BRITISH CABINET DIVIDED?

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21747, 1 April 1936, Page 11

BRITISH CABINET DIVIDED?

Opposition to Staff Talks FEAR OF FRENCH ALLIANCE MR BALDWIN SEEKING COMPROMISE tl SITED TRESS ASSOCiA'I ION (Received March 31, 8.16 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. Both the "Daily Mail" and the "News-Chronicle" assert that the proposed general staff consultations between Britain, France, and Belgium are dividing the Cabinet. The Home Secretary (Sir John Simon), the Minister for Labour (Mr Ernest Brown), and the Secretary for Scotland (Sir Godfrey Collins) are opposed to them, on the ground* of a probable increase of British commitments. The attitude of Mr Walter Kunciman (President of the Board of Trade) is doubtful. Lord Hailsham (Lord Chancellor) is the leading Conservative opponent of further liabilities. Many members of the House of Commons are being deluged with letters from their constituents, opposing an alliance with France. Similarly, an uneasy section of the Cabinet favours a postponement of the staff talks, pending the French elections, to enable successful negotiations with Germany which, it is believed, would otherwise be prejudiced. The political correspondent of tltfe "Daily Mail" says that the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) seeking a compromise, has delayed a decision on ths scope and date of the talks pending a full discussion by Cabinet, and is also prepared to submit further proposals to Parliament. . The Foreign Office has informed M. Charles Corbin (French Ambassador) that in view of British puolic opinion it would be essential to define strictly the limit of the talks. Britain reserved the right to judge what constituted aggression. Ministers Meet An earlier message slated that a meeting of Ministers was held on Monday, at which were present Mr Baldwin, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Neville Chamberlain), Lord Hailsham, the First Lord of the Admiralty (Lord Monsell), the Secretary for Air (Lord Swinton), the Lord Privy Seal (Lord Halifax), the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Ec'en\ and the Minister for Coordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip). _, Ontrary to newspaper reports thv.* the meeting would be occupied wi'.h the aoproval of the proposed technical conversations with the general staffs of the powers still ad-r-c-ing to the Locarno Treaty, and the- guarantees under the treaty, :t is pointed out in official quarters that Cabinet approval of these talks was involved hj the decision of the Government to accept the proposal drnwn up at the recent four-power conferences. It is understood that no date for the beginning of the staff conversations has yet been fixed, and this question may come before Cabinet en Wednesday. In the meantime, consideration :s being given to the conditions under which the talks will be held, and it is assumed that this was one of the subjects on which the French Ambcjr.dor (M. Charles Corbin) spoke With Mr Eden. RISKS RECOGNISED

STRICT LIMIT TO SCOPE OF TALKS MR BALDWIN REPLIES TO SUGGESTION . (Received March 31, 8.3 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. Declaring that the French generals were often politically minded, while British generrls were not concerned with politics, Lieutenan Commander R. T. H. Fletcher (Labour) suggested in the House o Commons that the British generals, would therefore be placed at a disadvantage, and urged that the British representatives in the discussions should be accompanied by Sir Thomas Inskip (Minister Co-ordination of Defence) or another Minister. w The Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin), disagreeing, said that a Minister’s presence might suggest an importance which the conference did not possess. The technical talks might then become more serious. Mr Baldwin added that the technical talks would not mean definite commitments until Cabinet had considered them. - The diplomatic correspondent oi “The Times” savs that at the meeting to-day Ministers expressed anxiety that the scope of the talks may be too wide. Accordingly, it was decided that the delegates should be instructed not to exceed the “exploratory” agenda. There • was a general agreement by Cabithat to avoid the risk of tne talks becoming too wide, the British delegates should be strictly tied to a precise agenda which they must not exceed, even in exploratory discussions. All decisions would rest with Cabinet.

HITLER’S REPLY EXPECTED ♦ Pessimism In Paris “PROCESS LEADING TO WAR” (L'JIITKD TRI33 ASSOCIATION —COPIEIGHT.) (Received March 31, 11.50 p.m ) LONDON, March 31. Herr von Ribbentrop (German envoy to the League Council) is expected to fly to London from Berlin this afternoon with Herr Hitler's reply to the Locarno powers. The German controlled press suggests that the reply will be uncompromising. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says that nobody in Paris will be surprised if Herr Hitler replies with a blank negative or little more. There is an impression that Herr Hitler is already caught in a process inevitably leading to war, from which he cannot draw back. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) has cancelled his Moroccan holiday, on which he had planned to start at the week-end.

HOPE OF CONCILIATORY GESTURE

GERMANY MAY EASE

TENSION

LONDON, March 30

The Sun-Herald News Service learns that now the German election is over, there is every hope of a conciliatory gesture from HenHitler, which will considerably improve the international situation. It is expected that Herr Hitler will first offer to withdraw some troops from the Belgian frontier, and, second, that he will suggest an arrangement by which the fortification of the Rhineland will be delayed.

ITALY TO ATTEND POWERS' MEETING

(Received March 31, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. The Rome correspondent of "The Times" has announced that Italy will attend the next meeting of the Locarno signatories, but will maintain her customary reservations.

FOREIGN SECRETARY AS MATCH-MAKER?

(Received March 31, 8.4 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. A bright proposal was made in the House of Commons when Mr Will Thome (Labour) asked the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) whether he would be able to persuade Herr Hitler to marry, to keep him well balanced.