MR CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 22891, 24 February 1938, Page 13

MR CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH

RECEPTION IN ITALY GENERAL FEELING OF SATISFACTION PROSPECT OF BETTER RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN I'm* Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 23. “Mr Chamberlain’s speech in the House of Commons aroused- great interest,” says the Rome correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ “It is considered even more important to Italy than Mr Eden’s resignation.” “ The general feeling in official Italian circles,” says the Rome correspondent of ‘ The Times,’ “ is one of profound satisfaction. There is now a prospect of

better Anglo-Italian relations and the possibility of the process of splitting Europe into two hostile blocs may be arrested.” ‘

“ Lord Perth, the British Ambassador in Rome, who is going to London to see Mr Chamberlain, is taking personal messages from Signor' Mussolini and Count Ciano to Mr Chamberlain, reiterating Italy’s readiness arid goodwill to reach an Anglo-Italian understanding/’ says the Rome correspondent of the ‘ Daily Mail.’ REFERENCES TO LEAGUE GERMANY INTERESTED. BERLIN. February 23. The newspapers give great promi-’ nence to Mr Chamberlain’s statements about the League, COMMENT IN AMERICA PRESIDENT’S POLICY CRITICISED. NEW YORK, February 23. In an editorial, ‘ Some Faces Are Red,’ the ‘Herald-Tribune’ says; “ In quoted comment and even more eloquent silences' one seems to detect a certain under-current of irritation behind Washington’s response to the sad news from London. As a matter of fact, the discomfiture is basically President Roosevelt’s own fault. It is the fault of a policy constructed upon the optimistic assumption that it is possible to save the world for nothing. It is easy for the American President to summon nations to great deeds, since geography makes it plain that Americans \vill be the last people to get hurt. President Roosevelt may be trying to arouse the American people to a more, bellicose attitude in defence of democracy abroad, but if so he has not dared frankly to explain this to them. Instead, he devoted himself to encouraging ideas of bellicose blockade and embargo, policies. He is always reiterating that he has no idea of leading them to war. This may popularise such moral crusades at home, but it is unlikely to make them attractive to those foreign Powers who will find themselves sitting in the front line trenches. "■ , LABOUR DEMANDS GENERAL ELECTION LONDON, February 23. (Received February 24, at 10 a.m.) The Labour Party and the Trade Union Council have issued a manifesto stating that the Government has no mandate for a change in foreign policy and demand a General Election. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GOVERNMENT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received February 24, at noon.) A ‘manifesto issued after a meeting of the National Council of Labour—the executives of the Labour Party, the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the Trade Union Council—called to consider the resignation of Mr Eden, challenges the Government to submit to an electorate change, which it alleges has been made in the Government foreign policy. It states that Mr Chamberlain and the majority of the Cabinet have disregarded the pledges upon which the National Government gained the nation’s confidence at the last General Election. It has brought the League Covenant into derision. It has abandoned the principles which hitherto inspired the British people in their international relations. The Government has decided to enter .upon negotiations with Italy under conditions which involve betrayal of the friendship and confidence of democratic nations. The Government refuses ‘to make a stand in defence of international law. The Government’s pokey imperils the security of the country and the Commonwealth. The British Labour movement reaffirms its uncompromising opposition to any agreement with either Fascist Italy or Nazi Germany on the basis indicated by Mr Chamberlain in his statement to Parliament. INNER HISTORY OF RESIGNATION POLITICAL INTRIGUE SUGGESTED. LONDON, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11.5 a.m.) The Associated Press says the Government is well satisfied with last night’s vote. The abstainers did not exceed expectations and Ministerialists to-day were in a much easier frame of mind. a , The situation is much more satisfactory in the House, but a long time will have elapsed before the affair has settled down throughout the country. Labour members’ rhetoric and bitterness, coupled with the public’s profound distaste for the manner of Mr \

Eden’s exit, ■will inevitably be capitalised throughout the country in a proEden, anti-Government campaign.

The next move occurs when Mr Eden speaks in his constituency on February 25, revealing many points he withheld from the debate. It would be most interesting to have the inner history revealed, because his resignation was anything but devoid of subtle political intrigue. VINDICATION OF PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTION NOTHING GLOSSED OVER OR HUSHED UP. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11.30 a‘.m.) The conflicting views on the issues raised by the resignation of Mr Eden, which were expressed in the House of Commons, are reflected in newspaper comment. Support for the attitude taken by Mr Eden is confined almost entirely to the Opposition Press, but on all sides there is full recognition of the high conviction by which Mr Eden was guided. ‘ The Times ’ says British belief in the value of publicity as a political safeguard has been fortified during the past two days. The full and frank .debate in which the House of Commons investigated the origins of the disagreement between Mr Eden and his colleagues has now largely restored the 'sense of proportion. It has been an elementary vindication of the' institution of Parliament. Nothing has been glossed over or hushed up. Criticism is free, and critics will continue to be heard. But the world has no excuse for misconceiving an event which means no more at the bottom than that the British Government, while faithful to its friendships and principles, will devote new energy to a thorough test of what may be done by more positive diplomacy for the elimination of the causes of international suspicion and hostility. The conversations with Italy are -no rebuff to the League, nor in any sense a disservice to it. NEW FOREIGN MINISTER NO ANNOUNCEMENT YET. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received February 24, at noon.) The Prime Minister told the Opposition Leader in the House of Commons that he could not make any announcement regarding the new Foreign Secretary, but he hoped to do so shortly. He undertook to bear, in mind the objections to the Foreign Secretary not being a member of the House of Commons to which Mr Attlee had called his attention. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER OFFER TO RESIGN REJECTED. PARIS, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11 a.m.) ■ It is confirmed that M. Delbos offered to resign on February 22 because of his close collaboration with Mr Eden’s policy. Ministers unanimously refused to accept it, and M. Delbos told the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee that if the Anglo-Italian talks succeeded, France would consider similar discussions subject to certain guarantee*. STATEMENT DENIED PARIS, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11 a.m.) M. Delbos denies that be intended to resign. ’ ' DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IN EUROPE LONDON, February 23. (Received February 24, at noon.) The Australian Associated Press says that, with the announcement of Britain’s new foreign policy, perit-up diplomatic activity in Europe has been unloosened. The British Cabinet’s session to-day dealt with the forthcoming talks with 11 Duce. Poland’s Foreign Minister. M. Beck, is at present holding important conversations with General Goering at Warsaw. Herr von Ribbentrop is expected in Rome next week, when the Non-intervention Committee also resumes. The French are expected to confer with the British in the near future, and the Anglo-Ger-man talks, which Herr Hitler and Lord Halifax commenced, will resume before the termination of the Rome conversations It is known that Mr Chamberlain and the Foreign Office have reason to believe that Signor Mussolini is extremely anxious for an agreement with Britain, but details in connection with it are not known, as is customary by the Foreign Office, but were conveyed direct to Mr Chamberlain through an outside informant. HO ITALIAN REQUEST FOR CREDITS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11.30 a.m.) Sir John Simon, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said no request had been received from representatives of Italian firms in London for extensive credits with a Government guarantee. 'MINISTERIAL ASSURANCES LONDON, February 23. (Received February 24, at 2 p.m.) In the House of Commons, referring to Mr W. S. Morrison’s assurances, Mr Chamberlain said the entire Ministry bad assured him that they had not considered themselvse under duress concerning the decisions reached during the differences between himself and Mr Eden.