Britain Will Not Lay Down Law About Peace Aims

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1939, Page 8

Britain Will Not Lay Down Law About Peace Aims

LONDON, November 30. Replying to the debate in the House of Commons, the Secretary for the Colonies (Mr Malcolm MacDonald) said he did not agree that the Government should more closely define its peace aims. There was a responsibility to other Governments. The close" co-operation of the French and Dominion Governments demanded that any peace aims should be made only after consultations, which, if they were to be fruitful, must be confidential in the first instance. Co-operation would not be served by the British Government laying down the law about "peace aims. Many Have Right to be Heard Referring to an Opposition suggestion as to post-war colonial policy, Mr MacDonald saia that here again was a question to which Britain alone could not give an answer. The French Government was a great colonial Power and had the right to a say in the matter. Certain other people had a right to be heard on this important topic, including the peoples of the colonies themselves. Mr MacDonald then quoted the German Foreign Minister (von Ribbentrop) as saying in Danzig that there was no part of the world where the British Flag was not waving against the will of the peoples in question. Self-Governing Dominions “What a travesty of truth,” said Mr

MacDonald. “All the Dominions have their own free Parliaments and, a few months ago, claimed successfully the right to decide each for themselves whether they would share in any war in which Britain might become involved. “In the early days of September each one freely and on its own will declared war on Germany. “Dealing with the colonies which did not enjoy the same political freedom, but were governed largely from Westminster, Mr MacDonald said: Messages From Colonies “When it was certain at the end of August that we should be at war in a , few days, I made no suggestion to the Governors of the colonies that they should arrange for messages of support to come -st'rom the colonies. “I took no initiative in the matter. “Voluntarily the people of the colonies came to their decisions. “They took action within a few hours of the declaration of war. “Within a few hours messages began to pour in. “Messages came from every single colony, every single protectorate and every single mandated territory, coming under British administration.”