BRITAIN'S POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1937, Page 9

BRITAIN'S POLICY

BASED ON COVENANT

SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDING

(British Offlalal Wlrelesi.)

(Received November 19, 11 a.m.)

RUGBY, November 18.

During a debate in the House of Lords expressions of good will to Lord Halifax's mission tp Germany were offered by representatives of all Parties and toe need for agreement with Germany as part of a general settle^ ment was fully recognised.

Replying to the debate, Lord Plymouth said it was unnecessary for him to emphasise that the Government was equally anxious to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the troubles and problems with which the world was confronted. If there was any misconception to the effect that the Government whs wedded to a policy of limited negotiations on specific questions he wbuld like to, correct that misconception at once. The Government had at times been driven to adopt this course, but it hid always had as its primary object a comprehensive settlement.

The foreign policy pf the Government, he said, continued to be based on. the principles of the Covenant of the league, and it fully accepted all its obligations as a member, The Prime Minister had made it clear that Britain wished to live on terms of friendship with Germany and Italy and that the search for this better understanding could be more, usefully pursued by the method of informal discussion than by public declaration. The Prime Minister was asked in the House of Commons if the British Ambassador in Berlin would be present at the conversation between Herr Hitler and Lord Halifax. .He replied that the visit of Lord Halifax to Germany was entirely private and unofficial. His Majesty's Ambassador would not be present during the prpposed conversations, which would, not be in the nature of negotiations,- :