SILENT BRITAIN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12526, 11 April 1935, Page 5

SILENT BRITAIN

POLICY AT STRESA CONFERENCE' UNKNOWN. OTHER NATIONS’ VIEWS MADE ! PUBLIC. - MINISTERS REFUSE TO BE DRAWN. NO REPLY TO QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. ' (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 9. Following Sir John Simon’s statement on European affairs in the House of Commons, Mr. G. Lansbury, leader of the Labor party, remarked that he was-expressing tho view of a very considerable body of opinion when he said that it was,, hoped that the Government was going to carry out a policy at Strcsa of collective security through tho League of Nations, based, not merely on piling up poison gas or armaments but on disarmament. Sir Austen Chamberlain joined with Mr. Lansbury and Sir Herbert Samuel in the demand for the earliest possible debate on European conferences. He said his only object was that the Government should know in these critical times that they had the support and authority of the House behind them. Mr. Maxton (L.) protested that Mr MacDonald and Sir John Simon might undertaker commitments at Strcsa and Geneva of which the House had no indication. “We have heard wb'-ro Italy, Germany, Russia and Poland stand,” he said, “hut I do not know where my own country stand Sir John Simon said that nobody contemplated that Britain or anyone else would enter into commitments at Geneva on April 15. Sir E. Grigg (C.) : “While our representatives at Geneva will not entoi into fresh commitments without consulting Parliament. I hope they will, nevertheless, make it clear that we stand by our existing commitments.” Mr. G. Mnnder (Lib.)': “Is it not possible for the Government to state its policy before going to Stresa and Geneva ? May wo be assured that the Government really has a policy.No reply was given. (Kee. April TO. 0.0 p.m.) Sir Philip Sasson said neither Germany nor the other Continental countries had published the figures \)f their current production of aircraft. and until they did. it would be contrary to public* interest to disclose ours.

IMPORTANT BRITISH DELEGATION. PRESS URGE DECLARATION OF POLICY. FRANCE. ITALY AND RUSSIA MAY TAKE ACTION. MILITARY ALLIANCE MIGHT BE FORMED. fU.P.A. bv Elec. Tol. Cony right) (Received April 10. 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 9. The importance the British Government attaches to the Stresa talks is shown by the inclusion of Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent Under-Secre-tary of the Foreign Office Sir William Malkin, legal adviser; Mr. R. F. Wigrain, head of the Central Department; Mr W. Strand, head of the League section and Mr. R. A. Leepej. head of the News Department. They will he accompanied by Signor Grandi. Italian Ambassador in London, and the party* will he joined at Stresa by Sir Eric Drummond and two high officials from the British Embassy in Rome. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says that British Ministers are strongly of opinion that an early declaration reaffirming Britain’s determination to carry out all her obligations under the covenant and the Locarno pact should he made as a steadier to European nerves. The Daily Chronicle, in a leading article says: “There is danger, as it the British delegation allows it to bo thought that Britain cannot as a. last, resort be relied upon in a fight against an aggressor, that France. Italy and Russia, nervous of Germany, and impatient for action, will form a military alliance, thus bringing about the very thing that the British Government most deprecates.

PRESS EXPLANATION. REASSURANCE TO OTHER POWERS. BRITAIN AIAKES NO DECISION before AIEETING. (U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright.) j f Received April 10, < .10 p.m.) , LONDON, April 9. | The Times, in a leader, . says ■‘Foreign oountries arc certain to be somewhat disappointed at- Britain s failure to give a more precise indication of her policy, but Sir John Simon’s reason was that other Governments had been assured that no definite decision wolud be taken before the Stresa. conference. Air AlacDonald and Sir John Simon can count on the support of a united country both at Stresa. and Geneva. FRANCO-SOVIET MILITARY PACT WITHIN MECHANISM OF LEAGUE. ' '' CONCLUSION EXPECTED IN MOSCOW : ON APRIL 23. (U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright.) (Received April 10, S.lO p.m.) PARIS, April 9. It is understood that'A!. Laval and the Soviet Ambassador, Al. Potemkin, have agreed in principle on a FrancoRussiari pact for signature when AL Laval goes to Aloscow on April 23. Tho convention is designed to replace the Eastern pact if Germany and Poland refuses-to'sign it' ' ‘ ‘

Le Journal says that tho pact will ultimately take the form of a military agreement attached to the revised mechanism of the League. TRADITIONAL HOSPITALITY. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright.) (Received April 10, 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. The Times Milan correspondent says that Signor’ Mussolini was expected at Stresa to-day and will he the guest of Prince Borromeo in his palace on tho island, of Isola Bella. The British and French Ministers will stay at the Grand Hotel at Stresa, but take their meals at the palace in the room known as the “Room of the Medals,” representing episodes in the hie of Rt. Charles Borromeo. The conference sittings will he held in tho music room. The Prince has done everything to give his guests a taste of, the family’s traditional hospitality. All his staff will be in costume. Sixteen liveried footmen will wait on Signor Mussolini and the British and French MinI isters.

FRANCE’S ATTITUDE PROTEST AGAINST BREACH OF TREATY GENERAL MILITARY ALLIANCE FAVORED (U.P.A. by Glee. Tol. Copyright) (Received April 10, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 10 Mr Ward. Price, in the Daily Mail, says: ‘‘M- Laval at Stresa will place a, definite plan before the Anglo[talian Governments. He is convinced that peace in Europe is impossible without Franco-German reconciliation, lmt will not .suffer Germany’s infraction of the Versailles Treaty to pass without protest, otherwise the breach might be repeated. France favors the formation of a group of Powers pledged through a military alliance to preserve peace, a place therein .being reserved for Germany, whenever she is disposed to accept the engagements involved.” DIVERSE PRESS VIEWS “WHERE YVILL EXPLORATORY BUSINESS END?” (U.P.A. by Flee. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 10. 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. Referring to Sir John Si men’s statement, the Daily Telegraph -say*: “Public opinion will note with assurance that Britain is not committed to any cour e without previous discussion in Parliament, hut will ex peefc that- a strenuous attempt will be made to reach a dear-cut decision as soon as exploratory measures are complete.” The Morning Post asks: “When and where is this exploratory business going to end? YYe had better maite up our minds to join those countries which are ready here anS now to combine for common security. It - would be absurd to represent as an encirclement a defensive 'security system to which Germany can gain admission for the asking.” The Daily Mail says that Air MacDonald an>J Sir Jchn Simon (Should state that the British people will not alfow themselves to be taxed for or conscripted for the independence of Austria, the defence of Czeeho-Slov-akia cr the wars* of Moscow. They e-honl-I announce that they have decided to organise for British security, and build a supremo air" fleet.