WORLD PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 13

WORLD PEACE

BRITISH POLICY STOUT DEFENCE CONFIDENCE OP HOUSE CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH REPLY TO OPPOSITION By Telegraph—rress Association—Copyright (Received December 20, 0.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON. Dec. 19 The Chamberlain Government's foreign policy, which was the subject of a no-confidence motion by Dr. Hugh Dal ton (Labour) was again debated at length in the House of Commons to-day, and after a stout defence of his policy by the Prime Minister, the no-confidence motion was defeated by 340 votes to 143. 111 opening the "debate Dr. Dalton contended that by a series of big errors of judgment National Governments had brought Britain inlo direct peril since 1014. The world was strewn with wreckage, for which the* policy of Mr. Chamberlain's Government and its predecessors since 1931 had been largely responsible. The Munich agreement had unsettled all Europe, and to-day there was 110 frontier that could be regarded as reasonably safe. In the courso of his reply Mr. Chamberlain said it was a satisfaction that

tho Government's efforts to keep the Dominions fully informed on the forejgn situation were rewarded by a general absence of criticism on their part. Dr. Dalton's policy would have involved war simultaneously with Japan, Italy, Germany, and perhaps with General Franco. "It is an insult to myself and to Italy to suggest fliat I am going to Bome to betray any vital interest," continued Mr. Chamberlain. • " I am still waiting for a sign from those who speak for the German people that they are prepared to contribute to peace. I would not take the awful responsibility of war unless forced upon me by the madness of others." Foreign Intervention in Spain In Europe and tho Far East, which were tho only quarters of the world where the possibilities of trouble existed, the relations between Britain and France remained of a most cordial character. The Prime Minister welcomed the fact that the French Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, had repeated on Wednesday the declaration made by his predecessor, M. Delbos, two years ago that all the forces of France would be spontaneously and immediately used in defence of Britain against unprovoked aggression. As to the Mediterranean, the Prime Minister deplored the continuation of the disastrous civil war in Spain, but .claimed that considerable reductions in foreign intervention had been brought about by Britain's non-intervention policy. Referring to charges by Dr. Dalton of continued Italian intervention as breaches of recent pledges, he said that while it could not be denied that a certain amount of assistance in men and material had been given to both sides in recent months, the Italians sent to Spain, according to information Britain possessed, did not number more than 200. Although tho Government regretted that assistance it could not say really that there had been a breach of faith by Italy. Insulting Suggestions Resented

On the question of belligerent rights, Mr. Chamberlain said he could only repeat what had been said over and over again, that as long as there wero foreign troops in Spain, and ns long as no solution had been found for the Spanish question other than that evolved by the Earl of Plymouth's committee, Britain did not' propose to grant belligerent rights other than in accord-

ance with that committee's plan. How far it would be possible in Homo to discuss Spanish matters he could not say, but tho Houso could be sure that they would not depart from the principle which had guided British policy throughout —that the differences between the Spanish parties should be settled by tho Spanish people themselves.

• At this point Mr. Chamberlain observed : "I regret extremely that it should b« suggested that Viscount Halifax and I require to be bound beforehand by some assurance that we aro not going to betray any causes, or abandon any vital principles, or sacrifice any important interests, either of this country or any of our friends. Such suggestions aro intensely insulting to Up,

Objects of the Visit to Rome "It is highly discourteous to our Italian hosts to suggest that they would invito us to do any such thing," Mr. Chamberlain' continued. "It is an attempt to poison beforehand the atmosphere of the discussions and it is totally contrary to the spirit in which wo have accepted Italy's invitation. "1 explained before that we are not going to Home with any fixed agenda or with expectations of bringing away any new specific agreement. We are going there to exchange views with Italy upon all or any matters of common interest. "We aro going with a general desire to improve relations by a better understanding of one another's point of view and through personal contact to strengthen the confidences between ua." It