NO WAR THREAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 7

NO WAR THREAT.

SITUATION ANALYSED. Britain Bound to Aid Any Power If Attacked. DICTATES OP HONOUR. ! British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 0. "There is, I am thankful to say," stated Mr. Eden in the course of his House of Commons speech, "no reason to suppose that the present German action implies a threat of hostilities. "The German Government, in its memorandum, expresses an unchangeable longing for real pacification of Europe j and its willingness to conclude a nonaggression pact with France and Belgium, but, in case there should be any misunderstanding about the position as a signatory of the Locarno Treaty, the British Government thinks it necessary to say that should there take place during the period which will be necessary for consideration of the new situation which has arisen, any actual attack upon France or Belgium, which would constitute a violation of Article 11. of the Locarno Treaty, the British Government, notwithstanding the German repudiation of the treaty, would regard itself as in honour bound to come, in the manner provided in the treaty, to the assistance of the country attacked. "It must be obvious to all that in the exacting circumstances the transition from the bad past to a better future will be an arduous and hazardous enterprise. "One of the main foundations of the peace of Western Europe has been cut away, and if peace is to be secured there is the manifest duty to rebuild. It is in that spirit that we may approach the new proposals of the German Chancellor. "His Majesty's Government will examine them clear-sightedly and objectively with a view to finding out to what extent they represent a means by which the shaken structure of pcacc can again bo strengthened. "In the anxious, circumstances of the present time I feel justified in asking all sections of opinion in this House for their support in the exacting and arduous task which now confronts the combined wisdom and statesmanship of the world." Austria's Independence. Sir Austen Chamberlain asked Mr. Eden whether the German proposals were confined to the east and west frontiers, and whether the Government would undertake to consider Britain's interest in maintaining the independence and integrity of Austria.

Mr. Eden replied that Germany's offer was limited to her eastern and western neighbours. His answer' to the second part of the question was in the affirmative. Sir Samuel Hoare said: "If we are to | meet the challenge of totalitarian autocracies, we must bo prepared to make great changes in our system of defence and face heavy expenditure. "I believe Ilerr Hitler's action was a blunder. I was going to say a crime, but I don't wish to use hard words. I believe it shakes the whole foundation of international agreements, and therefore agree to Mr. Eden's statement. Nevertheless, I hope we will do our utmost to get a good result from an unfortunate act." Mr. R. A. Gary (Con., Eccles) urged that any scheme of defence should be an Empire scheme, with, if the Dominions were agreeable, an Empire scheme of mobilisation. Mr. J. McGovcrn (Ind. Lab., Shettleston) said that if the Government puts arms into the hands of the working class their duty should bo to overthrow capitalism, just as it is the duty of the German working class to remove Herr Hitler, General Goering and Dr. Goebbels, who were "three of the greatest scoundrels the world has ever known." Immediately after the debate Mr. Eden hurried from the House, and later left for Paris. Immediate Reactions. The Sun-Herald news service says immediate reactions to Mr. Eden's statement were very favourable. Opinion in the lobbies was that the Government's forthrtglitness will have a very steadying effect on the Continent. The House was earlier in a grim mood, but was noticeably reassured when Mr. Eden declared that there was no reason to suppose that the present German action implied a threat of • hostilities. Prolonged cheers of approval interrupted Mr. Eden's declaration that Germany had profoundly shaken confidence in any future engagement into which the German Government enters. Mr. Baldwin, opening the debate, asserted that France had virtually wrecked the Disarmament Conference. This statement met with wide approval because, although members were completely unsympathetic towards Germany, they feel that France cannot altogether be absolved from contributing to the present crisis. Every Dominion High Commissioner was present during Mr. Eden's statement and took notes in the gallery. This strikingly illustrated the Dominions' difficulties when an emergency like the present arises. Events move so quickly that it is impossible adequately to consult the Dominion representatives. Admittedly such a situation rarely arises, but it proves that the consultation machinery in times of crises must inevitably suffer.