END OF SANCTIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 211, 19 June 1936, Page 5

END OF SANCTIONS

N 0 USE IN CONTINUANCE. BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S VIEWS. POSITION IN MEDITERRANEAN. STRONGER DEFENSIVE FORCES. (baited Press Associatiom -Copyright). (Received This Day, 10.25 am.) LONDON, June 18. Before a crowded House,'the gearetary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Eden) announced that while ready to take part in whatever action might be collectively determined, his Majesty’s Government had decided, for its own part, that there would be no utility in the continuation of sanctions against Italy. He added that the Government would devote itself to restoring the League of Nations to its full authority. Mr Eden said the fact that had to be faced was that the sanctions im~ posed had not realised the purpose for which they had been applied. Abyssinia was in Italian military occupation, and as far as he was aware no Abyssinian Government had survived in any part of Abyssinia. It could not be expected that continuation of the existing measures of economic pressure would restore the position in Abyssinia. Nothing but military action from outside could possibly do that, and so far as he know no other Government, and certainly not the British Government, was prepared to take such military action. Though the League had not availed to prevent the successful accomplishment of the violation of the Covenant, the Government did not regret, Mr Eden emphasised, nor did he- believe fellow League members .regretted, having made the attempt. For that they had nothing to apologise for and nothing to retract, Mr Eden said that reciprocal assurances exchanged last December be—tween the Governments of certain Mediterranean Powers, including his Majesty’s Government, should not end with the raising of sanctions 'if the League Assembly decided to raise them, but should continue during the period of uncertainty which must necessarily follow. M-r Eden added', that in regard to the experience in recent months, the Government had determined that it was necessary that Britain should per—manently maintain in the Mediterran—ean a defensive position stronger than that which existed before the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia broke on ,

Mr Eden discussed the future of the League, which he said needed to be earnestly and urgently considered by all its members. He declared that the Government was determined that the League should go on. The fact that the League had tried and failed to arrest aggression was reason not for regretting attempt but for seeking to reorganise it, ‘so that it would have a better chance to succeed hereafter.— British Official Wireless.