Mr Eden Gives His Reasons

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 45, 23 February 1938, Page 5

Mr Eden Gives His Reasons

Rome's Now or Never Threat

Desire to Come to Terms

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (

LONDON, Feb. 21. The statement by Mr. Anthony Eden in the House of Commons of the reasons for his resignation of the Foreign Secretaryship and the reply of the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, revealed a fundamental difference of opinion as to whether this was the time to enter into conversations with Italy with a view to achieving some settlement between the two Governments.

Mr. Eden said: “The immediate issue is whether such official conversations should be opened now. It is my conviction that the attitude of the Italian Government to international problems in general and to this country in particular is not yet such as to justify this course. ... In the light of the present international situation this is the moment for this country to stand firm. . . . It is certainly never right to prepare for conversations because one party to the negotiations intimates that it is now or never. . . .

The conviction has steadily grown upon me that there is an overkeen desire on our part to make terms with others rather than that others should make terms with us. n>

In the House of commons at 3.3 U p.m. Mr. Anthony Eden, who yesterday resigned as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, upon rising from a corner seat, received prolonged cheering. He slowly, and obviously under stress, said: "The occasion is most painful to me both personally and politically, but at times strong political convictions must override all other considerations of which only the individual himself can judge. None can be dhe keeper of another's conscience." (Cheers). “The ultimate aim of us all and the objectives of British foreign policy,” Mr Eden continued, "must always be the maintenance of peace; but if peace is to be enduring it must rest on the foundations of frank reciprocity and mutual respect. The method by which we seek that end must in fact strengthen and not undermine the foundation on which international confidence rests. We must be ready to negotiate with all countries, whatever their form of government, in order to promote international understanding." 4 5 Italy’s Hostile Propaganda. After a reference to "certain exchanges of views” between England and Italy regarding the opening of conversations between the two Governments, Mr Eden continued: “The immediate issue is whether such official conversations should be opened now. It is my conviction that the attitude of the Italian Government to international problems in general and to this country in particular is not yet such as to justify this course.” (Opposition cheers). “Propaganda against Britain by the Italian Government is rife throughout the world. I myself gave a pledge to this House that I would not open conversations with Italy until this hostile propaganda ceased. Though much is promised, little progress has been made to a solution of the Spanish problem. "I do not suggest that I advocate that the Government should refuse conversations with the Italian Government or any other Government which shows any disposition to conversations with us for the betterment of international understanding, but we must be convinced ol the likelihood of success in any such conversations. Ido not think that those conditions exist to-dav. Italy’s Troops in Spain. "In January of last year we signed an Anglo-Italian agreement, but almost limultaneously the first considerable consignment of Italian battalions was sent to Spain. The Prime Minister and Signor Mussolini exchanged letters last summer, and for a few days relations between Britain and Italy took a marked turn for the better. Then ensued incidents in the Mediterranean and the glorification by the head of the Italian Government of the victorious Italian forces in Spain. "My submission is that we cannot risk a further repetition of this experience. Therefore it Is my contention that before the Government opens official conversations with Rome we must make further progress with the Spanish problem. We must agree not only on the need for withdrawal and conditions of withdrawal, bnt we must show the world that it Is not only a promise but an achievement. Recent months, recent weeks, recent days have seen successive violations of international agreements and attempts to secure political decisions forcibly. In the light of the present international situation this is the moment for this country to stand firm." (Loud and prolonged cheers.) "Agreements that are worth while are never made cn the basis of a threat; nor in the past has Britain been willing to negotiate on such conditions. It is seldom right to depart from the traditional methods of diplomacy, which is to prepare for conversations before they are formally opened. It is certainly never right to do so because one party to the negotiations intimates that it is new or never.” Fundamental Difference. Mr Eden added that this was not an Isolated issue between the Prime Minister and himself. "Within the past few weeks, upon one of the most important decisions of foreign policy, which did not concern Italy at all,” he said, “our difference was fundamental.” If fiix colleagues were right, their :hances of success would be enhanced if their policy were pursued by a Foreign Secretary with complete conviction in the methods he was being asked to employ. "It recently became clear to me and, I think, to the Prime Minister, that there is between us a real difference of outlook and method,” Mr Eden explained. "It may be argued that this is not a difference In fundamental principles in the sense that the objective of all foreign policy is the maintenance of peace. That is true. But in international affairs can anyone define where outlook and method end and principle begins?

unity should be restored at tfieT earliest possible moment. The conviction has steadily grown upon me that there is an over-keen desire on our part to make terms with others rather than that others should make terms with us.

"I do not believe,” Mr Eden declared, “that we can progress in European appeasement, more particularly in the light of the events of the past few days, if we allow the impression to gain currency abroad that we yield to constant pressnre. I am certain that progress ' depends, above all, on the temper of the nation and that that temper must find expression in a firm spirit. I am confident that the spirit is there. Not to give voice to it is, I believe, fair neither to this country nor to the world.” (Loud cheers.) Lord Cranborne said that he resigned the position of Parliamentary Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs because be was in fullest agreement with Mr Eden on a matter cf fundamental principle. To enter official conversations with Italy would be regarded as no contribution to peace but as a surrender to blackmail. (Cheers.) Unless the nations were able to trust one another agreements were valueless.

"The Prime Minister has strong views en foreign policy. I respect him for it, end 1 have strong views too. These views have resulted in a divergence not of aim but of outlook and approach. It is clearly in the national interest that