BRITISH VIEW REAFFIRMED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22414, 30 May 1938, Page 9

BRITISH VIEW REAFFIRMED

Neither Isolation Nor Intervention ATTITUDE IRRITATING TO GERMANY ' (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received May 29, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. The diplomatic correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says it is gathered that Lord Halifax outlined to the Dominions’ representatives , Britain’s representations to Prague, Paris, and Berlin, especially on Britain’s attitude to Central Europe, which constituted not a syllable more or less than Mr Chamberlain’s pronouncement in the House of Commons on March 24; but the real significance was that this was reaffirmed and underlined at a critical week-end. Nobody knows for certain Germany’s real intentions towards Czechoslovakia. It is hinted that the problem has undoubtedly caused conflict in Herr Hitler’s but it is thought that if Germany has changed her tactics she has not changed her objective. The belief is widely held that if immediate annexation fails her aim will be the slower but sure process of economic and financial absorption. That Britain’s policy as between intervention and isolation remains indeterminate is extremely irritating to Germany, evidently continues to regard Britain as the real obstacle to the attainment of European domination.

Defining Britain’s attitude to her obligations under the League Covenant to the victims of aggression, Mr Chamberlain used on March 24 the definition of policy given by Mr R. A. Eden, when he was Foreign Secretary. This definition was contained in the following statement: “In addition, our armaments may be used in bringing help to a victim of aggression in any case where, in our judgment, it would be proper under the provisions of the covenant to do so.”

Such a case, Mr Chamberlain added, might include Czechoslovakia, explaining .which he quoted further from Mr Eden: “I use the word ‘may’ deliberately, since in such an instance there are no automatic military obligations save for areas where vital intei'ests are concerned.” “PEACE OR WAR ?” TALKS WITH DOMINIONS IN LONDON

(Received May 29, 8.15 p.m.)

LONDON, May 28,

The diplomatic correspondent of the Associated Press states that the question uppermost in the minds of the Dominions’ representatives during the recent conversations with Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax has been “Peace or war?” The Australian' delegation, led by Sir Earle Page, is especially concerned to ascertain the'bearing of the European situation on the prospects of the Commonwealth negotiating foreign trade treaties as additional outlets for Australia’s expanding production of foodstuffs. It is gathered that the South Africans reiterated their Imperial Conference attitude of pressing Britain to attempt without delay a settlement of all outstanding grievances with Germany, without waiting for two years, by which time armaments will be at a maximum and the Powers will be unwilling to settle differences except by war. BRITISH OFFICIAL IN BERLIN (Received May 29, 8.30 p.m.) BERLIN, May 29. Mr William Strang, head of the Central European Department of the British Foreign Office, who is visiting Paris, Berlin, and Prague to talk over matters with British diplomats, arrived from Prague and saw the British Ambassador (Sir Nevile Henderson), who had previously visited the Foreign Office.