ANTI – AGGRESSION TALKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 101, 29 March 1939, Page 9

ANTI - AGGRESSION TALKS

BRITISH CABINET ACTIVE MR CHAMBERLAIN’S ASSURANCE (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received March 29, 10.40 a.m. RUGBY, March 28. Britain is actively continuing her consultations with other Governments on the issues arising from recent events. So the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) assured the House of Commons this afternoon. While pointing out that it was essential during the progress of such consultations that their confidential character should be respected, and requesting members not to press him for a further statement till he was in a position to make a complete one, which could only be when Britain was in possession of the final views of the other Governments concerned, Mr Chamberlain was urged, however, by Mr A. Greenwood and Dr Hugh Dalton and others to say more. The Premier invoked an objection to placing atl the cards on the table till the hand was played out. At the same time in his supplementary answers he expressed his understanding of the desire for a closer definition of Britain’s position, and said it would be readily understood from what he had previously said that what the Government had in mind went a good deal further than consultation. He added that he did not think he would like to give more details at the moment, but he also gave an assurance that Britain had, in consultations now in progress, made it perfectly clear to other Governments what Britain was prepared to do in certain circumstances. Einally, he promised a debate at the earliest opportunity.