SANCTIONS ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 11

SANCTIONS ISSUE

Britain Must Lead a League Retreat

MINISTERS’ DECISION

Cabinet Holds Hurried Meeting

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright

(Received June 16, 9.20 p.m.)

London, June 15.

According to the “Daily Mail,” a huried meeting of members of Cabinet, including the Foreign secretary, Mr, Anthony Eden, in the Prime Minister’s room, decided that sanctions must bo dropped and that Britain must lead a League retreat from the sanctions policy.

Twenty speakers at the weekly meeting of the Conservative Members’ Committee were unanimous that sanctions must be terminated.

Reports that the Foreign Secretary is to resign as a result of Mr. Chamber lain’s speech are officially denied. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Eden said that the Government desires a debate on foreign policy as soon as possible. “I will then be prepared to state the views of the Government re garding action to be taken collectively at the meeting of the League Council and the Assembly,” he said. The “Morning Post’s” political cor respondent says that Mr Eden’s speech in the House of Commons on June 18 announcing the Government’s decision to propose raising sanctions will follow closely the lines of Mr. Chamberlain’s speech on June 11. He will point out that sanctions failed either to prevent or end the Abysinnian war or to pre serve the Independence of Abyssinia and in view of this, there is no logical and practical justification for main taining them.

There have been no Cabinet differences regarding this. The only hesf fancy has been whether Britain should lead at Geneva or leave the initiative to the Assembly. The “Sun-Herald” Agency says that a section of the Press continues to suggest grave Cabinet differences in connection with the forthcoming sane tlons decision, and that Mr. Eden’s resignation is imminent. Such rumours, however, are without foundation, and are primarily designed to force Mr. Eden from the Cabinet. They are unlikely to succeed. When Mr Eden announces the abandonment of sanction* on June IS he will outline Signor Mussolini's memorandum, which says, apart from accepting any diminution of Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia, Italians are ready to meet Britain's desires in every possible way. Assurance-, are given "that henceforth Italy belongs territorially to the "satisfied” powers. The Duce pledges himself not to raise a black army in Abyssinia, declaring that he has no further African territorial ambitions. The Duce is also ready to conclude a Mediterranean pact with Britain and France, accompanied by limitation of naval armaments, ano will include Greece and Turkey if they desire. Italy is further ready to support the British viewpoint in reform of the League Covenant. Italians inti mate that in the event of Britain re jecting collaboration they will turn to Germany.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says that semi-official circles are now declaring that the lifting of sanctions will not be enough to allow Italy again to collaborate in European affairs, suggesting that ■ a more positive gesture is needed, namely a simultaneous reversal of the League’s aggression verdirt. NOT FACING FACTS Minister’s Criticism Of English People London, June 15. “Nobody with the slightest knowledge would deny that the situation in Europe is far worse than it was in 1914,” said the Secretary for War, Mr. A. Duff-Cooper, at a trade luncheon. “Yet we are joking and laughing and refusing to face the facts.- We are allowing people to preach that it is wicked to defend women and children from gas attacks. We are told we are frightening the people. I think it Is the duty of those in authority to frighten the people.” FOREIGN AFFAIRS Commons Debate To-morrow (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, June 15. There will be a debate In the House of Commons on Thursday on Foreign Affairs in which a statement will be made on the Government’s policy In the present international situation. Replying to a large number of questions in the House of Commons this afternoon, all directed to obtain a definition of the Government’s attitude in view of the discussions aroused by the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent speech, Mr. Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary, said that the Government desired an early debate. “On that occasion I shall be prepared to state the views of his Majesty’s Government as to action which is to be taken collectively at meetings of the Council and the Assembly of the League of Nations on June 26 and June 30 respectively,” he said. The Leader of the Opposition, Major Attlee, then gave notice that the Labour Party would ask for a debate on Thursday, and later the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, intimated that the Government would accept this request.