SANCTIONS ISSUE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 209, 17 June 1936, Page 5

SANCTIONS ISSUE

l BRITAIN TO PROPOSE LIFTING. ' MR EDEN’S SPEECH FORECAST. ! __ lI’ITA‘LY WANTS FURTHER ACTION {United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, June 16. The [political correspondent of the “Morning Post” says that the speech Mr R. A. Eden (Foreign Minister) will deliver in the House of Commons on Thursday, announcing the Government’s decision to tropose the raising of' sanctions, will follow closely . the lines of Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech on June 11. Mr Eden will point out that sanctions .failed either to prevent or end the Abyssinian war, or to preserve the independence of Abyssinia, and in view of this there is no logical or practical justification in maintaining them. There have been no Cabinet differences regarding this. The only hesi—tancy has bee-n whether Britain should lead at Geneva or leave the initiative to the assembly. ' The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says semisofficial circles are now declaring that the lifting of sanctions will not be enough to allow Italy again to collaborate in European affairs. They suggest that a more positive gesture is needed, namely, a. simultaneous reversal of the League’s verdict that Italy was guilty of aggression , Six, questions are down for answer in the House of Commons bearing on the speech delivered last week by Mr Chamberlain, and asking that the attitude that will be taken by the British Government at the meetings of the League of Nations toward the end of June should be defined. The leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) gave notice that the Labour Party would ask fora debate on Thursday, and later the Prime Minister intimated that the Government would accept this request.

ITALY MAY TURN T 0 GERMANY.

DEPENDENT 0N BRITAIN’S STAND

LONDON, June 16.

The “Sun-Herald NcWS Agency” says: A section of the [press continues to suggest grave Cabinet diifcrences in connection with the forthcoming decision on sanctions, and: that Mr Eden’s resignation is imminent. Such rumours" however, are without foundation. They are primarily' designed to force Mr Eden from the Cabinet, but are unlikely to succeed. \Vhen Mr Eden announces the abandonment of sanctions he will outline Signor Mussolini’s memorandum, which says that apart from accepting any diminution of Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia, the Italians are ready to meet Britain’s desires in every possible way. Assurances are given that henceforth Italy belongs territorially to the “satisfied” Powers. 11 Duce pledges himself not to raise a Black army in Abyssinia declaring that he has no further African territorial ambitions. Il Duce is also ready to conclude a Mediterranean pact with Britain and France. This will be accompanied by an agreement for the limitation of naval armaments, which would include Greece and Turkey if' they so desire. Italy is further ready to support Britain’s viewpoint for the reform of the Covenant of the League of Nations. The Italians intimate that in the event of Britain rejecting collaboration with her, she will turn to Germany.

AUSTRALIA SEEKS LIFTING.

MESSAGE FROM MR L‘YONS

(Received This DayJ 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 16.

The evening newspapers give prominence to an announcement that the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. A; Lyons) has sent a cablegram to Mr S. M. Bruce, in which, it is reported, he intimated that Australia is anxious to see sanctions ended in View of the loss of Italian marketing.