FOREIGN REVIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 137, 6 December 1935, Page 9

FOREIGN REVIEW

DEBATE IN COMMONS

MINISTER'S SPEECH

THREE MAJOR QUESTIONS

ABYSSINIA, FAR EAST, AND

EGYPT

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received December 6, 11.45 a.m.)

RUGBY, December 5.

The three major questions to which the speech of the Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, Avas devoted in the foreign affairs debate in the House of Commons this evening were Abyssinia, the Far East, and Egypt.

In regard to Abyssinia Sir Samuel said Britain had taken her full part in collective, action under the Covenant and had continued her efforts for a peaceful settlement of the dispute. Also complete unanimity had been shown by Member States of the League to take their share in collective economic pressure, even though that meant loss and sacrifice to many of them. Nor was 4he agreement less remarkable when the Member States gave their particular blessing to the efforts for peace that France and Britain were making. "Nothing could have been made clearer by France and ourselves," he said, "than that, we were working within the framework of the League, that we, wished at the earliest possible moment to share our special responsibility with other Members, and that any terms that might emerge from these or other discussions must be acceptable to the three parties to the dispute—the League, Italy, and Abyssinia. As to economic pressure, the League machinery is working well. The situation is being constantly watched by an expert committee, and if it is found that in actual practice avoidable gaps still exist every effort will be made to strengthen the common front. OIL EMBARGO. "As to the embargo upon oil, I need only say that, as in the whole field of collective action so in this particular part of it, we are prepared to play our part. The League has already agreed to an embargo in principle, and I would like to make it quite clear that no one Government is any more responsible than another for this collective decision, or indeed for any of the sanctions proposals. When the meeting for the purpose of discussing the actual application of this form of pressure takes place we shall be prepared to take our share in whatever collective action is determined. "Meanwhile, let me dispose of the charge that British oil companies are exploiting the situation. In point of fact there has in the last quarter been a great increase in oil exports to Italy, but this increase has hot come from companies in which Great Britain is interested. To take the case of the Anglo-Iranian Company, the quanti- . tics of oil shipped by this company , to Italy have in fact during the first eleven months of this year been considerably less than the amounts ex- [ ported to Italy during the corresponding period of 1934. This reduction , has been particularly marked during the three months from August to October." i APPEAL TO MUSSOLINI. Referring to the delay in the meet- " ing of the Committee, he said that the ! change of date meant no weakening ' whatever in the attitude of the Memt ber States. It did, however, give a ■ further opportunity for intensive ef- ; fort to bring about a peaceful settlement. It might prove impossible to i reconcile the divergent aims of the ■ League, Italy, and Abyssinia, but : France and Britain intended to re- ■ double their efforts during the short , period of time still open before the Geneva meeting. The world urgently needed peace. Britain and France, acting on behalf of the League and in the spirit of the League, were determined to make another great effort for peace.

"We have no wish to humiliate Italy nor to weaken Italy," he said. "Indeed, we are most anxious to see a strong Italy in the world, an Italy, that is strong morally, politically, and socially, and that is able to contribute to the world invaluable assistance. I appeal once again to Signor Mussolini and his fellow-countrymen to dismiss entirely from their minds the suspicion that we have sinister motives behind our support of the League. We have none. We have not the least' desire to interfere in the internal affairs of Italy, and we are most anxious to see a strong Italy governed by a strong Government in whatever form the Italian people may desire. As long as collective action is needed the League, including ourselves, is bound to proceed under the Covenant, nor is there any likelihood that the League will weaken or its members fail to take their part. But one and all desire the occasion that calls for collective action to cease to exist.