The Times FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1938. Foreign Secretary’s Resignation

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 47, 25 February 1938, Page 6

The Times FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1938. Foreign Secretary’s Resignation

As a component part of tlic British Commonwealth of Nations, New Zealand is, notwithstanding her geographical isolation,‘vitally concerned with the rather disturbing condition of affairs at Home which, among other things, Ims been responsible for the resignation of Mr. Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Shorn of ail shades and shadows, the trouble appears to be directly attributable to the policy of compromise which seems to have become firmly rooted in the political make-up of the British Government to-day. Britain’s real self, that self built up upon the prestige won from the power to influence the maintenance of peace, has been steadily sapped by this very (questionable policy of compromise—a policy that can only be validated on the hypothesis that a willingness to sacrifice principles that have hitherto contributed to our strength, is indicative of our magnanimous character. The truth is that Britain has become so involved in international affairs that she is in danger of crippling her effectiveness as a force in the preservation of the peace of the world. No country more sincerely cherished the ideals which gave birth to the League of Nations and Britain’s might and power was pledged to champion the machinery of this institution which offered a seemingly conclusive medium for the adjustment of international differences. Apart from minor European bickerings and the adjustment of international financial entanglements, the League was not called upon to face any serious problem until Japan, very impudently, absorbed a big slice of Manchuria. This test of the League’s real effectiveness was negative as it was when Italy undertook the conquest of Abyssinia. The power behind the League, Britain, found that it was politic to assume a watching brief rather than invoke the powers of the League of Nations. A first compromise appeared to “ satisfy the conscience and, although still uneasy, Britain soon found herself a party to a second and more troublesome compromise when she sacrificed pledge and principle while the puppets of Mussolini shot to pieces the gallant and ill-equipped forces of Abyssinia. Then Spain. This, the third and most recent of the outstanding international disputes, has shattered whatever faith was left in the effectiveness of the League of Nations to settle disputes and prevent the parties from resorting to arms. Before ho became Foreign Secretary Mr. Eden had been closely in touch with the counsels of the League and few statesmen were better informed on the complicated conditions of international affairs. That nightmare of Germany, the Versailles Treaty, ever overshadowed the deliberations of the League and it was still the worry of the League when Mr. Eden departed to employ his ripe experience and unquestioned qualities of statesmanship in the role of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. His grip of the ramifications of the turmoil in Europe, the arrogant ambitions of the Nazis and the Fascists, the evil one side of Europe saw in the growing power of the Soviet, the strife in Spain as well as the Sino-Japanese situation, produced in him the conviction that in all sincerity something more practical than assurances couched in language calculated to impress and no more, was definitely to be aimed at if world peace Was to be preserved. Imbued with a very sincere regard for the responsibilities attaching to his high office and of the confidence the British Commonwealth of Nations had placed in him, Mr. Eden faced his task well, knowing the immensity of the difficulties besetting the execution of his highly honourable intentions of stopping the weakening influences of the policy of compromise. The situation in Spain was becoming desperately acute while arising therefrom were unmistaken evidences of repercussions dangerous to the peaee of Europe, if not of the world at large. To further pursue such a policy would endanger the security of Britain herself and in effect Mr. Eden has said this in refusing to negotiate with Italy until she actually withdraws her troops from Spain. That is the condition Mr. Eden insisted upon before he would agree to discuss any further the Mediterranean question. He wanted the very best evidence of sincerity—action—but as this was refused he found it impossible, holding the views he did, to retain his offioe. “The conviction has steadily grown upon me,” he said in his statement to the House of Commons, “that there is an overkeen desire on our part to make terms with others rather than that others should make terms with us.” That has been the weakness of Britain’s foreign poloicy over the past decade and that weakness is assuredly undermining the heritage of the Empire and the prestige of Great Britain among foreign Powers. Deplored as it must be by all members of the British Empire, Mr. Eden’s resignation is a matter for profound regret. A really strong man has stepped out of the affairs of State in a manner which cannot fail to exercise consternation. A truly major problem faces Great Britain and the Empire. „