ASSURANCE ASKED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 116, 19 May 1938, Page 9

ASSURANCE ASKED

SUPPOWT FOR FRANCE

RESISTING ITALIA#

PRESSURE

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS

(British Official Wlrelesi.J

(Received May 19, 11.15 a.m.)

RUGBY, May 18,

Several questions on the Spanish situation and the conversations between France and Italy were answer ed in the House of Commons by th« Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour) asked for an assurance that the British Government would support the French Government in resisting Italian pressure to change French policy towards the Spanish Government. Mr. R. A. Butler, in reply, stated that the good offices of the British Government were always at the disposal of the French and Italian Governments, should they desire them, with a view to, expediting a settlement of the Spanish situation. »tr. Henderson: In view of the fact that the policies of the French Government and the British, Government in relation to Spain are the same, does the British Government intend to allow the Italian Government to drive a wedge between them on this question? Mr. Butler: I do not necessarily accept the interpretation Mr. Henderson puts on Signor Mussolini's speech, and I cannot therefore give the assurance he desires. MEANING OF "SETTLEMENT." Replying to another question by Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker (Labour), who wished to know whether he could define the circumstances in which his Majesty's Government would consider that a settlement of the Spanish question had been arrived at, Mr. Butler said he could not go further than the statement made by the Prime Minister on May 2. Mr. Baker: Does the Government accept or repudiate the definition Signor Mussolini has now given that there must, be victory for General Franco before a settlement can be arrived at? Mr. Butler: Government policy it given by the Prime Minister and not by anyone else. A question by Captain Wedgwood Benn (Labour) referred to an interview Ipetween the Premier and the Italian Ambassador in February and asked in what terms Mr. Chamberlain had explained the meaning of the words "a settlement in Spain" in that conversation? . ■ Mr. Butler: The conversation between the Italian Ambassador and Mr. Chamberlain was private, and he is not prepared to answer question! as to its nature. The right honourable member must not assume that the Prime Minister gave an/"explanation of the words cited in his question. Discussing in the House of Commons on May 2 the question of the Anglo-Italian agreement coming into force, Mr. Neville Chamberlain said:-— "Full effect cannot be given to thi» Agreement until we can regard the Spanish situation as settled and find ourselves in a position' to acknowledge the Italian conquest of Ethiopipa. As to Spain, there have been suspi- < cions frequently expressed that Italy would refuse to withdraw her volunteers in accordance with the Nonintervention Committee's proposal.and that she .was desirous to obtain for herself some permanent position in Spain or in some Spanish overseas possession, and I therefore desire to call particular attention to Count Ciano's letter, in which he gave three specific assurances to the British Government."

After reading the assurances to the House Mr. Chamberlain said: "I wish to state that his Majesty's Government accepts them as being given in. good faith and believes .that the Italian Government intends to keep fhem in spirit as well as in letter."