SPLIT DENIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 7

SPLIT DENIED.

MINISTER SPEAKS. Mr. Mac Donald and. Dominion Consultations. MR. CHAMBERLAIN SUPPORTED United Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, March 20. The Under-Secretary for the Dominions, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, speaking at the National Labour Conference, said: "I read in the newspapers that I and other impatient spirits are anxious to get rid of the Prime Minister. My reply to this is" that Mr. Chamberlain has sincerity, courage and wisdom in these affairs •worthy of the best traditions of British statesmanship." Mr. Mac Donald added: "The responsibility for cool reflection in foreign policy must not rest with the British Government alone. We have to take account of not only Britons' views and sentiments but those of our fellowcitizens overseas. "I do not suggest there is any divergency of views between them and us. They believe, as we believe, that first and foremost is the method of conciliation and negotiation for resolving international troubles. We shall gain their sympathy rather than lose it if we test that method to the utmost." Mr. Herwald Ramsbotham, Minister of Pensions, supporting Mr. Chamberlain regarding British and Italian conversations, after condemning Germany's coercion of Austria, declared: "Russia's assistance in collective security is doubtful owing to the method of government and the internal situation. It is also very doubtful whether the 50 to 00 other members of the League, from Norway to Nicaragua, could effectively assist. "Nothing is more difficult to handle than a composite force of little detachments from various countries, many of whom would be over-run by powerful neighbours, as during the Great War, before they could be helped. Consequently the League, for practical purposes, consists of Britain and France. "Thus, apart from France, collective security is non-existent. It might soon become a collective liability." Mr. Ttarnsbothani deprecated the panicstricken conjuring up of visions of Germany stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and Italy dominating the Mediterranean, Spain and Egypt. He added: "Britain defended her interests in the past and we are equally determined to protect ourselves and our interests now. If anyone wants to discover the truth of this let them come and try. Ido not believe force will eventually triumph." Mr. Winston Churchill has postponed hie visit to France, pending Mr. Chamberlain's statement on foreign policy.