A MORE RESOLUTE POLICY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21967, 16 December 1936, Page 11

A MORE RESOLUTE POLICY

INFERENCE FROM MR EDEN'S SPEECH

BRITAIN'S CONCERN IN THE SPANISH WAR

(UNITED PRESS association—copyright.) (Received December 15, 11.15 p.m.) . LONDON, December 15. The diplomatic correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" says: "Mr Eden's speech at Bradford is an advance on any of his previous speeches on foreign affairs because it expresses a stronger British resolve to participate actively in European affairs, not only west but also east of the Rhine. "The speech is also a reaction to the growing warlike conflicts on the Continent. It is believed in London that the time is coming when the unilateral denunciation of treaties must cease. There are certain developments on the Continent, it is held, that cannot be permitted to continue unimpeded, nor can Britain afford to look indifferently on warlike conflicts abroad, even if they do not directly menace vital British interests. "It is emphasised that the Spanish war has only been localised with difficulty. There .s still no absolute certainty that it will not spread, nor is it certain that it will not touch vital British interests. When Mr Eden, therefore, refers to the deep British interest of maintaining the integrity of Spain and the Spanish possessions, he utters a warning which Berlin, Rome, and Burgos can ill afford to ignore. "The speech clearly holds out the prospect of a British foreign policy that will grow more active and more resolute as the means to lend it strength and persuasive power also increase."

RETURN TO IMPERIAL TRADITIONS FRENCH VIEW OF SPEECH (Received December 16, 2.15 a.m.) PARIS, December 15. The press gives prominence to Mr Eden’s speech. “Le Jour,” a right wing paper, declares that England is no longer remaining shut up in a glasshouse in the west, but is returning to the great imperial tradition of the Victorian age. Disquieting rumours about German troop movements on the Czechoslovakian frontier influenced Mr Eden, who will not tolerate a threat to England’s legitimate interests in Spain.