BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 22892, 25 February 1938, Page 9

BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

MR CHAMBERLAIN'S VICTCRY GERMANY UNCERTAIN AS TO THE OUTCOME Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 24. The Berlin correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says: “ The political barometer was high this morning following Mr Chamberlain’s victory in the House of Commons, but was distinctly lower in the evening, political circles being uncertain whether it really indicates the turning point in British policy, as, •while Mr Chamberlain won the case for an attempt to reach an understanding .with Powers outside the collective system, his own declarations and the temper of his supporters may leave very little freedom to succeed therein.”. GENERAL HERTZOG SUPPORTS MR CHAMBERLAIN CAPE TOWN, February 24. (Received February 25, at 10 a.m.) Expressing complete confidence in Mr Chamberlain, General Hertzog said: Mr Chamberlain has my full support in his policy and in the method in which he is executing it.”

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS CRITICISM AND SUPPORT. ' LONDON, February 24. (Received February 25, at 10 a.m.) In the House of Lords Lord Addison said Mr Chamberlain was within his rights in opening negotiations with Italy, hut it was an inauspicious beginning. The absence of France from the discussions, by which she was vitally affected, created a dangerous •, situation. • Signor Mussolini was short of cash. It was extraordinary that the present moment should be chosen to come to the assistance of an embarrassed dictator. Any proposal to lend money would be received with a storm of opposition. The Prime 'Minister had deplored the incoinpetency of the League, but it was largely due to the conduct of the British Government that only two Powers were pleased with events—those who made •use of prison concentration camps and the bludgeon to produce unanimity among their citizens. Britain’s friends ■throughout the world were dismayed. Lord Lothian (Opposition Liberal) unexpectedly supported the Goverment. He explained that he spoke •personally. He had not consulted his Liberal colleagues. The League had failed, he said, because it put peace • first and justice second, whereas justice • ‘-was the only condition on which peace could rest. The Prime Minister’s atti- " tud© that the' League no longer con- , iormfed to realities and was more likely to lead to war than to peace had increasingly gained ground. Lord Lothian said: “Italy can do us as much damage in the Mediterranean as we can do to Italy. Thero is no halfway house between friendship and hostility. Unless there is confidence everything each does will cause suspicion to the other.” Lord Londonderry favoured a fourPower pact between England, France, Italy, and Germany. He expressed the opinion that they might be on the threshold of an era of world peace. Lord Ponsonby (Labour) said he differed from the Labour manifesto. In his view Mr Chamberlain was absolutely right. It was no good colds shouldering nations whose forms of Government were different from ours. POSITION DISCUSSED : RUGBY, February 24. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) In the House of Lords there was a discussion on Mr Eden’s resignation. Lord Allen welcomed the Government’s decision. Viscount Cecil protested against the argument used by Government supporters, which implied that the League policy meant an attitude of negation to the just claims of any Power. It ; was untrue to suggest that the League. ; was against negotiations. He declared j that union fn Europe or peace would ■, never be" obtained except by establish- ; ing this supremacy of law based on jusj fice. j Lord Brocket said ho felt that Mr k Eden’s resignation would make Italy i'take an entirely different view of Brii tain, and he welcomed the change. Lord Strabolgi thought the Government had made a radical and serious change in its foreign policy, which the Opposition must denounce, although it had no desire to see quarrel with Italy. Lord Halifax, replying, said that all the members of the Government, including Mr Eden, were agreed that conversations with Italy were desirable, and he outlined the incidents leading up to the difference of view between Mr Chamberlain and Mr Eden. NO CHANGE IN POLICY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 24. '(Received February 25, at 1 p.m.) Lord Halifax maintained that the Government’s policy was not dictated by fear, but was inspired by hope. The

constant object of British foreign policy must be peace, and the Government was not prepared to allow an apportunity to pass of securing peace by action for which the present might be the psychological moment. “We are told,” he added, “ that the resignation of Mr Eden marks a complete change in policy. That is not so.” Lord Halifax maintained that the Prime Minister supported the League, and had given an assurance that he would not tear up one single article of the Covenant nor abandon even Article 16. Regarding Abyssinia, he asked them to face facts, and said the conquest of that country could only have been prevented by war. There were very few indeed with responsibility who were prepared to face that. “ I am not in the least afraid of Italy or any other Power in the world. I am not afraid of war in the sense that I fear defeat, because I know the temper of this country, and (know it will never embark on war unless it is thought right and inevitable. I know also that Laving embarked on war, it will not let go until, as usual, it has won, but I, and everybody else, detest war.” Concluding, Lord Halifax said: “ We shall refuse to hold our hands and merely drift along in dangerous times, making warlike noises in the ship in order to encourage the passengers.” He maintained that the debate showed that the preponderance of opinion was behind the Government in this matter. AUDIENCE AT PALACE

RUGBY, February 24. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) The King gave an audience to the Prime Minister and Lord Halifax at Buckingham Palace. The latter was present as Lord President of the council for a meeting of the Privy Council. HR CHAMBERLAIN'S POSITION A NOTE OF APPREHENSION. LONDON, February 24. (Received February 25, at noon.) The Associated Press says:—“lt is becoming more evident every minute that Mr Chamberlain is concentrating around himself a control more exclusive than anything hitherto experienced under British constitutional government. Henceforth it may be found that all policy measures will he born at No. 10 Downing Street as distinct from the respective Government departments. Mr Chamberlain will be the Government. His Cabinet colleagues may be little more than conventional subordinates. The bearing on Anglo-dominion relations cannot be exaggerated, because however divergent are the views regarding Mr Eden’s policy, nobody denies that he made possible a steady and consistent interpretation of it abroad. He spread frankness between the Foreign Office and the public here and in the dominions, rendering possible for newspapers to keep the public and the dominions abreast of his policy, whereas all this is now threatened with curtailment, if not with extinction.” PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 24, (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) Signor Grandi will leave London at the week-end to attend a meeting,of the Fascist Grand Council in Rome. Yesterday he discussed with Lord Plymouth (chairman of the Non-interven-tion Committee) the British proposals for the withdrawal of. volunteers from Spain and the granting of belligerent rights. Lord Plymouth also saw M. Corbin (French Ambassador) and it is understood that he will interview the ambassadors of the other chief Powers within the next few days.

SIR JOHN SIMON OK THE POSITION MR EDEN’S ACTION BEWILDERING. RUGBY, February ii. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) The talks with Italy and Mr Eden’s resignation were referred to by Sir John Simon in a speech at Birmingham. In regard to Mr Eden, he expressed the hope that the loss" of this brilliant man was only temporary. As to the cause of the resignation, he said the rest of the Cabinet had at no time been conscious of the existence of any such fundamental divergence of views, between Mr Chamberlain and Mr Eden as the words of the latter would suggest. They had all worked together on terms of close cordiality, and the broad objects of their policy were the objects of them all. There was no difference whatever on the question of the desirability of having conversations with Italy. The immediate issue was the question of time and place. Mr Eden’s departure was a cause of the deepest regret, and to some of them the cause was bewildering. Sir John Simon contended that Mr Chamberlain’s policy would appeal to the people of Britain because it was a positive policy and its justification did not depend on the result of the conversations. SUPPORT FOR MR CHAMBERLAIN'S POLICY RUGBY, February 24. (Received February 25, at II a.m.) It is reported that the Conservative Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee met this evening and expressed whole-hearted support for Mr Chamberlain’s policy. The offer of the resignation on the part of officers of the committee in view of the abstention of two of them from a division on the Opposition’s vote of censure in the House of Commons was not accepted.

LADY CHAMBERLAIN AS ENVOY LONDON, February 24. (Received February 25, at 10.5 a.m.) The Rome correspondent of the British United Press quotes an authoritative source as stating that Lady Austen Chamberlain had several talks with Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano. It is understood that she wrote assuring Mr Neville Chamberlain that Italy had no aggressive and no destructive designs against Britain. On the contrary Signor Mussolini desired better relations with Britain on a basis of mutual recognition of vital but unconflicting interests of the two countries. LORD PERTH IN LONDON RUGBY, February 24. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) Lord Perth (British Ambassador) arrived in London from Rome to receive instructions with a view to the opening in Rome on his return of the Anglo-Italiau conversations. FOREIGN OFFICE PROCEDURE RUGBY, February 24. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) In reply to a question by Mr Attlee, Mr Chamberlain stated that Foreign Office questions should be addressed to him until a new , Foreign Secretary was appointed.