EFFECT IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 83, 10 April 1939, Page 7

EFFECT IN BRITAIN

INVASION OF ALBANIA,

FURTHER SUPPORT TO i RE-STATED POLICY \

MINISTERS CONFER | i

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, April 3. !

The further complication of the international situation by the Italian invasion of Albania in the early hours of Friday has engaged the close attention of the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax. A considered judgment on the developments in Albania is, however, impeded b,y lack of official or other reliable information. It is noted in London that a similar difficulty is experienced by other Governments. The decision of the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, to return to London and a meeting of Ministers which was held in London this morning are signs of the inevitable comcern with which the British Government is watching • the situation created by the Italian move. MINISTERS' STATEMENT, i After this morning's conference of j Ministers, for which the Chancellor of | the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, had hurriedly returned to London from North Berwick, and which was attended by eight other members of the Cabinet who were available, in addition to Lord Halifax, a statement was issued from No. 10 Downing Street which said: The Ministers concerned heard .a report summarising the information at present in the possession of the Government as to the position in Albania. The situation is still somewhat obscure in regard to a number of important factors, and it has therefore been arranged that the Ministers concerned should remain in or near London for the present. No further meeting has, however, yet been arranged. Whatever is arranged about a further Ministerial meeting, it may be assumed that Mr. Chamberlain will take an early opportunity of seeing Lord Halifax, with whom he was in constant touch both on Friday and on Saturday by telephone, and of consulting with others of his principal colleagues. Further information received through official channels by tomorrow! may enable the Ministers to form a more complete and trustworthy picture of events. Whitehall and the Quai d'Orsay are, of course, maintaining their usual close contact. VISITS TO FOREIGN SECRETARY. Among Lord Halifax's visitors at the Foreign Office this afternoon were the French Ambassador, M. Corbin, and the Albanian Minister, well as the United States Ann. ssador, Mr. J. P. Kennedy. Lord Halifax also saw Mr. C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opposition, and informed him of the position as it appears to the Government. The leader of the opposition Liberals, Sir Archibald Sinclair, who was out of town, sent a telegram in association with the Liberal leader in the House of Lords, Lord Crewe, which supports a request made earlier today by Mr. Attlee for the immediate reassembly of Parliament. Pending a clarification of the issues, which it is felt the Government is awaiting before forming definite opinions, public comment is restrained, but so far as it goes it makes it clear that, whatever the consequences, in the international sphere, of the fresh Italian j initiative and their effects on the pubBic mind in Britain, the ultimate results will be a strengthening in all sectkms of opinion of support of the recent restatement of British policy by the Prime Minister.

Great interest is naturally displayed in the relation of these developments to the Anglo-Italian Agreement, the anniversary of the signature of which falls tomorrow.