CRIES OF “SHAME”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 9

CRIES OF “SHAME”

Opposition Interrupts

Mr. Eden

‘DEPLORABLE’ SPEECH

Mr. Baldwin Upholds Wisdom of Choice

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright

London, June 18.

The Italian and German Ambassadors were present in the House of Commons during the speech of the Foreign Secretary. Mr. Eden was frequently interrupted with cries from the Opposition of “Resign,” “Shame,” “Sit down,” and “Sabotage.” Mr. A. Greenwood (Lab., Wakefield), who followed Mr. Eden, said that no more deplorable speech has ever fallen from the lips of a Foreign Minister. There was no word of sympathy for a broken nation, and no word of condemnation for a Power that had deliberately organised the use of poison gas. It was a speech that meant truckling to a dictator, and millions would hear it with shame and consternation. Mr. Greenwood compared past speeches of members of the Government with present performances and said they had betrayed their election manifesto and committed the biggest act of political treachery in the country's history. He added that unless the House was given an emphatic denial it would have no alternative but to believe that the Government’s policy included limitation of the powers of the League and reversion to regional pacts.

Angry Scenes. Angry scenes were provoked by Mr Greenwood’s denunciation of the Government for “dispensing with the League’s one effective weapon.” Members of the Ministry shouted: “Will you go to war?” Labour members cried, “Order.”

A Conservative attempted to put the question formally, and met with cries c. “Sit down.”

Earl Win terton (Con., Horsham) sarcastically shouted, “Brave Socialists,” and another Conservative told the Labour members. “It isn't you who will do the fighting, but us.” A Labour member retaliated: “You’ll get a staff job, I suppose.” Mr. David Lloyd George (Ind. Lib., Caernarvon) said that if the Government was going to Geneva to say it was beaten, that the League had failed, and that it did not propose further sanctions, there would be an end to the authority of the League. Mr. Eden’s predecessor, Sir Samuel Hoare, had the decency to resign when his policy was thrown over. Mr. Lloyd George said he had been in the House nearly half a century, and never before had he heard a British Minister holding the next most important position to the Prime Minister say that Britain was beaten. “There will be international anarchy the moment this is known,” he declared. “It is no use Mr. Edon saying he is going to Geneva to reconstruct and reform the League. No nation has refused to uphold sanctions. and the ranks of the League must not be broken. Mr. Eden is going to Geneva to break them and to smash the League. I wish he had left it to somebody else. Abyssinia has not been conquered.” Mr. Lloyd George asked what was France’s attitude, and Mr. Eden replied that the new French Government said it was not prepared to take the initiative in raising sanctions, but was anxious to work with Britain. The French Government had not given an indication of its desire to maintain sanctions or that it would support further sanctions.

“A Cowardly Surrender.”

Mr. Lloyd George proceeded: “British prestige abroad was never lower, and 50 nations will never trust this crowd again. To-night we have had a cowardly surrender, and there are the cowards.” Mr. Lloyd George stood pointing at the Ministers. He declared in ringing tones that the danger of war was less now than when sanctions were imposed. The fleet was then unprepared and ill-equipped under a patriotic National Government. Now the navy was really equipped. Moreover, France’s attitude, which under M. Laval was hostile to sanctions, had now changed. Spain’s attitude was also different. “The whole of the Mediterranean Powers except Italy are ready to support you,” he said, “yet you are running aWay.” The Government’s watchword was, “We have failed, and therefore we have funked.” But why? Italy’s foreign trade had dwindled by over half, and if the increasing strain was kept up for another year terms could be made with Signor Mussolini. When Mr. Lloyd George sat down a back-bench member rose, and members of the Labour Party cried: “We want Baldwin.”

Government Unanimous

The Prime Minister thereupon'arose. He claimed that in his speeches he had stressed the tentative nature of sanctions and collective security. He was convinced that the League in the autumn must consider the whole question of collective Security. The views stated by Mr. Eden had the unanimous support of the Government, which was honestly convinced that they represented the wiser of the two courses. It was necessary for the League Powers and Europe to make up their minds whether they were prepared to pit their forces as a condition of support of the League States against an aggressor. “I feel convinced,” he said, ‘‘that among the common people of many countries In Europe, here and in France there is such a loathing of war. not from fear but from knowledge of what it may mean, that I sometimes wonder if. they would march unless they believed their own frontiers were in danger” If war came nearer than the Mediterranean the people would pay in the first night with their lives. The first blow might come from the air. “I don’t see how and when an opportunity would come,” he said, but we are hoping to bring France, Germany and ourselves into a conference for the peace of Europe.” The Leader of the Opposition, Major Attlee, said: ‘‘Peace will never be obtained by running away and shaking like a jelly at every dictator who shakos his fist at you. The Government is not piling up arms for peace, but leading the country back to the blood-stained track of war.”

Major Attlee gave notice of motion: ‘‘That the Governmen . by lack of a resolute and straightforward foreign policy, has lowered the prestige of the country, weakened the League of Na tlons and imperilled peace, and thereby has forfeited the confidence of the House."