ASKED TO RESIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22719, 4 November 1935, Page 9

ASKED TO RESIGN

MEMBER OF FEDERAL CABINET ATTITUDE TO SANCTIONS SYDNEY, November 3. (Received Nov. 3, at 10 p.m.) A sensation in Federal political circles was caused by the announcement to-day that the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) had sent a telegram to Mr W. M. Hughes, Minister of Health, asking for his resignation from the Ministry owing to his attitude towards sanctions contained in his book, just published, entitled “Australia and the War Today.” Ministers take the view that his sentiments are entirely at variance with those of the Government. One passage in the book declares: “Economic sanctions will provoke Italy’s resistance, which means war, and only France and Russia will support Britain in that event.”

Mr Lyons, directing attention to other references in the book, refers to page 95, where it said, “ Economic sanctions are, therefore, cither an empty gesture or war” which Mr Lyons asserts is diametrically opposed to the Government’s policy. “In these circumstances,” adds Mr Lyons’s telegram, “Your position in the Cabinet appears to be untenable. I therefore regretfully require your resignation, since I cannot have a divided front on this vital matter.” Mr Hughes, hearing that the Cabinet was discussing his position, issued a statement making it clear that he does not oppose sanctions, but in fact supports the principle of collective action against an offending member of the League. He is. also , prepared to support the Government in imposing sanctions against Italy. “ What I do contend is that every sanction must be supported by means adequate to make its imposition effective Particularly is this the case with economic sanctions, which require force in the background to make a blockage or an embargo effective.” Mr Curtin, Leader of the Federal Labour Party, claims that Mr Hughes’s attitude, according to his book, agrees with Labour’s attitude that sanctions against Italy, in the absence of international solidarity, is a danger rather than a service to world peace.