PREMIER'S ARTICLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 166, 27 April 1935, Page 6

PREMIER'S ARTICLE.

AUTHORITY QUESTIONED.

POSSIBLE NEW POLICY

(United Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, Rpril 25

The "Chronicde" says that it is believed that Mr MacDonald's article in the "Newsletter" was written without consulting his Cabinet. An authoritative quarter asks why he went out of his way to rub salt into Germany's wounds. The "Chronicle," in a leading article, says that the nation has a right to know whether the statement was meant to carry the weight of a, Government pronouncement. If so, it should not have appeared in a party journal. The "Daily Telegraph," commenting on the article, says that the cause of peace is sometimes best served by absolute frankness. The Prime Minister's words represented the .true mind of every Government in Europe beside the British. The "Daily Herald" comments on "this strange and perilous doctrine," and asks whether it is the considered opinion of the British Cabinet that we are being inevitably forced into military alliances. If so, then the country must be told whither this new policy is leading.—" Times" Cable.

GERMAN AND FRENCH VIEWS. LONDON, April 26. A message from Berlin states that the "Volkischer Beobachter" believes that ill-health is responsible for Mr MacDonald's article. "He must have reached a stage of fretfulness which begins seriously to bias judgment," the paper states. "The British Government must bear the main responsibility for this new attempt to discriminate against Germany." Referring to Mr MacDonald's article "L'lntransigeant" (PaVis) says that moral condemnation is insufficient, and suggests that if Mr MacDonald wants his warning heeded he should declare in unmistakable terms that if Germany attacks France, Britain will immediately place herself on the side of France.