MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND WAR RISK

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1936, Page 7

MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND WAR RISK

[United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 11. . Condemning the policy of continuing sanctions against italy the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Neville Chamberlain, speaking at a political dinner said it would only lead to further misfortune. Referring to Lord Robert Cecil’s claim that it is still possible to preserve Abyssinia’s independence by pursuing sanctions, Mr Chamberlain said: “That seems to me to be the very midsummer of madness.

“It is no use shutting our eyes to realities,” continued the Chancellor. “Sanctions have been tried and have failed. I am not blaming anyone for the failure. I merely record it now, because if we have retained any vestige of common sense we must admit we have tried to impose upon the League of Nations a task beyond the powers of the nations which compose the League,

Limit League’s Functions.

“Therefore, we must decide so to limit the League’s functions in future that they may accord with its real powers. If that policy were courageously carried out, I believe it might go far to restore the League’s prestige, although it must be admitted that the League is so limited that it could be no longer relied upon by itself to secure the peace of the world.

“It is now apparent that the policy of sanctions involves, if not war, at least the risk of war, and that risk must increase in proportion to the effectiveness of sanctions.

“It is also apparent, in the presence of such a risk, that the nations cannot be relied upon to proceed to the extremity of war unless their vital interests are threatened.” Located Danger Spots. \

Mr Chamberlain suggested the exploration of the possibility of localising the danger ' spots of the world, with a view to evolving a more practical method of ensuring peace by regional arrangement approved by the League.

The newspapers give great prominence to Mr Chamberlain’s “End Sanctions” speech. They ask whether he was speaking for himself or for the Cabinet. The speech was delivered at the 1900 Club’s dinner, at which the Chancellor was the guest of honour. Four hundred Conservatives attended, and the Marquess of Londonderry-pre-sided. * Question For House. The reported statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding sanctions was the subject of,a question addressed by private notice to the Prime Minister in the House this afternoon by the Leader of the Opposition. Major Attlee, who asked whether Mr Chamberlain’s Speech represented the Government policy.' Mr Baldwin replied that the Chancellor had : informed him that the suggestions he put forward were definitely stated by him to be provisional reflections on the Italo-Ethiopian dispute, which had occurred to him personally. Major Attlee then asked if the views expressed were the considered view, of the Government. The Prime Minister answered that no conclusions on these matters had yet been reached. Pressed by leaders of both sections of the Opposition to say if this expression of private views of the Minister was consistent with tradition and constitutional usage, and was not embarrassing to other Ministers, Mr jßaldwin replied; “I make no complaint myself on what the Rt. Hon. gentleman said.”