FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 7

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

COYERNM ENT'S ATIMTI DE. FREEDOM. OF ACTION WANTEDat CABLE- PRESS ASSOCIATION -COPYRIGHT. LONDON, July 6. In the House of Commons, m reply to a question, the Foreign Secretarj ( Sir Austen Chamberlain) said no Note nad been sent to the Russian Government in regard to China, but he must reserve to His Majesty’s Government full liberty to. take whatever action they think is required. He deprecated the assumption that the Government was considering proposals to alter their policy to Russia, but the situation needed careful watching daily. ine Government must be free to act as it thought necessary to protect Rntish interests. He promised that if there was to be any cnange, he would make the earliest possible dec a ration in the House. . Questioned regarding the situation jn Morocco. Air Chamberlain said he did not consider that British interests at Tangier were in immediate danger, but they 5 were watching the situation carefully. , , ~ 1< urther questioned as to whether the House would be given an opportunity to discuss the situation before action was taken which might commit Britain to nava| and military operations, Mr Chamberlain said he was unable to give such an assurance. He declared that if the Government concluded that there was a serious menace tc the Tangier zone their hands must be free. He added that a reply had not yet been sent to the Spanish request on July 1, and cannot lie sent until the Government has further considered the matter.

BRITISH ISOLATION

AN IMPOSSIBLE IDEAL

LONDON. July 6

In the Ho.usp of Lords the Earl. of Asquith initiated a debate on foreign policy in Europe, in the course of which Earl Grey described the idea of a policy of British isolation as impossible. The Dominions ought to be consulted at every point, ami we should do everything to carry them with us, but no pressure must be put on them to undertake obligations. He hoped the Dominions would realise that though they might not he willing to undertake obligations. yet it was essentia 1 , that the Rrtish Government should interest itself in European affairs. The Earl of Balfour, in replying, said in regard to the evacuation of Cologne, the Government was awaiting the German rep’y to the Franco-British disarmament note. He was disinclined to agree, with Earl Grey’s contention that the prestige of European civilisation' had declined since the war, but such would he the case if an agreement had net emerged from the German suggestions. The Government had not considered that orogress in arbitration principles would be helped by out assuming additional responsibilities in Eastern "Europe beyond those covered bv the covenant. In concluding the debate Lord Cave said the pact was not yet. framed, but xcp.nld he ill the course of negotiation in a few days.