Much Intrigue in Mr. Eden's Resignation

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 47, 25 February 1938, Page 7

Much Intrigue in Mr. Eden's Resignation

All Is Not Yet Told DEMAND FOR GENERAL ELECTION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 23. The Government, says the Associated Press, is well satisfied with last night’s vote on the Labour Party’s noconfidence motion, which was defeated by 330 votes to 168. The abstainers did not exceed expectations, and Ministers to-day are in a much easier frame of mind. The situation is much more satisfactory in the House of Commons, but a long time will have elapsed before the affair of Mr Eden’s resignation as Foreign Secretary has settled flown throughout the country. The Labour members’ rhetoric and bitterness, coupled with the public s profound distaste for the manner of Mr Eden’s exit, will inevitably be capitalised throughout the country in the pro-Eden and anti-Government campaign. The next move will occur when Mr Eden speaks in his own constituency on Friday. He will reveal many points he withheld from the debate. It would be most interesting to have the inner history revealed, because the resignation was anything but devoid of subtle political intrigue.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party and Trades Union Council have issued a manifesto stating that the Government has no mandate for the change in foreign policy and demanding a general election. A Paris message says: It is confirmed that the French Foreign Minister, M. Delbos, offered to resign on February 22 because of his close collaboration in Mr Eden’s policy. Ministers unanimously refused to accept his resignation. M. Delbos told the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies that if the Anglo-Italian talks succeeded France would consider similar discussions subject to certain guarantees. A later message says that M. Delbos denies that he intended to resign. CABINET RECONSTRUCTION TWO MORE MAY GC LONDON, Feb. 23. The City Editor of The Times says that the debate in the House of Cornmens, combined with second thoughts, effaced Monday’s fears of. the shakiners of the Government, and have also indicated a prospect of an improvement in the European situation. The stock markets have resumed Friday’s recovery and restored Monday’s losses and added a few pence over. Although not great, there was an increase in business. The improvement extended to gilt-edged issues, industrial and international commodity shares. The political correspondent of the Associated Press states that in the future great and far-reaching changes not only in Britain’s foreign policy but also in internal politics will be a sequel to the resignation of Mr Eden. Reconstruction of the Cabinet to some degree is certain in the near future, the correspondent adds, and is expected to involve the retirement of at least two members which, because of the weekend events, would be most embarrassing at the moment. It is suggested that the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mi A. Duff Cooper, and the President of the Board of 'Trade, Mr Oliver Stanley, whose handling of their respective offices has been increasingly disappointing may go. but Mr Chamberlain, auart from the difficulty of discovering additional members of Cabinet, has the greatest problem in appointing Mr Eden’s successor. It is suggested that not a single person on the front bench commands the confidence cf Parliament and the country as Foreign Secretary. Consequently Mr Chamberlain has not hesitated at present to direct the Foreign Office himself, assisted by Viscount Halifax, who, however fitted for the portfolio, is unacceptable because he sits in the House of Lords. SUCCESSOR FROM COMMONS DECISION NOT UNDER THREAT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 23. The Piimc Minister told the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons that he could not make any announcement regarding the new Foreign Secretary, but he hoped to do so shortly. He undertook to bear in mind tho objections to tho Foreign Secretary not being a member of the House of Commons, to which Mr. Attlee had called his attention. Referring to Mr. W. S. Morrison’s assurances, Mr. Chamberlain said that the eutire Ministry had assured him that they had not considered themselves under threat or duress concerning the decisions reached during the differences between himself and Mr. Eden. SATISFACTION IN ITALY PROSPECT OF BETTER RELATIONS LONDON, Feb. 23. The speech of the Prime Minuter, Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the rfouse of Commons, aroused great interest, says the Rome correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. It is considered even more important to Haly than Mr Eden’s resignation. The general feeiing in official Italian circles, says The Times Rome correspondent, is one of profound satisfaction. There is now a prospect of better AngloItalian relations and a possibility that the process of splitting Europe into two hostile blocs may be arrested. Lord Perth, British Ambassador to Rome, who is going to London to see Mr Chamberlain, is bringing personal messages from Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano tc Mr Chamberlain reiterating Italy’s readiness and goodwill to reach an Anglo-Italian understanding, srys the Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail. A Berlin message say 3 that newspapers give great prominence to Mr Chamberlain’s statements on the League of Nations.

IL DTJCE’S TERMS ARE KNOWN TO PREMIER ALONE FOREIGN OFFICE IN DARK LONDON, Feb. 23. The Australian Associated Press says that with the announcement of Britain*# new foreign policy pent-up diplomatic activity in Europe has been unloosened. The British Cabinet’s sessions to-day dealt with the forthcoming talks with II Duce. Poland’s Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, is at present holding important conversations with Field-Marshal Goering at. Warsaw. The German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, is expected in Rome next week, when the Non-Intervention Committee also resumes. The French are expected to confer with the British in the near future. The Anglo-German talks which Herr Hitler and Viscount Halifax commenced will resume before the termination of the Rome conversations. It is known that Mr. Chamberlain and the Foreign Office have reason to believe that Signor Mussolini is extremely anxious for an agreement with Britain, but details in connection with it are not known, as is customary, by the Foreign Office, but were conveyed direct to Mr. Chamberlain through an outside informant, _