'AID FOR FRANCO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 300, 20 December 1938, Page 11

'AID FOR FRANCO.

! STILL ARRIVING. i Mr. Chamberlain on Position In Mediterranean. RELATIONS WITH ITALY. British Official Wireless. I (Received 1 p.m.) RLGBY, December 19. Mr. Chamberlain, in reply to the | no confidence motion in the House of Commons, proposed by Dr. Hu«-h Da I ton (Labour), said it was a satisfaction that the Government's efforts to keep the Dominions fully informed on the foreign situation were rewarded by a general absence of criticism on their part. Dr. Dalton's policy would have involved war simultaneously with Japan. Italy. Cermany, and perhaps with i General Franco. it is an insult to myself and to Italv ° ■ that I am going to Rome to betray any vital int6rest. "I am still waiting f«.r a sign from lo>e who speak for the Cerinan people that they are prepared 'o contribute to peace. I would not take the awful responsibility of war unless forced upon me by the madness of others.*' Continuing. Mr. Chamberlain said that in Europe, which, with the Far Fast, were the only quarters of the world where the |>ossihilities of trouble existed, relations between Britain and France remained of a most cordial character. He welcomed the fact that M. Bonnet had repeatqd oil Wednesdav M. Delbos' declaration of two years ago that all the forces of France would be spontaneously and immediately used in defence of Britain against unprovoked aggression. As to the Mediterranean, the Prime Minister deplored the continuation of the disastrous civil war in Spain, but claimed that considerable reductions in foreign intervention had been brought about by Britain's non-intervention policy. Some Help for Franco. Referring to charges by Dr. Dalton of continued Italian intervention in breach of recent pledges, he said that while it could not be denied that a certain amount of assistance in men and material had been given both sides in recent months, the Italians sent to Spain, according to -information Britain possessed, did not number over 200. j and though the Government regretted that assistance it could not say really i that there had been a breach of faith j by Italy. I

On the question of belligerent rights, Mr. Chamberlain said that he could only repeat what had been said over and over again, that as long as there were foreign troops in Spain, and as long as no other solution had been found for the Spanish question other than that evolved by the Earl of Plymouth's committee, Britain did not propose to grant belligerent rights other than in accordance with that committee's plan.

How far it would be possible to discuss at Rome Spanish matters he could not say, but the House could be sure that they would not depart from the principle which guided British policy throughout—that differences between the Spanish parties should be settled by the Spanish people themselves. "Insnlting Suggestions." At this point Mr. Chamberlain observed: "I regret extremely that it should be suggested that Viscount Halifax and I require to be bound beforehand by some assurance that we are not going to betray any causes, or abandon any vital principles, or sacrifice any important interests either of this country or any of our friends. Such suggestions are intensely insulting to us. "It is highly discourteous to our hosts to suggest that they would invite us to do any such thing," Mr. Chamberlain continued. "It is an attempt to poison beforehand the atmosphere of discussions and it is totally contrary to the spirit in which we have accepted Italy's invitation. "I explained before that we are not going to Rome with any fixed agenda or with expectations of bringing away any new specific agreement. _ We are going tliere to exchange views with Italy upon all or any matters of common interest. "We are going with a general desire to improve relations by a better understanding of one another's point of view and through personal contact to strengthen the confidences between us confidences which, if they can be successfully established, must necessarily contribute to the general stability of Europe and more especially the countries bordering on the Mediterranean."

WELL RECEIVED. Speech Gratifying to the Italians. GERMANY DESIRES PEACE. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LOXDOX, December 19. Mr. Chamberlain's speech created a good impression in political circles in Rome, which are gratified that the Labour attempts to discredit the forthcoming visit were unsuccessful. The Prime Minister's statement that he does not expect a specific agreement causes no surprise, since the coming conversations are regarded purely in the nature of a full and frank exchange of views. The Berlin spokesman declared that Germanv favours peace as much as Mr. Chamberlain. No one in Germany thinks of attacking Britain. _ "We have agreements with France, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Bolshevism is Public Enemy Xo. 1, and the only thing we desire to keep from Europe, particularly from the Mediterranean. We will naturally defend ourselves when attacked or when people interfere in our domestic affairs, he said.