TRIED AND FAILED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 9

TRIED AND FAILED

SANCTIONS POLICY

CONTINUANCE CONDEMNED MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEW United I'ress Association—By Electric Tolegrapli—Copyright. LONDON, June 10. Condemning the policy of continuing sanctions, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at a political dinner, declared that it would only lead lo further misfortunes. Referring to Viscount Cecil's claim that it was still possible to preserve Abyssinia's independence by pursuing sanctions, Mr. Chamberlain said that that seems to him to be the very midsummer of madness.

"It is no use shutting our eyes to realities," he declared. "Sanctions have been tried and failed. I am not blaming 1 anyone for the failure. I merely record it now because if we have retained any vestige of common sense we must admit that we have tried to impose upon the League a task beyond its powers. The nations composing the League must therefore decide so to limit the League's functions in future that they may be in accord with its real powers. "If that policy were courageously carried through I believe it might go far to restore the League's prestige, although it must be admitted that the League would be so limited that it could no longer be relied upon by itself to secure peace for the world. RISK OF WAR. It is now apparent that a policy of sanctions involves, if not war, at least the risk of war, and that risk must increase in proportion to the effectiveness of sanctions. It is also apparent that in the presence of such a risk nations cannot be relied on to proceed to the extremity of war unless their vital interests are threatened.

Mr. Chamberlain suggested exploration of the possibility of localising the world's danger spots with a view to a more practical method of ensuring peace by regional arrangements approved by the League.

Newspapers give great prominence to Mr. Chamberlain's speech, and ask whether he was speaking for himself 01* for Cabinet.

The speech was delivered at the 1900 Club's dinner, at which Mr. Chamberlain was the guest of honour. Four hundred Conservatives attended, and Lord Londonderry presided. ITALIAN~APPROVAL (Receivcd June 12, 12.50 p.m.) ROME, June 11. Italian newspapers give prominence to Mr. Chamberlain's speech, declaring that it is the severest blow yet struck by a British politician against the maintenance of sanctions. QUESTIONS IX COMMONS NO COMPLAINT'BY MR. BALDWIN IBrttlsli Ofllelal Wireless.) ißeceived June 12, 12.20 p.m.) RUGBY, June 11. The Chancellor, of the Exchequer was reported in today's papers as having severely criticised in a speech at a political dinner in London last night suggestions that the League sanctions imposed in connection with the Italian resort to war in East Africa should be continued following the I collapse of the Ethiopian resistance, or [even intensified. I These reports were the subject of a Question addressed by private notice to the Prime Minister in the House of Commons this afternoon by the Leader of the Opposition. Major Attlee asked whether Mr. Chamberlain's speech represented the policy of the Government. Mr. Baldwin replied that the Chancellor had informed him that the suggestions he had put forward were definitely stated by him to be provisional reflections on the Italo-Ethio-pian dispute which had occurred to him personally. Major Attlee then asked if the views expressed by the Chancellor were the considered views of the Government. The Prime Minister answered that no conclusions on these matters had yet been reached. Pressed by leaders of both sections of the Opposition to say if the expression of private views by a Minister was consistent with tradition and constitutional usage and was not embarrassing to the other Ministers, Mr. Baldwin replied, "I make no complaint myself of what the Rt. Hon. gentleman said."