SANCTIONS EXPERIMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22366, 16 June 1936, Page 9

SANCTIONS EXPERIMENT

EARLY ABOLITION INDICATED RESTORING EUROPEAN CONFIDENCE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 11. Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech is still the focal point of the discussion on sanctions. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ diplomatic correspondent, commenting on the surprise caused by Mr Chamberlain being the first responsible Minister to ventilate the subject, says: “Mr Chamberlain is anxious to take the earliest opportunity of countering Lord Cecil’s latest belligerent pacifist campaign.” The correspondent adds: “ The Ministers are already agreed on the main alma of British policy, which is directed towards securing an early end of the sanctions experiment and renewed collaborations with Italy in order to restore European confidence. Ministers are increasingly convinced that Britain must assume the responsibility of proposing the abolition of sanctions, which, it is believed, Mr Eden now favours. France has intimated to Britain her view that sanctions should be ended to enable an immediate start of the larger endeavours for the pacification of Europe. “ The French Prime Minister (M. Blum), a strict doctrinaire and internationalist, is reluctant that the French Government should take the public initiative, ‘’and desires to limit himself to a promise of French support for British action. Moreover, M. Blum’s Ministers are absorbed in domestic problems. So' far a clear idea of their views on European peace and security has not been obtainable. Accordingly London shares the views of Borne and Berlin, which are echoed in the smaller capitals, that internal difficulties at present render France negligible in the European equation. This is greatly regretted in London as being largely responsible for the stiffening of the German attitude. It also strengthens the view that the great European issues demand Italy’s renewed co-opera-tion in the Locarno Powers’ task following German reoccupation of the Rhineland.” REPORTS DENIED / LONDON, Juno 15. (Received June 16, at 10 a.m.) Reports that Mr Eden will resign as the result of Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech are officially denied. Mr Eden, in the House of Commons, said: “ The Government desires a debate on foreign policy at the earliest opportunity. I .will then be prepared to state the views of the Government regarding the action to be taken collectively at the meeting of the League Council and >the Assembly.” HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE ON

THURSDAY

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, June 15. (Received June 16, at noon.)

Six questions are down for answer in the House of Commons bearing on, the speech delivered last week by Mr Neville Chamberlain, and asking that the attitude that will be taken by the British Government at the meetings of the League of Nations towards the end of June should bq defined. Most of the questions addressed to the Prime Minister ask when an ( opportunity for a House of Commons debate on the international situation will be given.

Replying to a large number of questions, all directed to obtain a definition of the Government’s attitude, Mr Eden said the Government desired an early debate. “On that occasion I shall be prepared to state the views of His Majesty’s Government as to the action which is to be taken collectively at the .meetings l of th« Council and the Assembly of the League of Nations on June 26 and 30 respectively.” The Leader of th Opposition then gave notice that the Labour Party would ask for a debate on Thursday, and later the Prime Minister intimated that the Government would accept this request. CABINET DECISION REJECTION OF POLICY REPORTED. LONDON, June'ls. (Received June 16, at 1.30 p.m.) According to the ‘ Daily Mail,’ a hurried meeting of members of Cabinet, including Mr Eden, in the Prime Minister’s room, decided that sanctions must be dropped, and that Britain should lead the League retreat from the sanctions policy. Twenty speakers at the weekly meeting of the Conservative Members’ Committee were unanimous that sanctions must be terminated.