SANCTIONS CONDEMNED

Evening Star, Issue 22363, 12 June 1936, Page 9

SANCTIONS CONDEMNED

MR NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN’S VIE^S CONTINUATION MIGHT LEAD TO WAR ■ Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 11. Condemning the policy of continuing sanctions, Mr Neville Chamberlain, speaking at a political dinner, declared that it would only lead to further misfortunes. Referring to Viscount Robert Cecil’s claim that it was still possible to preserve Abyssinia’s independence by pursuing sanctions, Mr Chamberlain said: “ That seems to me the veriest midsummer madness. It is no use shutting our eyes to realities. Sanctions have been tried and, failed. I am not blaming anyone for failure, but merely record it new because if we have retained any vestige of common sense we must admit we tried to impose upon the League a task beyond its powers. The nations composing the League must therefore decide so to limit the League’s functions in future that they may be in accord with its real powers. If that policy were courageously carried through I believe it might go far to restore the League’s prestige, although it must be admitted that the League is so limited that it could not longer be relied upon by itself to secure peace for the world. It is now apparent that the policy of sanctions involves, if not war, at least the risk of war, and that risk must increase in proportion to the effectiveness of sanctions. It is also apparent that in the presence of such risk nations cannot be relied on to proceed to the extremity of war unless their vital interests are threatened.”, Mr Chamberlain suggested the exploration of tKe possibility of localising the world’s danger spots with a view to a more practical method of ensuring peace by regional arrangements approved by the League. t PRESS FEATURES SPEECH LONDON, June 11. _ The newspapers give great prominence to Mr Chamberlain’s “ end of sanctions ” speech, and ask whether he was speaking for himself or the Cabinet. The speech was delivered at the 1900 Club’s dinner, at which Mr Chamberlain was the. guest of honour. Four hundred Conservatives attended, and \ the Marquess of Londonderry presided. \ ITALIAN MINISTERS ROME, June 11. (Received June 12, at 1 p.m.) Signor Ottavio di Peppo will succeed Baron Aloisi as Foreign Minister. Count Ciano may replace Baron Aloisi at Geneva if Italy retains her membership of the League. MR CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH APPROVED BY ITALIAN PRESS. ROME, June 11. (Received June 12, at 1 p.m.) The Italian newspapers arc giving prominence to Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech, declaring that it is the moat severe blow yet struck by a British politician against the maintenance of sanctions. DUCHESS DF ATHOLL RESIGNATION FROM LEAGUE * UNION. LONDON, June 11. (Received June 12, at 2 p.m.) Believing that sanctions should be abandoned, the Duchess of Atholl has resigned from the League of Nations Union. “ MERELY PROVISIONAL REFLECTIONS " REPLIES T 8 QUESTIONS IN HOUSE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. June 11. (Received June 12, at noon.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Neville Chamberlain) was reported in to-day’s papers as having severely errficised in his speech at a political dinner the London suggestions that the League of Nations sanctions imposed in connection with tho Italian resort to war in East Africa should he continued following the collapse of Ethiopian resistance or even intensified. These reports were the subject of a question addressed by private notice to the Prime Minister in the House of Commons this afternoon by tho leader of the Opposition (Major Attlee), who asked whether Mr Chamberlain’s speech represented the policy of the Government. Mr Baldwin replied that the Chancellor had informed him that the suggestions he put forward were definitely stated by him to be provisional reflections on the Italo-Ethiopian dispute, which had occurred to him personally. Major Attlee then asked if the views expressed by tho Chancellor were the considered views of the Government. The Prime Minister answered that no coaclusin--: on these matters had yet been reached. _ Pressed by the leaders of both sections of the Opposition to sav if the expression of private views by a Minister was consistent with tradition and constitutional usage and was not embarrassing to other Ministers, Mr Baldwin replied: “I make no complaint myself of what the' right honourable gentleman said,”