COMMENTS IN BRITISH PRESS

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

COMMENTS IN BRITISH PRESS

Generally Unfavourable

PROPHESY THAT LEAGUE WILL DISAPPEAR

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received June 19, 7-45 p.m.)

London, June 18.

The “Manchester Guardian's” political correspondent says: “Mr. Eden fulfilled every mournful expectation He lias failed his better self and he realised it. Mr. Lloyd George’s speech stripped the Government naked. Mr. Baldwin’s reply might have been called insolent in anyone else.” “The Times." in a leader, says: “Pub lie opinion will endorse, while reluctant ly accepting. Mr. Eden's view, but will demand energetic and competent leadership to maintain peace, it will want to know what positive aims are to guide British policy, which will henceforth determine the League’s position. Its concrete objective can be obtained only through negotiation with Germany by means of a conference.” The “Daily Mail,” after referring to the strange spectacle of Mr. Eden revising fans whole policy with apparent satisfaction, asks what the world will think of the Government. “Will it not ask whether there is any sincerity left among our public men?” The “Daily Mail" adds that the League will dis appear in odium and obloquy and no body will be a farthing worse off The “News Chronicle" believes that League members will look elsewhere for leadership. It adds : “It is a crime and a disaster that Ministers, by cowardice, should have irreparably weakened Britain’s authority." The “Daily Herald" says: “Worse than surrender to Signor Mussolini will come unless Ministers realise that the country does not share their desire to betray the League and dishonour Britain’s name.”

The “Daily Telegraph” pays a tribute to Mr. Eden’s courage and resilience in seeking to win larger hope for the future, and states that neither pressure on Italy nor war can restore Abyssinia

Even Government supporters are criticising the handling of the sanctions debate, especially the failure effectively to answer Mr. Lloyd George’s strictures, says “The Times” political correspondent. It. is felt that Mr Lloyd George obtained a valuable start which may be difficult to overtake. The “Daily Mail’s" political correspondent says that Mr. Lloyd George’s speech was one of the most devastating of his career. There was consternation when he described Ministers as cowards. Many Conservatives were astounded that Mr. Baldwin only feebly replied to this charge. Government whips have been instructed to ensure a 100 per cent. Government vote against the Labour motion. There no question of a Government defeat, nevertheless Ministers are clearly disturbed by the reception of the sanctions decision.

LEAGUE AMAZED AT DECISION

Reactions in Capitals of Europe

(Received June 19, 7.40 p.m.) London, June 18. League circles can hardly credit the abandonment of sanctions, regarding this as a surrender of the only possible weapon, a Geneva message states. They are amazed that Britain should thus throw up the sponge, and wonder bow she can now prevent the collapse of the collective security system. It is emphasised that Italy’s violation of the Covenant and the position of Ethiopia are still unsettled.

Reserve tempers the satisfaction with which Mr. Eden’s speech was received at Rome because the announcement of the permanent strengthening of Britain’s Mediterranean defences gives food for thought. The Rome correspondent of ‘‘The Times” says that Mr. Eden’s speech has been received with general satisfaction. Exultant newspaper headlines proclaim the failure of the Geneva plans and the totalitarian Italian victory. Mr. Eden’s admission that no trace of the Abyssinian Government exists is reproduced with special emphasis, and has clearly caused gratification. The speech on the whole is hailed as an unexpectedly frank and courageous admission of miscalculations, which is more likely to result in the re-establishment of better ItaioBritish relations than a more “grudging” statement would have been. Italy is already seeing in Mr. Eden qualities long denied him, namely, statesmanship and realism. The German Government is interested, but remains aloof. “Mr. Eden has proved himself a master of the situation, and the Government had the courage to accept the consequences,” declares the “Voelkischer Beobaehter,” while the ‘‘Deutsche Allgemeine Zeltung” underlines Mr. Eden’s allusions to the freedom of the Mediterranean and the integrity of Europe’s western frontiers, concerning which an understanding with Germany Is a necessary condition. The French Cabinet is too occupied with domestic problems to permit of a considered discussion on sanctions, but caution may have something to do with the absence of official comment. Nevertheless, the general opinion seems to be that Mr. Eden has extricated the French Government from a dilemma. France will probably follow Britain's lend ns unostentatiously as possible.

The President of the Irish Free State, Mr. de Valera, declared in the Dail Elreann that sanctions have failed nnd must go, adding thnt the League no longer commanded the confidence of the people of the world. Mr. de Valera added that it would be madness to remain a member of the League.

DANGER TO LEAGUE

Labour Party’s Manifesto (Received June 10, 7.-10 p.m.) London, June 18. The British Parliamentary Labour Party has issued a manifesto drawing attention to the grave danger to the League owing to the abandonment of sanctions and accusing the Government of scrapping Its solemn pledges that the League would remain the keystone of its foreign policy.

It adds that the Government Is not only prepared to allow Signor Mussolini to profit by aggression but also to abandon the whole system of collective security through the League. The manifesto emphasises that the crisis should be used as an opportunity to

rehabilitate the League and make an approach to peace by rallying in defence of collective security.

CANADA’S ATTITUDE

Support For Lifting Of

Sanctions

Ottawa, June 18.

The Canadian delegates to the September meeting of the League of Nations will be instructed to support the movement for the lifting of sanctions. The Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King, announced in the House of Com mens that Canada’s policy had been that sanctions should be applied, but the Dominion had reserved the right of Parliament to speak before military sanctions should be applied.