THE FAR EAST

Evening Star, Issue 21715, 9 May 1934, Page 9

THE FAR EAST

BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE MORE VIGOROUS POLICY URGED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 8. In the House of Lords Lord Ponsonby moved urging the Government to adopt a moro vigorous policy with regard to disarmament in the Far East. He said Britain’s submission to the Japanese demands had had an unfortunate effect throughout the world. The Government was behaving like a small Power of negligible influence and incapable of bold initiative. Tiscount Cecil said he had not seen any country anxious to break peace, with the conceivable exception of Japan, in view of her ambiguous policy during the past two years. He did not believe it would break out in war, but it had reached a critical issue as to whether she intended to revert to prewar international relations. The Government’s policy with regard to the League was insufficiently vigorous. Lord Stanhope, in reply, said that Britain could not take isolated action beyond what the League was prepared to do. The Government would continue to take the lead at Geneva as long as there was a vestige of hope for a disarmament convention. It had naturally accepted Japan’s definite assurance that she intended to abide by the ninePower treaty and the open door in China. Lord Ponsonby withdrew his motion.