BRITAIN WANTED TO PUSH SANCTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 114, 15 May 1936, Page 7

BRITAIN WANTED TO PUSH SANCTIONS.

TO LIMIT ALLOWED. Mr. Baldwin Disclaims Blame for Failure. EMPIRE'S WEAK DEFENCES. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, May 14. Referring to the Italo-Abyssinian dispute in his speech in the Albert Hall, Mr. Baldwin stated that from no personal feelings, but from a desire to fulfil Covenant obligations the British Government tried to lie a good member of the League and had' done more than anyone else. Therefore, lie was not disposed and did not intend to accept blame for the fact that those efforts had failed to prevent war or to materially affect the progress of hostilities. The Government had been prepared, if necessary, to go tlnj whole length which sanctions would allow if other Powers in the League had been ready to accompany them, but experience made it plain that to be effective in promoting peace in Europe and the world they must have secured safety of their own land, people and Empire, and therefore must proceed to remedy the deficiencies in defence. It was no good making up their minds to take effective action in support of the League unless they were in a position to take it, and it was no good deciding on economic and financial sanctions if they were not going to back them up. Military sanctions were an essential part of collective security. "We will try out collective security as far as we can all go together, but I for one do not despair. If, on this occasion, it fails we shall try again." No Sleeping Partnerships. The question was, were the nations in Europe ready to play their part? In collective security there could be no limited liability and no sleeping partnerships. Collective security did not mean that all work was to be done by the British Navv for other nations.

The Prime Minister concluded by declaring that the well-being of the British people depended upon peace in Europe and world isolation was impossible. No responsible person . could believe that Britain, any more than France or Germany', could remain indifferent to the fate of any of her neighbours.