BRITISH WISHES

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1938, Page 7

BRITISH WISHES

Other Powers Should Share (Received December 13, 9.29 p.rif?) RUGBY, December 12. Mr Oliver Stanley, In a speech, said he regarded a real ’ agreement with ( Germany as the greatest guarantee we could have' for the peace of the world. He did not regard as an agreement a method whereby one side did all . the giving and the other all the taking. If the people of this country were prepared to pay a heavy price for peace, they were entitled to expect that the Germans, in their turn, should be prepared to pay their price. . - Speaking at the League of Nations’ Union meeting, Mr W. Churchill urg--1 ed that, so far from abandoning what was left of the League by whittling down its powers till It became little more than a debate assembly, a resolve to clothe it with even greater powers, and by our exertions to furnish it with armed force, which would make its judgments respected, should be proclaimed: They then ; would find that much that now seemed difficult would become easy, and : that the action of democracies would < be strengthened by a stronger com- . prehension of an exalted aim. ‘

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] ? LONDON, December 12. : Dr. Schacht,'who hoped to go to England earlier, but the project was abandoned owing th British reactions against the Jewish outburst, has now been invited privately, but comes at Hitler’s request. It was: significant that his visit coincides with an inspired statement from Germany tc the effect that the Jews will not be treated harshly. Dr. Schacht besides seeking-, a solution of problems arising from the mass migration of Jews, is concerned about the British threat of retaliation against ■ German trade methods. He will try to minimise the importance of Germany’s trade drive in south-east Europe, and seeks. to increase Anglo-German trade by the relaxation of currency restrictions. The British United Press Berlin correspondent says Dr. Schacht has prepared a plan workable under the Bank of International Settlements, whereunder Jews could transfer a proportion of their capital, provided foreign Governments undertake to use the amounts to purchase additional exnnrtc from CJprmanv. "

“The Times” in a leader points out that Europe is still paying in MemeJland and elsewhere the price of the folly of Versailles in trying to settle Germany’s future without consulting the powerful States whose weakness should have been recognised as merely temporary. The whole world, if such methods continue, must play the game of power politics. Never was the absence of a competent arbitrator between the two contending countries more* deplorable/thairdlow; The “Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: “Mr Chamberlain’s speech at the foreign’ press dinner to-morrow will be broadcast worldwide. It is ' expected to indicate the lines he seeks to develop British foreign policy 2 in • the coming months.” The correspondent adds: — “An'indication of what'is in Mr Chamberlain’s mine! is obtainable ffom Mr Pirow’s recent statement,' made Offer a long conversation with Mr Chamberlain. It stresses Mr Pirow’s reference to the heed for a contribution from the other Munich signatories.” Replying to questions in the Commons, Mr Chamberlain said that Germany had not officially requested the return of the colonies. The “News-Chronicle” says: “Simultaneously with conscription, in the event of war, the Government would irhmediately legislate to enable commandeering, temporarily, of all property essential to the pursuit of the conflict. This would include buildings, fields, woodlands, and mineral wealth. Limited compensation is probable. The. Government is already empowered to take over motors, and horses, and many are already earmarked for war-time jobs, but a national survey of . the remainder of resources would be necessary before commandeering. The personnel was announced, in the Commons, of t the Industrial Advisory Panel- to receive 'representations as to delay, defects or difficulties in remedial action; also general improvements in regard to the programme. ' Promineht industrialists include Sir George Beharrell, fqrmer president of the supply or production, under the rearmament, programme, and suggest the Federation of Britisfi Industries. The panel will be independent of any Ministers, and labour questions will be outside its purview.

The other industrial representatives on the panel are Mr Peter Bennet, Sir Geoffrey Clarke, Mr J. O. M. Clark, Mr Francis Cooper and J. S, Addison, a director of Courtauld’s.

’ . BRITAIN AND ITALY. RUGBY, December 12. Mr Chamberlain was asked in the Commons whether any pact, treaty, or agreed undertaking existed, which in the event of Italy embarking on warlike operations against France,, or her possessions, would'specifically require Britain to render military aid to France. ' ‘ , ‘ He replied: “No such requirement exists,' in any treaty or pact with France.” : t . , * The ; “Telegraph’s”Rome correspondent says that Mr Chamberlain’s Commons reply has given the greatest satisfaction, agreed with Italy’s calculations that whereas France and Britain are closely allied in the defence Of European frontiers, each will stand alone in . the event of conflicts outside the Continent.

? Newspapers claim that British pub- | lie opinions support the Tunis'claims. . • ! The approaching visit to Rome of M? Chamberlain a]nd Lord /Halifax Was the' subject of questions in the . . , , _ _ ( . Mr■ Chamberlain said 'he; was ..not prepared to. give assurances before- ' hand as to what he would -or’would not agree to in the discussions there, and added 1 that’Kis visit ‘was - " primarily intended to make personal contact with Mussolini. If any agreement should be entered ‘ into iri the. course of the. conversations,- it -would be submitted .to the' Commbns’ for’ discussion. 2 Asked what percentage of dues IbVied 'in thfe Sufez Canal last year' was paid for by British ships; the i Financial Secretary to the Treasury j replied that forty-six per cent. was.

paid 7 for Brit’sh ships, and abou seventeen for Italians. The Under-Secretary for Foreigi Affairs (Mr Butler) stated in the Com mons that Italian forces in Libya con sisted in March, and still exist, o. two army, corps, each of two divisions and of the equivalent of a division ol native troops. There was good reasor to believe, however, that following the ! signature of the Anglo-Italian agreement on April 16, there had been a marked reduction in the number of effectives. "The Times” Rome correspondent says: The British Government’s view . that the Italian claims to Tunis and Corsica are contrary to the AngloItalian agreement, has yet not been made clear to the public. Moreover, Mr Chamberlain’s disclosure in the Commons that Count Ciano disavowed responsibility for the Deputies’ demonstration is still unpublished by the newspapers, resulting in the impresi sion that the Italian Government s identified with the claims. Thus the confident expectation was created on false premises, which will be difficult for Mussolini to neglect without loss Of prestige. The people feel that Germany on several occasions, having got all she wanted without war, Italy ought to be able to use the same tactics effectively, constituting a serious danger, British feeling being that her intentions should be clarified to both the Italian Government and the people.

Paris newspapers strongly warn Italy- of the inviolability of Tunis, and declare that France will immediately fight for it. “Excelsior” declares:— “Mussolini is mistaken if he thinks he can repeat the German methods in the Mediterranean. He should read the .English newspapers for a confirmation of this.”

There is reason for believing that M. Daladier .with characteristic bluntness informed Herr Von Ribbentrop he could tell his Italian friends that France would fight without hesitation, if an inch of her Empire were threatened. (Independent Cable). BERLIN, December 13. Pastor Niemoeller was among the inmates of the Sachsenhuasen concentration camp, aroused from their beds, early yesterday morning and paraded to prevent the possibility of an escape. <wheih fire destroyed the quarters wherein four hundred guards were sleeping. There were no casualties. LONDON, December 13. The Telegraph’s Vienna correspondent says that twenty-four Catholic priests were arrested at Linz. Nineteen have been imprisoned and five sent to Dachau. Meanwhile, fresh measures are being taken to reduce the Church’s influence on the education of Austrian youth

DUCHESS OF ATHOLL AND MR CHURCHILL. (Independent Cable). LONDON, December 13. An important by-election campaign in Kinross and West Perthshire, on the foreign policy issue, is in full swing, with the nominations yesterday leaving a straight fight between the Duchess of Atholl, standing as an arid Mr W. McNair Snadden,Conservative., Mr . ~ WChurchill, in a letter to the Duchess of Atholl, said: “You no doubt, are being opposed by many Conservatives who are as loyal . and patriotic as yourself, but the fact remains that, outside our island, your defeat would be relished by enemies of Britain and of freedom throughout the world.”