PRESS COMMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 20 June 1936, Page 7

PRESS COMMENT

BRITAIN AND SANCTIONS

GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO TASK “GRAVE DANGER TO THE LEAGUE” (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 20th June, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, 19th June. The “Manchester Guardian’s” political correspondent says Mr Eden fulfilled every mournful expectation. He has failed his better self, and realised it. Mr Lloyd George’s speech stripped the Government naked. Mr Baldwin’s reply might have been called insolent in anyone else.” “The Times” in a leaner says: “Pub lie opinion will endorse, while reluctantly accepting, Mr Eden’s view, but will demand energetic and competent leadership to maintain peace. It will want to know what positive aims are to guide the British policy which wilt henceforward determine the league's position. Its concrete objective can be obtained only through negotiation with Germany by means of a conference.”

The “Daily Mail,” after referring tc the strange spectacle of Mr Eden revising his whole policy with apparent satisfaction, asks what the world will think of the Government? Will it not ask whether there is any sincerity left among our public men?” The “Daily Mail” adds that the League will disappear in odium and obloquy, and nobody will be a farthing worse off’.

BRITAIN’S AUTHORITY WEAKENED The “News-Chronicle” believes League members will look elsewhere for leadership. It adds that it is a crime and a disaster that Ministers by their cowardice should have irreparably weakened Britain’s authority. The “Daily Herald” says worse than surrender to Mussolini will come unless Ministers realise that the country does not share their desire to betray the League and dishonour Britain’s name.

The “Daily Telegraph” pays a tribute to Mr Eden’s courage and resilience in seeking to win a larger hope for the future, and states that neither pressure on Italy nor war can restore Abyssinia. LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO The British Parliamentary Labour Party issued a manifesto drawing attention to the grave danger to the League owing to the abandonment of sanctions, and accusing the Government of scrapoing their solemn pledges that the League would remain the keystone of foreign policy. It adds that the Government is not only prepared to allow Mussolini to profit by aggression but also to abandon the whole system of collective security through the League. The manifesto emphasises that the crisis should be used as an opportunity to rehabilitate the League and make an approach to peace by rallying to the defence of collective security.

OPINION IN EUROPE

ITALIAN RECEPTION RESERVE TEMPERS SATISFACTION POSITION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN (Received 20th June, 9.15 a.m.) ROME, 18th June. Reserve tempers the satisfaction with which Mr Eden’s speech was received, because the announcement of the permanent strengthening of Britain’s Mediterranean defences gives food for thought. The man in the street regards the speech as the reverse of a gilding pill, and communicates pleasant news in an unpleasant way, especially the permanent strengthening measures in the Mediterranean.

GERMANY INTERESTED BUT REMAINS ALOOF BERLIN, 18th June. The Government is interested but remains aloof. “Mr Eden proved himself a master of the situation and the Government had the courage to accept the consequences,” declares the “Voelkischer Beobachter,” while the “Deutsche AUgemeine” underlines Mr Eden’s allusions to freedom, the Mediterranean, and the integrity of Europe’s western frontiers. IN FRANCE NO OFFICIAL COMMENT TOO BUSY WITH DOMESTIC PROBLEMS (Received 20th June, 9.15 a.m.) PARIS, 18th June. Cabinet is too occupied with domestic problems to permit a considered discussion on sanctions, but caution may have something to do with the absence of official comment. Nevertheless general opinion seems to be that Mr Eden has extricated the French Government, from a dilemma. France will probably follow Britain’s lead as unostentatiously as possible. FRANCE FOLLOWS ENGLAND (Received 20th June, 9.50 a.m.) PARIS, 19th June. A Council of Ministers decided on the consideration of the facts, to accept the lifting of Sanctions. EXTRICATED FROM A DILEMMA GENERAL RELIEF EXPRESSED (Received 20th June, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 19th June. There is still a lack of official comment in Paris on Mr Anthony Eden’s sanctions pronouncement, but there is general relief that Mr Eden has extricated France from a dilemma. It is suggested that the official silence is due to caution and embarrassmen' rather than disappointment. Th: press mostly asks what next?

“Pertinax” in “L’Eeho de Paris” ascribes Britain’s change of front as a final realisation of the German danger. The Communist paper “Humanite” wants France to take up the leadership which Britain has surrendered

but “Le Figaro,” while congratulating Britain on her skill at somersaulting at France’s expense, yet thinks Britain, by a courageous lead in retreat, will not only gain her reward from Italy, but the respect of all countries which follow her lead and those courageous enough tojnake up their minds and act accordingly. LEAGUE CIRCLES AMAZED SURRENDER OF ONLY POSSIBLE WEAPON COLLECTIVE SECURITY MAY COLLAPSE (Received 20th June, 9.15 a.m.) GENEVA, 18th June. League circles can hardly credit ihc abandonment of sanctions, regarding this as a surrender of the only possible weapon. They are amazed that Britain should thus throw up the sponge and wonder how she can now prevent the collapse of collective security. It Is emphasised that Italy’s violation of the Covenant and the position of Ethiopia are still unsettled. “SOUNDING THE RETREAT” MOST DAMAGING BLOW TO LEAGUE BITTER COMMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA CAPETOWN, 19tl: June. The “Capo Times” heads its comment “Sounding the Retreat.” and remarks that “it is one of the most humiliating declarations that has ever fallen from a British Foreign Secretary. How is it possible now to restore the League’s full authority after Britain has taken the lead of delivering the League the most damaging blow it has ever sustained?”

CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR LIFTING STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER OTTAWA, 18th June. The Canadian delegate to the September meeting of the League of Nations will be Instructed to support the movement for the lifting of sanctions. The Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King) announced in the House of Commons that Canada’s policy had been that sanctions should be applied but the Dominion had reserved the right of Parliament to speak before military sanctions should be applied. The Government took special steps 'o see that Canadian nickel did not ’•each Italy, but this had been difficult because of indirect shipments to the United Kingdom and the United States.