PREMIER'S REPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 13

PREMIER'S REPLY

GIBES OF CRITICS STRONG NATION'S DUTY AVOIDANCE OF WAR By Te'egraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Feb. 22 The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, on rising to reply to the Labour censure motion in the House of Commons, was cheered for two minutes. As Mr. Eden entered the House Mr. Chamberlain said ho desired to be fair to Mr. Eden, but he wished to say in his presence that he had no recollection of Mr. Eden ever having said to him that a question of international good faith constituted an embargo on conversations, either with Italy or Germany. The suggestion that we should enter into conversations with Italy provided that certain things were done first is humbug," said the Prime Minister. (Ministerial cheers.) It has been said that entering into conversations was a humiliation. There has been talk of sacrifices to a dictator, and that I am going whining to Signor Mussolini. Such gibes and taunts leave me absolutely unmoved. "Those who gibe do not realise the greatness of this country, which is strong and is the head and centre of a great Empire to which millions of people look iip for leadership." French Go-operation Essential Labour members frequently interrupted with loud shouting at this stage, and the Speaker called for order. Mr. Chamberlain, continuing, said: "It is for a strong country to do what a weak country cannot afford to do, namely, to show magnanimity." The Prime Minister said that Mr. Eden on January 25 told French Ministers that the British Government was contemplating conversations with Italy and discussed the subjects of them. The French Government insisted that the discussions should include a settlement of the Spanish question. He had told the Italians that that would be included. He repudiated the suggestion that the Government had gone behind the backs of its friends. "If these conversations are to lead, as we desire, not merely to an improvement in the relations between Britain and Italy, but to a general appeasement all round in the Mediterranean, in which the French, particularly, are interested, we cannot possibly achieve success unless the French are with us from the beginning," said Mr. Chamberlain.

Nearer and Nearer to War s. . Discussing the League of Nations, Mr. Chamberlain admitted that as at present constituted it was incapable of affording collective security. "If we have remained in the League it is because we feel that it might be reconstituted and there is important work to be done. I would not change the Covenant." If the League threw off shams and pretences and declared what it was prepared to do and could do, its moral force would be multiplied immediately. Returning to the question, "should we talk with those who differ or whose standards we do not approve?" Mr. Chamberlain said that refusal had not brought peace. "3lonth by month we have seemed to be getting nearer to war. There may come a time when someone occupying the Prime Ministership will have to face again the awful responsibility of answering the question: 'Will you plunge your country into war?' "Does not an equally heavy responsibility rest upon the man who feels, as I do. that if we do not take action we may presently be faced with that frightful question, but who feels that by taking action we may avert it? "I should not be fulfilling my duty if I failed to take such action as I have done." (Cheers.) WASHINGTON'S SILENCE DISCOMFITURE SENSED NEW YORK PRESS COMMENT (Received February 23, 9.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 22

Commenting on the political crisis in Britain the New York Herald Tribune, under the caption: "Some Faces are .Red," says: "In Washington's quoted comment, and even in its more eloquent silence, one seems to detect a certain undercurrent of irritation beneath its response to the sad news from London

"As a matter of fact, Washington's discomfiture basically is President Roosevelt's own fault. It is due to his policy, constructed upon the optimistic assumption that it is possible to save the world for nothing. "It is easy for the American President to summon the nations to great deeds since the geography of this country makes it plain that Americans will be the last people to get hurt, but it can never be very effective as long as the summons is issued specifically under that understanding. "Mr. Roosevelt may be trying to arouse the American people to a more bellicose attitude in defence of democracy abroad, but if so, he has not dared frankly to explain this to them. Instead, he has devoted himself to encouraging ideas of a bellicose blockade and embargo policy. ".Mr. Roosevelt is always reiterating that he has no idea of leading the American people into war. This may popularise such moral crusades at home, but is not likely to- make them attractive to those foreign Powers who will find themselves sitting in front line trenches."

CREDITS FOR ITALY BRITISH ARRANGEMENT LONDON, Feb. 22 The political correspondent of The Star says the Board of Trade has prepared an agreement whereby Italy will be granted substantial British credits. The credits will begin with an advance of £5,000,000. This will take the form of a guarantee, backed by the Exports Credits Guarantee Department indemnifying British exporters against loss.