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Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1938, Page 11

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BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS

CONSULTATION ON FOREIGN

POLICY

COMMONS STATEMENT

(United Press Association—By Electrta Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, Marcfe 24.

On the motion for the adjournment of the House of Commons, Mr. G. Le M. Mander (Liberal) asked the Secretary of State for the Dominions (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald) what had been the extent of the consultations \vith the Dominions and what agreement had been reached in connection with the profound change in foreign policy since the last election.

i Mr. Mander said he understood the Dominions had been informed of the progress of the negotiations with Italy but would not be consulted unless something arose, closely concerning them. What was the Government's attitude in relation to the Dominions' attitude towards the League of Nations, to membership of Which they attached enormous" importance? he asked. If the League were abandoned Australia and New Zealand would have a poor chance of maintaining their independence. If the League went as a result of changed British policy the Empire would go, too. SUPPORT FOR NEUTRALITY. Some of the Dominions, Mr. Mander said, had made it clear that if it were to be the "old dog-fight" on a purely nationalist basis they could not be expected to. participate. There was strong Canadian and South African opinion in favour of remaining neutral in a war in which.the Empire was involved, if that war took place, outside the Covenant of the League. Canadian quarters resented the .attempt to buttress Mr. Chamberlain's policy wheri the Canadian. Government had not been consulted. Mr. Mander quoted a Canberra message to "The Times" on March 3 stating the Federal Prime Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons) had obtained Mr. Chamberlain's authority to say that there had been no change in principle in the British attitude towards the League. A cable on March 22 showed that Australian newspapers reflected a cleavage of opinion. "The main point is that Mr. Lyons, according to this cable, said that information given him was that there was no change in foreign policy," Mr. Mander said. "Was such an assurance : given? Have the precise words of Mr. Chamberlain on February 22 been put Ato the Dominions, because I believe they mean the complete abandonment of the collective system of the League? What do the Dominions think of this statement, particularly New Zealand, which is wholeheartedly behind the Covenant?" MINISTER'S REPLY. In his reply, Mr. Mac Donald said he agreed that.the closest contact should be maintained.between Britain and the Dominion Governments regarding- international affairs, ln~ informing the Dominions of comments on them by diplomatic representatives, and on the Government's policy views. "We fulfil this adequately and to the satisfaction of the Dominions, which at any given moment are fully seized of any information we have regarding international affairs and our oplniions and policy thereon," Mr. MacDonald said. "Mr. Mander rightly suggested that if the British Government was , contemplating any important' change in foreign- policy it should give the Dominions good warning before it was published. I accept that principle in its-entirety, but where I quarrel with Mr. Mander is where he saM-there had been a recent change of policy." Mr. Mander: I did not say it wag recent. : . I Mr. Mac Donald: Its having taken place over a considerable period somewhat modifies,the necessity for specially communicating with the Dominions regarding it in the more recent past. Mr. Chamberlain's statement on February 22 of the Government's attitude towards the League was not representative of a recent change in policy. Those views regarding the inability of the League as at present constituted to fulfil all' the functions we once hoped have been held by the Government for a long time. COMPLETE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. "Ministers have said the same before, indicating this policy for some time past," Mr. Mac Donald continued. "The former Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in June made a statement the substance of which was exactly similar in sentiment to Mr. Chamberlain's statement on February 22. Mr. Eden declared that by the defection of some of its more important members the area of the League's co-operation had been restricted and its ability to fulfil its original functions reduced,, and that therefore it could not achieve all that had been hoped of it.

"I have been, in touch'with the Dominions about this policy throughout the past eighteen months. There has been a complete exchange of views since the League Assembly at Geneva in 1936, and the question was considered by the Imperial Conference last year," Mr. Mac Donald said.

"The very words of Mr. Chamberlain regarding the League were immediately telegraphed to the Dominion Governments. If that speech had represented a change of policy it would have been indicated that it was a matter for consideration, but the very_ opposite was the case."

Mr. Mac Donald was proceeding to say that the New Zealand Government's views were well known when the House automatically adjourned.