ANXIETY IN FRANCE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 March 1938, Page 3

ANXIETY IN FRANCE

BRITAIN WILL KEEP OUT OF SPAIN. SITUATION IS “TOO GRAVE” TOR LABOUR REPROACHES. (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright] LONDON, March 16. In the House of Comomns, iv- . C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opposition, moved the adjournment. He drew attention to the lack of Ministerial policy to counter the grave menace to British interests and security arising from foreign intervention in Spain. If Mr, Chamberlain believed it possible to get peace by agreements with Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini based on reliance on their pledges, he had a rude awakening coming to him. “ While Mr. Chamberlain was talking peace to Herr von Ribbentrop, the Germans invaded Austria; while the AngloItalian conversations were proceeding Signor Mussolini and his allies are trying to consummate the conquest of Spain,” Mr, Attlee declared. “Although Mr. Chamberlain has made settlement of the Spanish question a condition of any Anglo-Italian agreement, does anyone doubt that Herr Hitler’s assistance in Spain is part of the price of Signor Mussolini’s betrayal of Austria?” Mr. Chamberlain replied that the situation was too grave for reproaches or accusations across the floor of the House. The intervention of certain Powers was no new thing; it could not be said that General Franco’s new advance was due to an accession of fresh forces or munitions. “I have no definite information regarding any such fresh accession,” he added.

"The British Government has never taken the Opposition ’a view that victory for General Franco would mean that Spain would pass into the control of Italy and Germany/’ Mr. Chamberlain said. "We intend to continue to keep in, close touch with France. I believe we shall best serve the cause of peace and freedom if we keep out of Spain, and maintain our policy of nonintervention and do not attempt to burn our lingers as other nations may well do,” Overtures From France Mr. Attlee asked Mr. Chamberlain whether he had received any representations from the French Government about the latest position in Spain, and if he had a statement to make, reports a supplementary British Official Wireless message. The Prime Minister said that His Majesty’s Ambassador in Paris had received from the French Government an indication of the anxiety with which it viewed the present Spanish military situation. His Majesty’s Government was fully alive to the importance of recent developments- and was keeping in close touch with the French Government. Mr. Attlee then askecl whether the Prime Minister would confer with the French Government with a view to re-, storing to the Spanish Government its right to receive arms and assistance. The Prime Minister repeated that they were keeping in close touch with the French Government. Mr. Attlee then asked whether the Prime Minister had considered any action in view of the continued breach of the non-intervention agreement. He recalled Mr. Chamberlain’s statement when informing the House of Commons of the conversations with Italy that any further activity or change in the Spanish military situation w r ould necessarily affect the continuance of fhe British conversations w-ith Italy and the whole situation. No New Intervention Mr. Chamberlain said that the recent developments appeared to have taken place with men, arras and equipment, which were already in Spain. Mr. Attlee then sought to move the adjournment to call attention to the lack of airy ministerial policy to count the grave menace to British interests rising out of armed intervention in Spain by certain Powers.

When the Speaker asked whether Mr. Attlee had the leave of the House, all Liberal and Labour members rose, and, their number being considerably more than the 40 required, assent was given. Mr. Attlee concluded by giving the Government what he described as a warning. He said the Government was seeking the helpers of the workers in rearmament,,but it could not go before them if it betrayed them. The British people would not stand by a craven government. Mr. Chamberlain referred to the rumours of additions to the foreign forces on both sides in Spain and said: "Our policy has been non-intervention. It would be ridiculous to pretend there has not been intervention since the policy was adopted, but I assert that the policy has restricted intervention which otherwise w r ould have occurred on a far greater scale. Secondly, our policy has averted an international war, first of all carried on on Spanish soil and afterwards probably spreading beyond. The fact of the war being confined to Spanish territory and for the most part to the Spanish people is a tribute to the success of the British policy of non-intervention. The Opposi- | tion assumes that success for Franco J means the handing over of Spain to j what Mr. Attlee calls the Fascist j Powers. He assumes that victory means \ that Spain will pass under the complete 1 control of Italy and Germany and that ! it has been the intention of Italy and i Germany all along. The British Government has never taken that view and does not take it to-day. We intend to continue in the future as we have done in the past —in close touch with the French Government. ' Sir Archibald Sinclair (Libera!)

begged the Government to give an assurance that Britain would stand by France as far as she .wished to go. The back-benchers continued the debate. Sir John Simon, replying for the Government, said: "The British policy regarding the Spanish war is definite. Wc will not intervene and endeavour to dissuade others from intervening. It is impossible to change that policy according to the changing fortunes of war. It is unreasonable to describe it as handing over Spain to the Fascist Powers. ; ' A scene occurred when Sir John Simon, recalling Mr, Greenwood, said the Opposition had never asked that Britain should go into Spain, He commented that this represented a complete change from the position that had been taken up. Mr, Attlee challenged Sir John Simon, and demanded evidence that the Opposition had never demanded that Britain should go into Spain. Sir John. ..man said it was obvious that opposition to the policy of nonintervention meant a policy of intervening. He denied that any Note had been received from the French Government asking Britain to take some action in Spain. Mr. Attlee’s motion for an adjournjment was deieated by 317 to 141.