NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITALY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22337, 26 February 1938, Page 17

NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITALY

♦—

ABSENCE OF FRANCE

REGRETTED

"DANGEROUS SITUATION"

FOREIGN POLICY DEBATE IN

HOUSE OF LORDS

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.)

(Received February 25, 7 p.m.)

LONDON, February 24

In the House of Lords, Lord Addison said that Mr Chamberlain was within his rights in opening negotiations with Italy, but it was an inauspicious beginning. The absence of France from discussions by which shv. was vitally affected created a dangerous situation.

Signor Mussolini was short of money and it was extraordinary that the present moment should be chosen to come to the assistance of an embarrassed dictator. Any proposal to lend money would meet a storm of opposition.

The Prime Minister had deplored the incompetency of the League of Nations, but that was largely caused by the conduct of the British Government. The only two Powers pleased with events were those which made use of the prison, concentration camps, and the bludgeon to produce unanimity among their citizens. Britain's friends throughout the world were dismayed.

The Marquess of Lothian (Opposition Liberal) unexpectedly supported the Government. He explained that he spoke personally and had not consulted his Liberal colleagues. The League had failed because it had put peace first and justice second, whereas justice was the only condition on which peace could rest. The Prime Minister's attitude that the orthodox League view no longer conformed to realities and was more likely to lead to war than peace, had increasingly gained ground.

League Defended

"Italy can do us as much damage in the Mediterranean as we can do Italy," said Lord Lothian. "There is no halfway house between friendship and hostility. Unless there is confidence everything that each does will cause suspicion by the other." The Marquess of Londonderry favoured . Four-Power Pact among England, France, Italy, and Germany. He expressed the opinion that they might be on the threshold of an era of world peace.

Lord Ponsonby (Labour) said he differed from the Labour manifesto. In his view Mr Chamberlain was absolutely right. It was no good cold shouldering nations which had forms of government different from that of Britain.

Viscount Cecil protested against the argument used by Government supporters, which implied that a League policy meant an attitude of negation to the just claims of any Power. It was untrue to suggest that the League was against the negotiations. He declared that there would never be union in Europe or peace except by establishing the supremacy of law based on justice. Lord Brocket said he felt that Mr Eden's resignation would make Italy take an entirely different view of Britain, and he welcomed the change. Lord Strabolgi said that the Government had made a radical and serious change in foreign policy, which the Opposition must denounce, although it had no desire to see a quarrel with Italy.

"Not Inspired by Fear" Lord Halifax, replying, said that the whole of the Government, including Mr Eden, was agreed that conversations with Italy were desirable. He outlined the incidents leading up to the difference of view between Mr Chamberlain and Mr Eden. Lord Halifax maintained that the Government's policy was not dictated by fear, but inspired by hope. The constant object of British foreign policy must be peace. Government was not prepared to allow the opportunity to pass of securing peace by action for which the present might be the psychological moment. "We are told," he added, "that the resignation of Mr Eden marks a complete change in policy. That is not so."

Lord Halifax maintained that the Prime Minister supported the League and had given an assurance that he would not tear up one single article of the Covenant, nor abandon even Article XVI. Referring to Abyssinia, he asked them to face the facts. He said that the conquest of that country could only have been prevented by war. There were very few indeed, with responsibility, who were prepared to face that. "I am not in the least afraid of Italy or any other Power in the world," declared Lord Halifax. "I am not afraid of war in the sense that I fear defeat, because I know the temper of this country, .and I know that it will never embark on war unless it is thought right and inevitable. I know also, that having embarked on a war, it will not let go until, as usual, it wins—but I and everybody else detest war." Concluding. Lord Halifax said, "We shall refuse to hold our hands and merely drift along in dangerous times making warlike noises in the ship in order to encourage the passengers." He maintained that the debate showed that the preponderance of opinion was behind the Government.