FOREIGN POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 30 March 1938, Page 7

FOREIGN POLICY

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS CRITICISM BY OPPOSITION LEADER | REPLY TO LORD HALIFAX (British Official Wirelese] (Received 30th March, noon) RUGBY, 29th March, j The House of Lords debated the | statement by the Foreign Secretary, i Lord Halifax, last Thursday The Opposition Leader, Lord Snell, I said the Government appeared to live from day to day by political accommodation for the hour without any long range policy. The Labour Party was anxious to do its share to help the Government in a time of crisis, but they wanted to know where they were going, and he declined to promise their cooperation until they knew that. The Archbishop of Canterbury thought it was easy to say rebuild the League of Nations, but they could not rebuild on broken foundations. He had reluctantly come to the conclusion that collective security was impossible.

Lord Cecil found the Government’s declaration inadequate to meet the situation and complained they had no constructive policy in regard to the League of Nations except a policy of despair. Lord Halifax, replying to the debate, said he thought that in every foreign country Mr Chamberlain's statement had received the same approval that it had received from the bulk of public opinion at Home. He added: “The principles on which I would seek to base the British policy are: At home we must preserve our own democracy, our institutions and our individual rights; abroad we shall seek to uphold what we believe to be right, using our influence to prevent the division of Europe into rival camps, and taking every opportunity to use our good offices to promote conciliation.”