Britain's Pledges Announced

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 5

Britain's Pledges Announced

Unilateral Guarantees to Greece and Rumania

Pact With Italy Not Ended

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 13. Mr. Chamberlain, speaking in the House of Commons, announced unilateral guarantees in respect of Greece and Rumania similar to that originally given Poland. He stated that Britain found it difficult in the extreme to reconcile what had happened in Albania with the preservation of national sovereignty as contemplated by the Anglo-Italian agreement, and, after referring to the general uneasiness created by these events and the shock to confidence which had resulted, he said that Britain felt it had both a duty and a service to perform by leaving no doubt in the mind of anybody as to its position. “I therefore take this opportunity of saying on its behalf that his Majesty’s Government attaches the greatest importance to the avoidance of disturbance by force or threats of force of the status quo in the Mediterranean and the Balkan Peninsula,” Mr. Chamberlain added. ‘‘Consequently, thoi Government has come to the conclusion that, in the event of any action being taken which clearly threatens the independence of Greece or Rumania, and which the Greek or Rumanian Governments respectively consider it vital to resist with their national forces, his Majesty’s Government will feel itself bound to lend at once to Greece or Rumania, as the case may be, any support in its power. “We are communicating this declaration to the Governments directly concerned and to those Powers—especially Turkey—whose close relationships with the Greek Government are known. “I understand that France is making a similar declaration this afternoon.”

After announcing the assurance’ to Greece and Rumania, the Premier turned to consider the future of the Anglo-Italian agreement. He frankly confessed his deep disappointment at Italy’s action, which, he said, had cast a shadow over the genuineness of its intentions to carry out its undertakings, but he disagreed with the opinion, which he suggested some might hold, that the agreement should be ceded. He believed, on the contrary, that there would be a widespread desire, all the greater for the uneasiness now prevailing, to sec the fulfilment of the remaining provisions of the agreement.

He added that, naturally, in view of recent events, it was to Italy they looked for practical evidence that she shared that

Mr. Chamberlain mentioned an assurance from Signor Mussolini regarding Italian troops in Spain which had been given to tho Foreign Minister, Lord Halifax, by Signor Crolla, Italian Charge d’Affaires, in the course of exchanges in the last six days. It was to the effect that Italy confirmed that all Italian volunteers would be withdrawn from Spain immediately after taking part in the victory parade in Madrid. The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, had informed the British Ambassador to Rome, Lord Perth, that Italian aeroplanes and pilots would leave also. The British Government, the Premier declared, had taken due note of these fresh assurances, and, as it had always regarded the evacuation of Italian troops from Spain as a vital element in the agreement, it looked forward to their early fulfilment. Mr. Chamberlain, in conclusion, spoke of how intolerable was a state ot' international affairs which kept the whole world in a continually recurring series of alarms, blighted commerce and industry, depressed social conditions and poisoned every phase of human activity. The events of which Britain had had cause to complain in the past and which again it had to condemn to-day, he said, could not have failed to stii the minds and consciences of all people He took hope from the fact that the patience Britain had exercised over a long period, with the many disappointments of its efforts to remove suspicion, promote goodwill and ensure peace, would yet be rewarded. He assured the House that, without prejudice or preconceived ideological notions, Britain was endeavouring to the utmost of its ability successfully to marshal those forces which stiu favoured peace and were willing to resist aggression.

that, as things stand to-day, a perfectly clear declaration of its r.ttitude in certain events from which, in no case, can Britain properly stand aside would render those events less likely.” PRESS BACK UP CABINET’S DECISION Received Friday, 7 p.m. LONDON, April 14. Newspapers unanimously approve the Greek-Rumanian guarantees. The Telegraph says tho debate re vealed impressive unanimity on the rightness and need for measures to halt the march of power politics and the threat to world peace. The Daily Mail believes the new British policy of selected security should be reciprocal. It approves not denouncing the Anglo-Italian pact. Tho Times Chronicle welcomes the statement as stronger and more precise than expected. It believes the tendency to wobble towards appeasement has been arrested by all round pressure of public opinion. It regards paucity of signs of collaboration with Russia as the chief weakness and congratulates the Government on taking the first step towards what can be made a real system of collective resistance to aggression. The Herald, supporting Mr. Attlee’s arguments, declares that Auglo-French-Russian co-operation is the only basis on which European collective security can be built. It urges a seven-Power conference among Britain, France. Poland, Russia, Greece, Rumania ami Turkey to create a real defensive front. The Times says British policy has taken another momentous step forward. Engagements were not lightly undertaken but they represent a considered national decision exacted by the course of events to which no other answer was liossible. It urges that it is possible for the Balkan countries, with western support, to form a blocx the strength of which would be a deterrent to predatory onslaughts. Referring to the German charges of encirclement, the Times declares it could not pay a greater tribute to the patience and resolution with which Britain refused, even to the point of peril, to join any attempt to circumscribing German activities until they outran even the show of legality. TERRITORIALS ON WAR FOOTING RAPID EXPANSION BY BRITAIN Received Friday, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, April 14.

A similar statement was made by Lord Halifax in the House of Lords. In opening his statement, Mr. Chamberlain recalled recent events and stressed tho difficulty which had been experienced in getting information from Albania. Ho proceeded to give the House accounts from both Albanian and Italian sources, which conflicted ia many particulars, and suggested that it would in the meantime be wise to suspend judgment on the facts. “But,” lie said, “ tnere is no doubt of the general effect produced by the Italian action. Public opinion throughout tho world has oneo again been profoundly shocked by this fresh exhibition of tho use of force.”

Before proceeding to his declaration regarding the assurances to Greece and Rumania, the Premier reported in detail on the diplomatic exenanges of Easter week-end. It was natural, he said, that Britain should view the Italian proceedings in Albania in relation to the Anglo-Italian agreement, in which the two Governments had disclaimed any desiro to modify or see modified the status quo in the Mediterranean. This was the basis, the premier made it clear, on which the earliest British representations were made both to Count Ciano and tho Italian representative in London.

The expansion of the Territorials continues. Sixty-eight units have reached war strength, compared with 32 yesterday.

Lord Halifax, after his statement in the House of Lords, added: “The Government is fully aware of thi gravity of the decisions recorded, but it lias taken this course after full reflection and consideration in the belief