TO ESTABLISH PEACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 75, 25 February 1938, Page 10

TO ESTABLISH PEACE

3.15 P.M. EDITION

GREAT BRITAIN’S POLICY. ANY CHANGES DENIED. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received February 25, 1 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 24. Speaking in the foreign affairs debate in the House of Lords, Lord Halifax maintained that the Government’s policy was not dictated by fear, but inspired by hope. The constant ohject of British foreign policy must be peace, and the Government were not prepared to allow the opportunity to pass of securing peace by action for which tlie present might be the psychological moment. “We are told,” he added, “that the resignation of Mr Eden marks a complete change of policy. That is not so.” Lord Halifax maintained that the Prime Minister Had supported the League and had given an assurance that ho would not tear up one single Article of the Covenant nor abandon even Article 16 (enforcing sanctions). Regarding Abyssinia, he asked them to face the facts, and said the conquest of that country could only have been prevented by war. There were very few indeed with the responsibility who were prepared to face that. “I am not in the least afraid of Italy or any other Power in the world. I am not afraid of war in the sense that I fear defeat, because I know the temper of this country and know it will never embark on war unless it is thought right and inevitable. I know also, that having embarked on war it will not let go until, as usual, it has won, but I and everybody else detest war.” Concluding, Lord Halifax said: “We shall refuse to hold our hands and merely drift along in dangerous' times, making warlike noises in the ship in order to encourage the passengers.” Pie maintained that the debate showed that the preponderance of opinion was behind the Government in this matter.