ISOLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 7

ISOLATION.

DANGER TO BRITAIN.

Possibility of Entanglement

In Europe.

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) " RUGBY, March 3. Replying for the Government in a debate on foreign affairs in the House of Lords, Viscount Halifax, Lord Privy Seal, said that they had been warned in speeches delivered about the dangers of isolation. "We can neither be isolated nor isolate ourselves," he contended.

"If we wished to do so the future would always necessarily be uncertain, but so far as it can be denned I suggest that the policy of the Government is crystal clear. I share anxiety of those who have spoken about the possibility of eastern entanglement, and I am not oblivious to the greater danger in Western Europe as the result of possible complications in the East linked by the Franco-Soviet pact.

''If we are unable to define beforehand what might be our attitude to hypothetical complications in Central or Eastern Europe, that is not to say we disinterest ourselves in the fate of those parts of Europe.

"We have repeatedly maintained an attitude to carry out our obligations under the Covenant. If these obligations are not capable of precise definition, that is the defeat of the Covenant itself.

"Despite the weakening of the League, that does not mean that this country is without influence or authority which will always be used to prevent any conflict arising."' Armaments to Ensure Peace. Lord Halifax added: "It has been said the Government embarked on rearmament, because it can see war is coming. We have no such gloomy anticipation. I do not believe it can be challenged that the stronger this country is the less likelihood there will be of war.

"Those armaments are not for selfish or aggressive use, but in order that this country may pull its full weight in the councils of Europe.

"We will welcome any agreement anywhere which will promote peace. All our efforts, diplomatic, military and industrial, will be subordinated to one single aim—building up peace on

foundations of justice which can alone support a structure under which all nations can be at ]>eace."

SECRET DIPLOMACY.

Labour Member's Complaint In House of Commons. WHITHER GERMANY? British Official Wirpless. lUGHV, March 3. In the course of the foreign affairs debate in the House of Commons Mr. David Grenfell (Lab., Glamorgan) said the backbone of the League system had fallen apart and they had lapsed into conditions of secret diplomacy and balance of power politics. These had been generally denounced after the Great War and largely accepted as being responsible for that catastrophe.

The great nations were arming against some danger which was never specified and propaganda, dangerous and unparalleled in the history of the world, was rampant. Speaking of Europe, Mr. Grenfell said all Germany's neighbours were apprehensive about her and her alone. He hoped the Foreign Secretary was speakinjr as plainly to the German Government as the circumstances warranted. Germany must be asked definitely, did she want peace ami what kind of peace? Did she stand for peace all round ? Intervening later in the debate Sir Austen Chamberlain, formerly Foreign Secretary, suggested that they did not want a new conference or new agreements but an undertaking to keep all agreements already made. He observed that Germany had complained of her difficulties about raw materials, but now had declined to attend meetings of the committee at Geneva which was to investigate the whole question of access to raw materials.

GERMANY'S CLAIM. LIKE UNDATED ULTIMATUM. LONDON, March 3. Speaking in Manchester Mr. L. S. Ainery, M.P. (Con., Birmingham) described Herr von Ribbentrop's speech at Leipzig on Germany's colonial demands as unpleasantly liKe an undated ultimatum. He said it seemed to call for an immediate answer to the German Ambassador, who could not make speeches like that and expect immunity from criticism.