NO UTILITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 9

NO UTILITY

KEEPING OH SANCTIONS

BRITAIN'S DECISION

LEAD TO THE LEAGUE

In opening the debate on foreign affairs Mr. Eden said that the Government welcomed an opportunity of mailing J plain its attitude on a number of prob- '■ lems confronting the League of I Nations upon which the League States j together would have to reach a decision before the close of the month. ! From the beginning of the Italo- | Ethiopian dispute the British Government had taken its full part in collective action. It might be argued that collective action should have been more complete, Mr. Eden said, countering interruptions from the Opposition, but none could deny that the British Government had played its full part. It would continue to do so. "We shall act fully and loyally in line with any action the Assembly may decide upon," he added.

The Government might, if it had cared, Mr. Eden went on, have left it at that, but at a period of difficulty in the League's history that would not, in the Government's view, nor, he believed, in the view of the British people, be a very heroic course. They had a responsibility to their fellowmembers of the League not only for compliance with collective decisions but for guidance in reaching them.

DUTY TO GIVE A LEAD. The Foreign Secretary rehearsed the initiatives the British Government had taken at successive crises whj'le the dispute had been before the League, and declared it would not be right at this time of perplexity to shirk the duty of giving a lead, "I am quite convinced," he said, "that so far from the lead we are going to give embarrassing: others it will be welcomed in many quarters."

Turning to the question of what the League should do in the present circumstances, Mr. Eden said that the fact had got to be faced that the sanctions imposed had not realised the purpose for which they were applied. Abyssinia was in Italian military occupation, and so far as he was aware no Abyssinian Government survived in any part of Abyssinia. It could not be expected that continuation of the existing measures of economic pressure would restore the position in Abyssinia. Nothing but military action from outside could possibly do that, and so far as he knew no other Government, and certainly not the British Government, was prepared to take such military

action. To maintain the existing: sanctions without any clearly-defmcd purpose would only result in the crumbling of the sanctions front, so that in a short time the League would be confronted with a state of affairs even more derogatory to its authority than that which it faced today. In these circumstances, "his Majesty's Government, after mature consideration and on the advice which I as Foreign Secretary thought it my duty to give, has come to the conclusion that there is no longer any utility in continuing these measures as a means of pressure upon Italy."

1 "NOTHING TO APOLOGISE FOE." Though the League had not availed to prevent the successful accomplishment of violation of the Covenant, the Government did not regret, Mr. Eden emphasised—nor did he believe fellowLeague members regretted—having made the attempt. For that they had nothing to apologise for. and nothing to retract. Nor was there any question, in the British Government's view, of the judgment passed by the League last autumn on the act of aggression being either modified or reversed.

Before proceeding further to consider the future action of the League, the Foreign Secretary made an important declaration on mutual assistance among the Covenant-enforcing States. He recalled the reciprocal assurances exchanged last December under paragraph 3 of Article 16 of the Covenant between the Governments of certain Mediterranean Powers, including his Majesty's Government, and said that in the view of the latter—which view they proposed to state at Geneva as a contribution to confidence—those assurances should not end with the raising of sanctions if the Assembly decided to raise sanctions, but should continue during the period of uncertainty which must necessarily follow.

Mr. Eden added that in the light of the experience of recent months Ihe Government had determined that it was necessary for Great Britain to maintain permanently in the Mediterranean a defensive position stronger than that which existed before the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia broke out.

j BETTER CHANCE FOR LEAGUE. In the middle part of his speech, which was subject to some interruption at times from the Opposition benches, the Foreign Secretary discussed the future of the League, which, he said, needed to be earnestly and urgently considered by all its members Ho must make it plain, he declared, that the Government was determined that the League should go on. The fact that it nad tried and had Failed to arrest aggression was reason not for regretting the attempt but for seeking so to organise it that it should have a better chance to succeed hereafter, and with that object the lesson oi the last few months had got to be analysed.

RESTORATION OF LEAGUE'S AUTHORITY.

In the interval before the ordinary Assembly in September each League Government ought 1o bo cngiigod iti a yludy of the shortcomings, wonkiinsses, and dangers revealed by experience. His Majesty's Government, Mr. Kden aiinoimcfc], was so engaged most actively, and was already in close consulla-

SHOULD BE LIFTED

(British Official Wireless.) (Received June 19, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, June 18. Before a House which was crowded in every part for liis statement on the Government's policy at the forthcoming League meeting, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, announced this afternoon in the House of Commons that while it is ready to take part in whatever action might be collectively determined, his Majesty's Government had decided for its part that there was no utility in continuation of sanctions against Italy. He added an assurance that the Go% r ernment would devote itself to restoring the League to its full authority. At a later stage in his speech, Mr. Eden referred to the efforts of the successive British Governments to bring about reconciliation between France and Germany, and to the situation created by Germany's repudiation of her Locarno obligations on March 7 last. He said that the British Government in the present circumstances felt justified in looking for an early reply from Herr Hitler's Government to the inquiries recently addressed to it.

tion with the Dominions on the subject. It was the intention of his Majesty's Government to make the most constructive and timely contribution in its power to consideration of this question at the Assembly in September. He gave that definite assurance. "The Government "ill strive to restore to the League its full authority after this setback, which we admit. To that end we propose to devote ourselves." RELATIONS WITH GERMAN!*. Before he sat down Mr. Eden addressed himself to problems arising from Germany's reoccupation of the Rhineland in March. Successive British Governments had long stood for a policy of re-establishing good relations between Germany and her enemies in the last war, on a basis of Germany's j equality and independence of others, as well as of respect for engagements undertaken. The collaboration of Germany was indispensable to the peace of Europe, and British Governments had asked nothing better than to work witli Germany to that end. Referring to the German reoccupation of the demilitarised zone, Mr. Eden said that that action had aroused the utmost anxiety and disquiet in Belgium and France and among countries in a great part of Europe. In ;hose circumstances the policy of the Government had been to seek to calm anxiety and then to promote a situation in which considered reflection and careful negotiation might be possible. Unfortunately, the German Government had felt unable to make any spontaneous contribution towards restoration of confidence. Speaking of inquiries designed to elucidate the German proposals which had been dispatched to Berlin, the Foreign Secretary argued that it was important for Britain and for Europe to be assured that Germany now felt that a point had been reached at which she could signify that she recognised and undertook to respect the existing

territorial and political status of Europe except as it might subsequently be modified by free negotiation and agreement. A frank and reassuring response to that question he was sure would be a signal for returning confidence in Europe.

OPPOSITION DENUNCIATION. The Government's decision to advise raising of existing sanctions against Italy was vigorously denounced by Mr. Arthur Greenwood, who followed Mr. Eden in the debate as spokesman of the Opposition, and by Mr. David Lloyd George, who spoke next. It was not the League of Nations which had failed, Mr. Greenwood declared, but the courage of the Government.

What was the Government's policy for keeping peace? asked Mr. Lloyd George. Was it to emasculate the League of Nations, to rely on pacts, and, in the words of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "to limit the danger zone," and to mark out beforehand a potential enemy? Was it the policy of the Government to arm to the teeth in desperation because it knew no other way out? As surely as night followed day war must follow that suicidal policy.

PRIME MINISTER IN REPLY. The Prime Minister, who then initervened, reminded the House that he I had taken great pains to impress on the country the tentative nature of sanctions and collective security. He therefore repudiated the Opposition's charges of treachery to the electorate. He had not known if sanctions would be successful, but he never took the view that if they failed that was the end of the League. He was still convinced that they had got to consider most seriously the whole question of collective security. I

Mr. Baldwin described a number of difficulties with which the collective system was faced, and particularly the reluctance of the common people of most countries in Europe to take up arms for any cause but defence of their own frontier, but he remarked, in conclusion, that he hoped the League would one day be able to make collective security a reality. For his part he' had made it clear that he would not bo responsible for sanctions until the Government had been given authority to strengthen the country's defences. It was of the first importance, the Prime Minister emphasised, th#t Germany, France, and Britain should work for peace. The Government was taking a line which they knew would be repugnant to large sections of the British people because in the present i state of Europe they were honestly and j firmly convinced that it was the wiser of the two courses open to them and the one most conductive to peace.

CANADIAN ATTITUDE STATEMENT BY PREMIER (Received Juno 19, 1 p.m.) OTTAWA, June 18. The Canadian delegates to the September meeting of the League of Nations will be instructed to support the movement for the lifting of sanctions. The Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) announced in the House of Commons that Canada's policy had been that sanctions should be applied but Ihe Dominion had reserved Ihc right of Parliament to .speak before military sanctions should be applied.

The Government took special slops to see that Canadian nickel did not reach Italy, but this had been difficult because of indirect shipments to the United Kingdom and the United Slates.