“UTTER FIASCO”

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 9

“UTTER FIASCO”

Lloyd George Attacks Foreign Policy

PROVOCATIVE SPEECH Debate in Commons on the Addis Ababa “Massacres” DAMAGING PROPAGANDA By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 26, 6.30 p.m.) London, March 25. Speaking in the House of Commons on the motion for the adjournment, Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour. Kingswinford) drew attention to the shock to public opinion of the recent Addis Ababa massacres. The horror had been accentuated as the excesses were perpetrated in a Christian country, he said. The American Minister in Addis Ababa had allowed 700 Abyssinians refuge in the American compound until he received Italian assurances that they would be properly treated and their lives spared. Nevertheless, they were butchered like cattle when they left the compound. Mr. Henderson hoped Great Britain still had the moral courage to protest against such ruthlessness. Mr. G. Le M. Mander (Liberal, East Wolverhampton) drew attention to the anti-British propaganda in all languages, and especially in Oriental languages, emanating from Berlin and Rome. Hon. H. G. Nicolson (National Labour, West Leicester) said anyone who had recently been abroad could not but be appalled at the effect of foreign broadcasts throughout the world, and especially to African, natives.

Non-Intervention Ineffective.

Mr. D. Lloyd George (Independent Liberal, Caernarvon) declared that British foreign policy had been a succession of blunders. Its action in Manchuria was an utter fiasco; in Abyssinia a humiliation; and non-interven-tion in Spain was completely ineffective. He asked if Britain had abandoned every pledge to Abyssinia, and if she had taken any steps to the League of Nations with a view to entering a great international protest against the most horrible massacre of modern times. He urged, regarding Locarno, that Britain should go as far with Herr Hitler as he was prepared to go on the vital issue. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Viscount Cranborne, said that too much importance should not be attached to propaganda, as example was better than precept. Regarding the Addis Ababa massacre, he said Britain, throughout the Abyssinian dispute, was concerned collectively with the League which, without British membership, would not have taken any action. Viscount Cranborne promised to bring all Mr. Lloyd George’s points before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anthony Eden. The House adjourned till April 6.