A SECRETARY’S APOLOGY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 11

A SECRETARY’S APOLOGY

INDISCREET SPEECH ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

IMPLICATIONS OP REMARKS NOT REALISED

(BUTISH OFFICIAL WIRBLF.3S.) (Received March 22, 11 p.m.) RUGBY, March 21. A speech in his constituency' by Mr A. T. Lennox Boyd, the new Parliamentary Secretary for Labour, which has been widely cited on the Continent as representing the policy of His Majesty’s Government, was the subject of a number of supplementary questions in the House of Commons, which Mr Speaker ruled out of order.

The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) intervened at one point to ask Mr Speaker how he might have the opportunity of stating that Mr Lennox Boyd did not accept the published report of his speech as correct. Mr Speaker indicated that his ruling referred only to supplementary questions which arose out of a question to Mr Chamberlain asking if he would give a specific guarantee of the independence of Czechoslovakia.

Mr Chamberlain’s answer to the original question was that he had nothing to _add to his reply to a similar question last Wednesday. Mr Lennox Boyd is reported to have said: “I do not think Mr Chamberlain will make a movement to guarantee the frontiers of Czechoslovakia. I can contemplate nothing more ridiculous than guaranteeing that its frontiers will not be violated when half the people of Czechoslovakia cannot be relied on loyally to support their Government. Germany could absorb Czechoslovakia, leaving Britain safe and secure.” On the motion for adjournment Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) raised the question of Mr Lennox Boyd’s speech, which he criticised as having caused • consternation in Czechoslovakia.

Indiscretion Not Denied

Mr Lennox Boyd, who is 6ft 7in tall, in apologising, said he would not attempt to deny his indiscretion in speaking of foreign affairs at the present time. He saidt “I was so recently translated to an important position that perhaps I have not begun to realise the importance which might be attached to my chance words. I shall realise in future that my task is to support the Minister for Labour and any expression on foreign affairs must be very carefully weighed. I apologise to the Under-Secretaries whose office is thus brought into discussion, and especially to the Prime Minister. I told him, as he knows, that I was not attempting to speak for the Government, as I do not know the Cabinet’s policy.” The Opposition greeted this naive declaration with a great laugh, for which Mr Lennox Bovd expressed gratitude. Mr P. J. Noel-Baker (Labour) contended that the speech misrepresented the facts, especially the Czechoslovakians’ unwillingness to defend their country.

Mr G. le M. Mander (Labour) said Mr Lennox Boyd had used language gravely discourteous to France. Mr Chamberlain, amid Mr Lennox Boyd’s furious blushes, accepted the apology, adding that he would be better advised to use more careful language at a moment of great delicacy. “I am satisfied,” he said, “that he is not a sinister object—merely indiscreet. He is fresh in office and did not fully realise its implications. I am certain he will not repeat it.”

BRITISH POLICYSTATEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE MADE

ON THURSDAY

(BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.)

RUGBY, March 21

The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) will make an important statement on the Government s policy on Thursday. A special meeting of Cabinet has been summoned for to-morrow, when it is,believed that the Ministers will discuss Czechoslovakia and Spain. In addition, the weekly meeting of Cabinet will be held on Wednesday. . rr Answering a question in the House of Commons on the Government s attitude to the proposal of the Russian Foreign Minister (M. Litvinov) that a conference of major Powers should be held to discuss the German annexation of Austria, Mr Chamberlain said that the Government was giving consideration to the proposal. He was not, however, prepared to anticipate his general statement on the issues arising from the present situation. Mr Chamberlain said the British Government had kept the United States Government generally informed of its attitude to recent events in Europe.