STRONGER DEFENCE

Northern Advocate, 25 October 1935, Page 7

STRONGER DEFENCE

LESSON FOR THE WORLD WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF LEAGUE MR BALDWIN’S SPEECH. lUnited Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright .l (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 23. | The Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, in his speech in the House of Commoris, said it was perfectly obvious that what might have been possible in the League as originally contemplated was not possible if it existed without several great States. But despite these circumstances and the tremendous difficulties of. the situation the League had done better in ■ the crisis than could have been expected, and he added that no isolated action on the part of Britain had'ever been in contemplation. The Prime Minister then turned to the question of defence. “The lessons of this crisis have made it clear that in the interest of world peace it is essential that our defensive services should be stronger than they are to- t day. When I say that i’ am not speaking of any unilateral rearmament directed either in reality or in imagination against any particular country. I am speaking of the strengthening of the defensive Services within the framework of the League for the sake pf international peace and not for selfish ends, so as to have a greater measure of preparedness to meet risks that are inherent in the situation.

Country’s Verdict.

“I have often heard the phrase, ‘The country ought to be prepared, to take risks for peace.’ We are taking risks for peace, but I say this deliberately, I am all in favour, and the Government is all in favour, for they see no other course than to adopt the policy of collective security so far as the League can carry it out today, and I am convinced the country is behind us.

“But while I am prepared to pursue that policy with all my heart and soul, I will not pursue it nor be responsible for the conduct of the Government if I am not given power to remedy those deficiencies that have accrued in our defensive Services since the war. I am giving my own view to the House as I shall to the country and await its verdict.” Mr Baldwin concluded by saying that the system of collective security was still incomplete and inadequate, but looking to the future he trembled to think what might be the state of Europe if some form of collective security be not devised. He' also recalled his statement at Worcester on Saturday that even if the League proved inadequate this time it behoved them more than ever to see what steps they could take to make it adequate for the future. Critics of Government. In speeches which followed, Mr L. S. Amery and Mr Lloyd George both proved critical of the Government’s policy. The former summed up his remarks in the sentence, “Let us strengthen our defences, and beware how we enter on unnecessary quarrels.” The Liberal member, Mr Isaac Foot, paid a high tribute to the work of the Foreign Secretary and Mr Eden at Geneva.

When Mr Eden intervened in the debate, he said he thought Mr Lloyd George had seemed rather anxious to create an atmosphere of suspicion. There was no mystery at all about the work which had been done at Geneva under Article XVI. of the Covenant, and he gave an account of the negotiations to show that there was not a shred of justification for the charge of dilatoriness which had been levelled against the Government. From the beginning of the ItaloEthiopian dispute until the present time, he showed, the Government had

used all its influence and used it without respite to bring about a settlement which might be acceptable to the parties and consistent with the Covenant of the League. , No Lone Action. Each time negotiations had failed through the refusal of the Italian Government to accept even as a basis of discussion proposals put forward. Replying to an interjection by Mr Lloyd George, Mr Eden said the only assurance, if assurance it could be called, which had been given the Italian Government was that we should take no action alone but only collectively. He added: “If a settlement is not reached the House should not underestimate the effectiveness of the step oh which the League will be embarking. For the first time in the history of the world an attempt is being made to operate an international system based not upon power but on certain fixed principles of equity. This is an adventure in which we might all be proud to play our part.” The debate was adjourned.