LABOUR ATTACK

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 9

LABOUR ATTACK

MR ATTLEE CRITICISES MINISTER PARTY NOT SATISFIED SIR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEWS I (UNITED 1 J HESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT. J (Received February 7, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 6. Mr C. R. Attlee (Labour), following Sir John Simon in the disarmament debate, said Labour was in no wise satisfied with the British memorandum. The discussions had started on the basis that the world was going to disarm; it was now learned that the immediate abandonment of offensive weapons was impossible. The White Paper, in the main, was a proposal for the rearmament of Germany. The great post-war question was whether force or law should rule. Sir John Simon had done more to support the rule of force than any other post-war Foreign Minister.

The utmost obtainable from the proposed convention would be a short breathing-space which would be filled with manoeuvring for the next struggle. Sir Austen Chamberlain said he had never admitted that Germany had the right to parity of armaments with the Allies. It was a great mistake, in the circumstances, to make this concession. Nevertheless, he approved the British Government's fresh intervention. Germany should be warned that the concessions were offered only on the ground that she had no aggressive intentions against any country, either by force or arms or propaganda, and would return to the league. Mr Eden Replies. Mr R. A. Eden (Lord Privy Seal), replying, said it had been complained that the Government was net brave enough. Its task was to seek an agreement for the maximum of disarmament obtainable. If the i British proposals were accepted it would be a considerable step in the direction of disarmament. The whole future of the policy of consultation and the existence of the league were at stake. The British proposals were the alternative to catastrophe. Unless the nations accepted the memorandum or some' thing very like it there would be no convention. "We ask them to accept K with the least delay. Only by eleventhhour acceptance will the world gain the greatest benefit of statecraft—greater confidence between people," said Mr Eden.