NO SPECIFIC PLEDGE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 11

NO SPECIFIC PLEDGE

Britain And Czechoslovakia London, March 23. The final draft of the declaration to be made in the House of Commons tomorrow by the Prime Minister, Mi.

Chamberlain, at about 3.45 p.m., when he opens the debate, was submitted to it further Cabinet meeting this morning for approval after its re-examma-tion by Mr. Chamberlain and the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, last night. T 1 Confirming earlier forecasts, the parliamentary correspondent of ‘ TnO Times” sums up the decisions thus; “It is now generally accepted throughout the House of Commons that Mr Chamberlain will announce the definite intention of the United Kingdom Government, supported by the other Governments of the Empire, not to enter into fresh commitments in Europe at this stage.” The correspondent of “The limes adds that undoubtedly the section Of Government supporters which is pressing for a specific pledge of military support for Czechoslovakia will be disappointed, It is believed concerning this that Czechoslovakia intimated to Britain that she -does not wish for a specific British pledge at this juncture, though she hopes Britain will declare that she cannot entirely dissociate herself from events in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Relieving the Tension.

Mr. Chamberlain hopes that Czechoslovakia’s decision to consider sympathetically any legitimate demands of the German minorities will do something to relieve the tension. The “News Chronicle,” referring to the Dominions’ viewpoints, says: “Mr. Chamberlain will use the Dominions expressions of opinion in support of a non-committal attitude toward Czechoslovakia. Dominion opinion has been influenced by the British Government’s report that Germany has assured Czechoslovakia that she does not harbour any aggressive intention, but such assurances do not cover a. definite period and are subject to the qualifietrtion that the Czechs are willing foi bilateral negotiations with Germany in the near future.” The Australian Associated Press says that the Primo Minister and the Foreign .Secretary summoned the Dominion High Commissioners to the Foreign Office to-night and read out the final draft of Mr. Chamberlain’s statement to be made in the House of Commons to-morrow. Full Text Cabled. It is gathered that the full text is being telegraphed to the Dominions tonight. It is very rarely that the complete text of such a long statement is sent to the Dominions. A delicate situation arose to-day regarding the Dominions' policies as a result of assertions in nearly every London newspaper that Mr. Chamberlain’s non-committal attitude to be adopted to-morrow on Central Europe would be influenced by the Dominions. The Government intervened in connection with such stories after Canadian officials, iu expressing resentment, had pointed out that Canada had neither been asked to state her attitude nor had made any reply to Mr. Chamberlain. They emphasised the obvious embarrassment of the implication that the Dominions were formally committing themselves. Hasty consultations thereupon occurred between the Dominions Office and Mr. Chamberlain, after which official quarters outlined the position. The Australian Associated Press was asked to make the following statement: “The Government is alarmed and apprehensive at unauthorised statements in the Press in connection with the relation of the Dominions on matters of Government policy. Nothing would be regarded with such alarm by the Dominions’ representatives here as suggestions that the Dominions should concur or fail to concur with any British Government statement. The Dominions are fully recognised, and have the utmost discretion when or whether to make known their viewpoints.”