BRITISH CABINET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 227, 23 August 1935, Page 9

BRITISH CABINET

LONG MEETING HELD. MINDS MADE UP. “QUIETLY, CALMLY, AND COOLLY.” (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 23, 8.55 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 22. Large crowds at Downing Street watched Cabinet Ministers enter the historic residence of the Prime Minister, No. 10, facing a small army of photographers and cinema men. By 10 o’clock all the 22 Ministers had arrived. The meeting broke up at 4.30 this afternoon, and the Ministers will resume their holidays. Mr J. H. Thomas said: We’ve finished now. Mr Ramsay (MacDonald said: We are very clear as to what should be done. We have made up our minds quietly, calmly, and coolly. Mr George Lansbury, Leader of the Labour Party, saw Sir Samuel Hoare and Mr R. A. Eden at the Foreign Office yesterday morning, and Sir Herbert Samuel, leader of the Liberal Party, had an interview. Among other visitors who saw Sir Samuel Hoare or Mr Eden, or both, were (Mr Lloyd George, Lord Cecil, and Mr Winston Churchill. Sir Austen Chamberlain called at the Foreign Office yesterday. Empire representatives who took part in conversations with the Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, yesterday morning concerning tho ItaloAbyssinian situation were Mr Stanley Bruce (Australia), Sir James Parr (New Zealand), Colonel Vanier (Canada), Mr C. T. te Water (South Africa), and Mr Dulanty (Irish Free State). standing"™! league. ARMS BAN REMAINING. (British Official Wireless.) Received August 23, 10.58 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 22. Two long sessions of the full Cabinet were held at No. 10 Downing Street to-day when, after a detailed account of the Paris conversations by Mr R. A. Eden, the Ministers considered at length many questions connected with the Italo-Abyssinian controversy. II is recalled that, at the end of the three-Power meeting in Paris, it was announced that it was the intention of tho British and French Governments to maintain the closest touch and co-operation, and continue right up to the meeting of the League Council on September 4 their joint efforts to explore, with the Italian Government through diplomatic channels, the possibility of finding a peaceful settlement of tho dispute with Abyssinia. This was fully endorsed at the Cabinet meeting to-day, when a strong desire to maintain the closest Anglo-French co-operation in dealing with the difficult situation was manifest.

It is understood that, as a result of the discussions, the Ministers saw no reason to depart from the policy repeatedly announced in recent weeks when the attitude of the Government towards the League of Nations and the Covenant was defined. In this connection it is to be recalled that Sir Samuel Hoare, speaking in the House of Commons on August 1 on the Italo-Abyssinian question, said: “I do not think there can be any. doubt, after the speeches of the Prime Minister, particularly the answer he gave to the question in the House, that we are fully conscious of our obligations under our treaties and under the Covenant, and that we certainly intend to uphold them.” Cabinet decided to make no change in the decision temporarily to withhold licenses for the export of arms to both parties to the dispute. This, however, does not necessarily mean that the restriction will be maintained until .September 4. The question has lieen, and will be, under • cons.put consideration, and between now and tho meeting of the Council it may or may not be decided to permit the export of arms to both parties as the circumstances dictate, but for the time being no change is being made. Further developments in the situation are not expected for some days and no arrangements have been made for tho calling of another Cabinet meeting. Sir Samuel Hoare will be in close touch with the officials, and he and certain other Ministers, who will bo in London or within reach, will be available to meet if necessary at any moment to consider any points upon which a decision may be required. . . ... The Prime Minister is travelling back to Aix-Les-Bains to resume his interrupted holiday, and most of the other Ministers are also returning to the holidays from which they. were called. , . These arrangements would indicate that the Ministers see no reason to suppose that the discussions of the Council meeting on September 4 and the Assembly on September 9 will not proceed on .the lines already foreseen. A Geneva Press message states that tho Italian members of the Arbitration Commission which is enquiring into the Ualual incident arrived at Berne to-day and, the Abyssinian members were elected to-niglit. 'I lie Commission will meet in the Belle Vue Palace. USE OF SANCTIONS. A STATEMENT INADVISABLE. (Times Cables.) Received August 23, 12.35 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 22. The Times says that sanctions were fully discussed by Cabinet, which considered it inadvisable to make a definite statement respecting a contingency affecting all the members ot file League if it occurs. Many who hoped Britain would be able to give an immediate lead are disappointed that the Government have decided not to commit themselves, being influenced by their anxiety to co-operate with France. The Times adds: The decision not to raise the arms embargo is scarcely fair play, as the weakly-armed Abyssinia is obliged to see Italy piling up implements of war on her frontiers. One of the most potent arguments in favour of delaying the sanctions is that Signor Mussolini may be more ready to listen if he gains an initial victory, avenging the Adowa defeat, and satisfying Italy’s honour. Britain, however, can scarcely countenance Signor Mussolini’s deliberate attainmeiit of his purposes by war. Britain is not in a temper to tolerate a crude violation of the Kellogg Pact and see a leading member of the League resort to spoliation. The Government would fail in its duty if it does not uphold the principle. Silence must not be misconstrued as an unwillingness to apply the sanctions if necessary.