BRITISH LEADERSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 21905, 17 December 1934, Page 11

BRITISH LEADERSHIP

SEEKING PEACE OF THE WORLD SIR JOHN SIMON'S DECLARATION (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, December 15. (Received December 17, at noon.) Sir John Simon, speaking at Bolton, emphasised the vital concern of foreign affairs to the British people. More than over, he said, Britain had a great part to play, not only by contributing advice, but also—and he said-it deberately—by contributing leadership, which in the interests of the world itself Britain must not shirk. The spirit and temper of the British people were such that, while they were not prepared to enter into reckless foreign adventures, they knew they had their part to play in counselling moderation and friendliness and good understanding, all in the interests of world peace. As an illustration, the Foreign Secretary instanced the cases of the Saar and Yugoslavia. In regard to the Saar, he said, the danger of a disturbance had been averted, and the British Government and people were glad to have done their part in ensuring that happy result.

Referring to the situation created between Yugoslavia and Hungary as one result of a useless political assassination that had lately shocked the world, Sir John Simon said that a most bitter and dangerous quarrel arose between those two countries and threatened to involve some of the neighbouring countries, but there again Britain, in co-operation with others, seized the opportunity to promote peace by vigorous practical action, and again success had been achieved. ; .

Sir John Simon said that at Geneva British influence and intervention were indeed significant and in some cases of vital effect upon the course which events took.