BRITAIN'S FIRM POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 11

BRITAIN'S FIRM POLICY.

EGYPT AND RUSSIA.

CHAMBERLAIN'S DEFENCE.

SUPPORT BY THE COMMONS

ALLIED CONVERSATIONS.

POINTS OF FRICTION GONE.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received 8.5 p.m.) Reuter. LONDON. Dec. 16. The debate on the Address-in-Replv was resumed in the House of Commons yesterday.

Mr. C. P. Trevelyan (Newcastle Central), who was President of the Board cf Education in the Labour Cabinet, attacked the Government's policy in regard to Egypt and Russia. He asked whether Egypt was now really independent, and what the Government proposed to do as regards Russia, with which other countries weru now making commercial agreements.

Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said his conversations with M. Herriot, Premier of France, and Signor Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy, were conducted in the true spirit of the League of Nations. They had established mutual relations of trust and confidence. He emphasised that the conversations had come as close to an agreement as possible, but never at the expense of those who wero not there.

The Minister said he had heard much of the foreign viewpoint regarding the Geneva protocol, but was himself unable to express any opinion on it on behalf of the Government, because the first meeting of the Cabinet in connection with the protocol had only been held on the day of his departure for Rome. Anti-British Labour Tactics. The question of inter-Allied debts, said Mr. Chamberlain, had not been discussed in Paris or Rome. He did not pretend that the conversations had decided great issues. They had not sought to make any new treaties nor come to fresh decisions, but they had eliminated some small matters. These would have been points of friction if they had not reached an agreement to recognise the largeness of their common interests throughout the worlu and resolved that each nation should do her best to prevent the small differences, which must ariso occasionally, from impeding their co-operation in the greater common interests.

Referring to Mr. Trevelyan's speech, Mr, Chamberlain said he had to come to the House to hear a really anti-British declaration. Ho had received from foreign statesmen many congratulations on the British attitude in the Egyptian crisis.

In the Sudan Britain must have authority to fulfil her obligations, but in Egypt all Britain desired was that the Egyptian Government should do its duty If it was willing to do that then it would find no better, firmer or more loyal friends than the British Government and people. (Ministerial cheers.) Egyptian Government's Duty. Proceeding, Mr. Chamberlain said the British Government did not desire to interfere with the independence of Egypt. It did, however, require the Egyptian Government to work with and not against Britain, and to accept loyally and frankly as a basis for independence the conditions attached to its grant.

Mr. Chamberlain continued: "If wo had to deal with a friendly Egyptian Government, loyal to the conditions on which our co-operation is based, we would invite them to join us in an inquiry as to what water is available in the Sudan after making full allowance for Egypt. We would propose a neutral chairman for a commission 011 which Egypt nad the Sudan would be represented."

The Minister said he did not think the Egyptian question at the present stage could come before the League of Nations. He said that ill-effects would ensue in the Sudan from the suggested application to the Leaguo for a mandate administration, Relations With the Soviet. Concerning relations with the Soviet Mr. Chamberlain mentioned that the authenticity of the Zinovieff letter had been confirmed by four entirely independent and trustworthy sources. He did not think that the time was opportune to resume negotiations with the Soviet at present. Ho added that there would never be an opportunity of getting possession of the original Zinovieff letter. It was received and destroyed by the Communist body in England.

Mr. Chamberlain, who was just home from tho meeting of the Council of tho Leaguo of Nations, expressed his strong confidence in the future of tho League. Labour Amendment Rejected. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, Leader of the Labour Party, pressed (he Government to afford the members of the House an opportunity for a discussion of the Geneva protocol before consulting tho Dominions.

Ho urged the Chancellor of (he Exchequer, Mr. Winston Churchill, to impress upon the Allies at the forthcoming conference of Ministers for Finance that it was necessary to ease the British taxpayers' burden, which was the result of the Allies' non-payment of their debts.

Mr. Arthur Ponsonby (Sheffield), who was Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Labour Ministry, moved an amendment. expressing regret concerning the Government's policy as regards Egypt and Russia. This was rejected by 363 votes to 132.