WORLD PEACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 114, 25 February 1936, Page 5

WORLD PEACE

THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. COLLECTIVE SECURITY PLAN. MUST PLAY A FULL PART. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This 7>ay, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 24. In the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Eden), emphasised that the Government had not withdrawn from Sir Samuel Hoare’s peace proposals as regards colonial raw materials, and was willing to examine the subject. Tie thought the examination could usefully be held at Geneva. The Government had expressed the opinion that the moment was not favourable for revision of the League Covenant, and did not intend making proposals in th«T connection. Britain was firmly attached to collective security, conditional on the system being powerful enough to deter any would-be aggressor, whether from within or without. Secondly, Britain was strong enough in policy and arms to play a full part in it. The chances of averting a world war were slender unless we were ready to play our part to the full. Mr Eden said it was no tribute to the collective wisdom of the world that 18 years after the close of the Great War “to end war” we were confronted with problems similar to those before 1914. “It seems, he said, that our generation has the task of preventing the recurrence on an even greater scale of the suffering it then endured. The task can he accomplished only with the full co-operation of Britain.”

Labour interjections: “The old, old story” Mr Eden declared that it was to clear the road to disarmament lies Labour cries: “With more arms.” Mr Eden said the House must face the issue. “I personally regret the increase in expenditure on armaments, hut rearmament to strengthen collective security is the cheapest form of rearmament, cheaper than rearmament within the pre-war system of alliances, cheaper than rearmament in isolation. Europe has to choose between cooperation and disintegration. Britain’s most pressing task is to bring a measure of confidence in Europe. It is to that task we are applying ourselves in detail.” {Sir A. H. Sinclair (Liberal) said that Mr Eden’s speech would be generally approved. He expressed the opinion that the Government had allowed itself to he bluffed out of oil sanctions by Signor Mussolini, who must be convinced that the League means to stamp out war as a crime against civilisation. Mr L. C. M. S. Amery (Conservative) said ho believed that the Government could have carried the HoareLaval peace plan through the House of Commons.