DOMINIONS INFLUENGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1937, Page 13

DOMINIONS INFLUENGE

FOREIGN POLICY

CONCERN AT EUROPEAN TENSION

APPEASEMENT MOVE

ATTITUDE TOWARDS ITALY

CJ».it_<J Tress Association—By Elc.lrlc Tclo-

era pU—Copyright.

(Received June 18, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 17.

The political correspondent bf the Australian Associated Press agency learns that Britain's invitation to the German Foreign Minister to visit London may be taken' as a direct sequel of the discussions of the international situation at the Imperial Conference. _ Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Mr. Neville' Chamberlain, and Mr. Anthony Eden having explained with the utmost frankness Britain's grave concern at the European tension, they then sought the Dominions' viewpoints on how some approach might be made towards appeasement. It soon became evident that the Dominions were convinced that the first move must be an attempt to overcome the Anglo-German deadlock. Mr. Chamberlain, whose extraordinarily businesslike grip on all great problems profoundly impressed every delegate from the Dominions, instantly responded, and the Dominions were well satisfied to leave the initiative, coupled with ultimate developments, in'his hands. BRITAIN'S PLANS ALTERED.

Whilst the desire of the Dominions that Britain should attempt to overcome the Anglo-German deadlock had much lo do with the invitation to Baron yon Neurath, it transpires that their attitude towards the conquest of Abyssinia was largely instrumental in altering Britain's intentions regarding recognition of the fact.

It appears that the Foreign Secretary considered tlie time was approaching when they should make a move towards de jure recognition as a prelude to improving relations with Italy, but that the insistence of the New^Zealand Prime Minister and to a lesser degree that of the other Dominion leaders that the aggressor should not be recognised resulted in Britain, reconsidering the situation intead of initiating recognition with hich the Dominions disapprove.