Mr. Chamberlain Explains

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1939, Page 7

Mr. Chamberlain Explains

(Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 10. Mr C. R. Attlee, in the House of Commons, . asked Mr Chamberlain about a statement issued in Moscow regarding British and Russian exchanges. Mr Chamberlain said: “I have seen the statement to which Mr Attlee refers, and which seems to be based upon some misunderstanding of suggestion actually put forward by Britain to the Soviet.

General Lines. “Though conversations are still in progress, and the House will not therefore expect me to discuss these matters in detail. I think it might be advisable, in view of this statement, to place the House in possession of the general lines on which the conversations have been hitherto proceeding. “As the House is aware, Britain recently accepted a definite obligation in respect to certain European States. Britain did this in pursuance of its declared policy of- assisting those States to resist any attempt, if such were made, to threaten their independence. “Britain undertook these obligations without inviting the Soviet to participate directly in them in view of certain difficulties to which, as the House is well aware, any such suggestion would inevitably give rise. Suggestion To Soviet, “Britain accordingly suggested to the Soviet that it should make, on its own behalf a declaration of similar effect to that made by Britain, in the sense that in the event of Britain and France being involved in hostilities in discharge of their own obligations thus accepted, the Soviet, on its side, would express its readiness also to lend assistance if desired.

“Such declaration, if the Soviet feels able to make it, seems to Britain to be in accord with M. StalinSs recent pronouncement that it was the Soviet’s policy to support countries which might be the victims of aggression, and which were prepared to defend their own independence. Soviet’s Proposal. “Almost simultaneously, the Soviet suggested a scheme at once more comprehensive and more rigid, which whatever other .advantages it might present, must, in the view of Britain, inevitably raise the very difficulties which Britain’s own proposals had been designed to avoid. “Britain accordingly pointed out to the Spviet the existence of these difficulties. At the same time, Britain made certain modifications in her original proposals. In particular Britain made it plain that it was no part of her intention that the Soviet should commit herself to intervene irrespective of whether Britain and France had already, in discharge of their obligations, done so. “Britain added that if the Soviet wishes to make her own intervention contingent on that of Britain and France, the British Government, for its part, would have no objection. An Assurance. '‘Viscount Halifax yesterday saw M. Maisky, who explained to him that the Soviet still is not clear whether, under Britain’s . proposals, circumstances might not arise in which the Soviet would be committed to intervention unsupported by Britain or France. Lord Halifax assured M. Maisky that this definitely was not the intention of Britain’s proposals, and that if there was any room for doubt on this point Lord Halifax anticipated that it could, without difficulty, be removed. “He accordingly invited M. Maisky to place Britain in possession of the precise grounds on which those doubts of the Soviet were based, if they still existed, and this M. Maisky readily agreed to do. Awaiting Soviet’s Reply.

“Sir William Seeds had an interview two days ago with M. Molotoff, who promised that the Soviet would give careful consideration to Britain’s proposals, and the Government is now awaiting the Soviet’s reply.” Mr Chamberlain said that the House had better await the Soviet’s reply to see what further steps might be required, but he emphatically declared that Britain regarded the negotiations with Moscow as a matter of great importance and of real urgency.