INDISCREET SPEECH IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 11

INDISCREET SPEECH IN BRITAIN

Czech Consternation

NEW SECRETARY MAKES APOLOGY (British Official Wireless.) (Received March 22, 7.5 p.in.) Rugby, March 21. A speech in his constituency (MidBedford) by Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, tlie new Parliamentary Under-Secre-tary, which has been widely cited ou the Continent as representing the policy of His Majesty's Government, was the subject of a number of supplementary questions in the House of Commons which the Speaker ruled out of order.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd was reported to have said: "I don’t think Mr. Chamberlain will make a movement/ to guarantee the frontiers of Czechoslovakia. I can contemplate nothing more ridiculous than guaranteeing that her frontiers will not be violated when half the people of Czechoslovakia cannot) be railed on loyally to support their Government. Germany could absorb Czechoslovakia, leaving Britain safe and secure.” , Mr. Chamberlain intervened at one point to ask the Speaker how he might have an opportunity of stating that Mr. Lennox-Boyd did not accept the published report of the speech at correct.

The Speaker indicated that his ruling referred only to supplementary questions which arose out of a question to Mr. Chamberlain asking if he would give a specific guarantee of the independence of Czechoslovakia. Mr. Chamberlain’s answer to the original question was that he had nothing to add to his reply to a similar question last Wednesday. A Press Association message adds that on the motion for the adjournment, Mr. Arthur Henderson raised the question of Mr. Lennox-Boyd’s speech, which he criticised as having caused consternation in Czechoslovakia. Indiscretion Not Denied. Mr. Lennox-Boyd, who is 6ft. 7in. tall, in apologising, said he would not attempt to deny his‘ indiscretion in speaking on foreign affairs at the present time. “I am so recently translated to an important position that perhaps I have not begun to realise the importance that might be attached to my chance words,” Ife said. “I shall realise in future that my task is to support' the Minister of Labour and any expression on foreign affairs must be very carefully weighed. “I apologise to 1 the Under-Secre-taries, whose office has thus been •brought into discussion and especially to the Prime Minister. I told him, as he knows, that I was not attempting to speak for the Government, as I do not know Cabinet’s policy.” The Opposition greeted the naive declaration with a great laugh for which Mr. Lennox-Boyd- expressed his gratitude.

Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker (Labour) contended -'that the speech .misrepresented the facts, especially the Czechoslovakians’ unwillingness to defend their country.

Mr. G. Le M. Mander (Liberal) said Mr. Lennox-Boyd used language gravely discourteous to France. Mr. Chamberlain, amid Mr. LennoxBoyd’s furious blushes, accepted his apology, adding that he would -be better advised to use more careful language at a moment of great delicacy.

“I am satisfied he did not have a sinister object and was merely indiscreet,” he said. “He is fresh to office and did not fully realise its implications. lam certain he will not repeat it.”