EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22970, 23 February 1938, Page 13

EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS

CHIEF POINTS AT ISSUE CROWDED HOUSE LISTENS The House of Commons was crowded in every part on Monday afternoon when explanatory statements on the resignation of the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, were made by him and by the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain. Both were greeted with cheers as they entered the Chamber. Mr. Eden stated that the immediate issue between him and the Prime Minister was as to whether the time was opportune for the opening of negotiations with Italy with a view to securing European appeasement. He had felt that the attitude of Rome to international problems in general anti to Britain in particular was not such as to justify that course. Anti-British propaganda disseminated by Italy and the intervention of that country in the Spanish conflict were the main reasons given by Mr. Eden for the conviction he had formed. He said he had! contended that these matters should be dealt with before official conversations with Rome were opened. ~ In his reply Mr. Chamberlain said that Mr. Eden's resignation had come as a shock. He did not believe it was impossible, with goodwill and determination, to find a common ground for the appeasement of Europe. Mr. Chamberlain said he was convinced that a rebuff to Italy in connection with her desire Jor conversations would confirm Italy's suspicions that Britain was not in earnest about holding conversations. He had told the Italian Ambassador that a settlement of the Spanish question must be regarded as the essential feature of any* agreement.