“Stripped Government Naked”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 144, 20 June 1936, Page 5

“Stripped Government Naked”

LLOYD GEORGE’S GREAT SPEECH. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS UNEASY. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Friday, 11.50 p.m. LONDON, June 19.

Even Government supporters are criticising the handling of tho sanctions debate, especially the failure to effectively answer Air. Lloyd George’s strictures, says the Times' political correspondent. It is felt that Air. Lloyd George obtained a valuable start which will be difficult to overtake.

The Daily Mail’s political correspondent says Air. Lloyd George’s speech is one of the most devastating in his career. There was consternation when he described Mini-, sters as cowards. Many Conservatives were astounded that Mr. Baldwin only feebly replied to this charge.

The Government whips have been instructed to ensure a 100 per cent. Government vote against the Labour motion. There is no question of a Government defeat, nevertheless Ministers are clearly disturbed by the reception of the sanctions decision.

Tho Manchester Guardian’s political correspondent says that Mr Eden fulfilled every mournful expectation. He has failed his better self and realised it. Air Lloyd George’s speech stripped the Government naked. Air Baldwin's reply might have been called insolent iu anyone else.

Tho Times, iu a leader, says public opinion will endorse, while reluctantly accepting, Air Eden’s view, but will demand energetic and competent leadership to maintain peace. It will want to know what positive aims are to guide British policy, which will henceforward determine the League’s position. Its concrete objective can be obtained only through negotiation with Germany by means of a conference.

Tho Daily Alail, after referring to tho strange spectacle of Air Eden revising his whole policy with apparent satisfaction, asks ivhat the world will think of the. Government. Will it not ask whether there is any sincerity left among our public men? Tho Alail adds: “The League will disappear in odium and obloquy and nobody be a farthing tho worso off.”

Tho News-Chronicle ’ believes League members will look elsewhero for leadership. It adds: “It weakened Britain’s authority.” The Daily Herald says: “Worse than a surrender to Alussolini will come unless Alinisters realise that the country does not share their desire to betray tho League and dishonour Britain’s name.”

Tho Daily Telegraph pays tributo to Air Eden’s courage and resilience in seeking to win a larger hope for Abyssinia.”

The British Parliamentary Labour Party has issued a manifesto, drawing attention to the gravo danger to the League owing to the abandonment of sanctions and accusing tho Government of scrapping its solemn pledges that the Leaguo would remain tho keystone of foreign policy.- It adds: “Tho Government is not only prepared to allow Mussolini to profit by aggression, but also to abandon the whole system oi collective security through the League.’’ The manifesto emphasises that the crisis should be used as an opportunity to lohabilitate the League and make an approach to peace by rallying to the defence of collective sccuritv.

Exultant Headlines in Italy

BETTER RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN SHOULD FOLLOW

Received Friday, 9.20 p.m,

LONDON, June 19.

The Times’ Rome correspondent says Mr. Eden’s speech has been received with general satisfaction. Exultant newspaper headlines proclaim the failure of the Genevan plans and a totalitarian Italian victory. Mr. Eden’s admission that no trace of the Abyssinian Government exists is reproduced with special emphasis and has clearly caused satisfaction. The speech on the whole is hailed as an unexpectedly frank and courageous admission of miscalculations which is more likely to result in the reestablishment of better Italo-Bri-tish relations than a more “grudging” statement would have been. Italy is already seeing in Mr. Eden the qualities it has long denied him, namely, statesmanship and realism.

Reserve, however, tempers the satisfaction with which the speech was received, because the announcement of the permanent strengthening of Britain’s Mediterranean defences gives food for thought.

Paris Pre-occupied

Received Friday, 7.45 p.m,

PARIS, June 18,

. Cabinet is too occupied with domestic problems to permit a considered discussion of sanctions, but caution, may have something to do with the absence of official comment. Nevertheless, the general opinion seems to be that Mr. Eden has extricated the French Government from a dilemma.

France will probably follow Britain’s lead as unostentatiously as possible.

Berlin Aloof

Received Friday, 7.45 p.m. BERLIN, June 18. The Government is interested but remains aloof.

Mr Eden proved himself a master of

the situation and the Government had the courage to accept the consequences, declares the Yoelkischer Beobachter, while the Deutsche Allemcigue underlines Mr Eden’s allusions to the freedom of the Mediterranean and the integrity of Europe’s western frontiers, to which an understanding wuth Germany is a precedent condition.