A DOUBLE LINE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 8, 7 December 1935, Page 7

A DOUBLE LINE

GREAT BRITAIN’S POLICY. THE ITALIAN SITUATION. MINISTER SUPPORTED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received December 7, 11.25 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 6. General approval was accorded in the House of Commons and is reflected in the newspapers of the double line of policy which, as Sir Samuel Hoare stated, the Government are steadily and consistently pursuing towards Italy. This dualism, which consists of taking a full part in collective action under the Covenant and at the same time persevering m the efforts for a paceful settlement of the Italo-Abys-sinian dispute, met with some Opposition Labour criticism, but the Opposition Liberal speakers indicated general support of the Government. Sir Austen Chamberlain warmly welcomed Sir Samuel Hoare’s appeal to Signor Mussolini and the former’s determination to use the interval before the new sanctions for a great push for peace. He expressed particular satisfaction that the representatives of the Government had been foremost in all the counsels at Geneva in consenting to maintain and enforce tlie authority of -the League. The League, he said, was a young body and this was the first time it had been confronted with a situation in which it could act, and where it had acted. He had not been discouraged because it had worked slower than he would have wished. Mr R. A. Eden, who wound up the debate, said lie believed tlie only way to peace was by collective security. As the system of collective security grew stronger it would be possible to revise the level of armaments in the improving international situation. If the League emerged from this dispute—as lie believed it would—stronger than for some time past, there would be created an opportunity which must not be missed for seeking agreement on the reduction and limitation of armaments. ' ARMS LIMITATION. The reference to arms limitation in particular relation to air armaments in the course of Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech has attracted considerable attention. He assured the Hr-iise of Commons that the Government had been making every possible effort to renew tlie discussions that might lead to a reduction of armaments, and particularly a reduction of air armaments. Towards the end of the session in the summer he had made an appeal to Herr Hitler to resume these discussions. Since then the Government had made a further attempt, and he regretted to say that the view at present seemed to be that as long as the Abyssinian. war was continuing there was little to be gained by resuming these discussions. That, so far as they had gathered, was the view of the German Government. Nevertheless, the British Government would be ready to seize any opportunity that offered itself. He took the view that an air pact and reduction of air armaments were more urgently needed than ever. RETURN TO GENEVA. Sir Samuel Hoare will leave London for Paris by air early to-morrow morning. Sir Robert Vansittart (Permanent Under-Secretary of Foreign A t ffairs) is also going to Paris and is leaving London this evening. He is expected to remain there for a few days after Sir Samuel Hoare lias left for Switzerland and will take a few week’s leave. Sir Samuel Hoare will confer in Paris with M. Laval. The British and French Foreign Ministers have not met since the League requested Britain and France to explore the possibilities of, hastening tlie establishment of peace last month.