CONTINUANCE OF SANCTIONS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21807, 12 June 1936, Page 11

CONTINUANCE OF SANCTIONS

Policy Described As Midsummer Madness JIE CHAMBERLAIN’S VIEW * TASK BEYOND LEAGUE’S POWERS (CSTTED rB£SB ASSOCIATION—COPIfiIGUT.' (Received June 11, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. Condemning the policy of continuing sanctions, Mr Neville Chamberlain (Chancellor of the Exchequer), speaking at a political dinner, declared that it would only lead to further misfortunes. Referring to Lord Robert Cecil’s claim that it was still possible to preserve Abyssinia’s independence by pursuing sanctions, Mr Chamber-' Jain said: “That seems to me midsummer madness. It is no use shutting our eyes to realities. Sanctions have been tried and have failed. I am not blaming anyone for the failure. I merely record it now because, if we have retained any vestige of common sense, we must admit that we tried to impose upon the league a task beyond its powers. 'The nations composing the league must therefore decide so to limit the league’s functions in future that they may be in accord with its real powers. If that policy were courageously carried through I believe it might go far to restore the league’s prestige, although it must be admitted that the league is to limited that it can no longer be relied on by itself to secure peace for the world. "It is now apparent that the policy of sanctions involves, if not war, at least the risk of war, and that risk must increase in proportion to the effectiveness of sanctions. It is also apparent that in the presence of such rick the nations cannot be relied on to proceed to the extremity of war unless their vital interests are threatened.” Mr Chamberlain suggested the exploration of the possibility of localising the world’s danger spots with a view to a more practical method of ensuring peace by regional arrangements, approved by the league. The newspapers give great prominence to Mr Chamberlain’s “end of sanctions" speech, and ask whe her he was speaking for himself or the Cabinet. The speech was delivered at the 1900 Club's dinner, at which Mr Chamberlain was the guest of honour. Four hundred Conservatives attended and Lord Londonderry presided.