to what Germany calcUlated. Britain re-
common interests.
.
doubles
her
preparations. She
calls
up her man
(4) Neither of the two contracting powers
will
power, keys up her civil defence. Parliament is
join any
~r
group of powers whiS;h directly or . summoned to pass legislation which
in
a few hours
indirectly is
directed
against one of the two.
will
put the life of Britain on a war basis.
(5)
In
case differences or confiict should arise
The nations are prepared. Britain desires only
between
the
two contracting powers on questions
peace. But,
if
Germany wants war, then she can
of any
kind,
the two partners
will
solve these dis-
have it.
putesorconfiictsexclusivelybyfriendlyexchangeof
-Mr.
Chamberlain in Parliament sums 'up British
views or,
if
neceSsary, by arbitration commissions.
policy: "The first basis is our determination to
(6)
The
Agreement is concluded for the duration
w
fSsiM
m~ods
of.force. The second basis is our
of ten years, with the stipulation that unless one
recogmti<Th.
Wf
't:h~
IWcfrl6
<fesfre·
t\)
Y,uHlue the
of the contracting partners gives notice to
termin-~'
work
.
were
ate
it one year before its expiration it
will
auto-
0
•
that
0
re the
matically be prolonged by five years.
0"
t
all
(7) The present agreement shall be ratified in the
MU
1
coUld
shortest possible time. The ratification documents
discuss problems . w
y causing the
are to be .exchanged in Berlin. .The Treaty comes
world so much anxiety."