GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 15 November 1937, Page 5

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

I BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY i i i IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR ENDING | WORLD UI!AOS SPEECH BY PRIME .MINISTER rUnited Press Association —ltv Electric j Telegraph —Cop.vrignt.) LONDON, 13th November. An exposition of tlic guiding principles of British foreign policy and an earnest pica for steps to end world Chaos and restore peace and goodwill, with a hint of British initiative to that end, were contained in a speech made at Edinburgh by Mr Neville Chamberlain—his first speecii in Scotland since lie became Prime Minister. Mr Chamberlain said: "Britain's foreign policy is guided by certain general principles: First, the protection of British lives and interests; secondly, maintenance of peace and the settlement of differences by peaceful methods, not force: thirdly, the promotion of friendly relations with other nations who arc willing to respect Britain’s friendly feelings and to keep those rules of international conduct without which | there can be no stability and security in this world. “I should have thought these principles would have secured general assent, but I am sorry to note a certain tendency on the part of the Socialists to reproach the Government with looking after British interests as though it were a crime, although all the lime they are urging us to interfere in matters in which we have no concern and to use British influence, even naval and military power, to interfere on behalf of foreigners with whom they are in political sympathy. “Nothing would do more injury to Ibc general welfare of the world than to allow the British Empire to decay because the British Government was ur filling to take care of British material interests.

’I asked on 9lh November whether we were all working for peace and contentment or piling up armaments against one another to meet the fears and suspicions every country seems to have about its neighbours. We call ourselves civilised nations, but is it not a reproach of civilisation that anyone should have to put such a question? It is time another effort was made to see if it is possible to remove these fears and suspicions by a closer examination of their original and substance. Such an cfTort is not a sign of weakness. Britain is strong. She is getting stronger every day.” Referring to the outlook for trade and industry, Mr Chamberlain said: “England at the present time is more prosperous than any of the great industrial countries of the world. We must expect ups and downs, but I can see no sign of a setback in the immediate future, or, indeed, for some considerable time. If it does come, we could hardly be better able to meet it than we are to-day.” “Mr Chamberlain concluded with an impassioned appeal to end world chaos and which could also be interpreted as a warning. Mr Chamberlain declared:— "Britain has behind her vast and almost illimitable resources. Our very strength makes it easier for us to appeal to others to join us in applying our common sense and common humanity to a solution to these problems which carry such a responsibility for the happiness or misery of the future of the human race. I have faith in human nature. Because of that faith I believe there would be a ready response to such an appeal, so I look forward with quiet confidence to the day when we can lay aside our weapons and devote ourselves wholly to the welfare of our people.” (Loud cheers).