EUROPEAN SCENE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 13

EUROPEAN SCENE

THE BRITISH VIEW WORK FOR APPEASEMENT ENCOURAGING SUCCESS TWO OBSTACLES TO PROGRESS (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, June 1. f (Received June 2, at 8 p.m.) • The policy of appeasement which Britain has been pursuing, and which met with notable and encouraging success in the Anglo-Italian agreement, cannot, it is recognised in London, be looked to produce immediate and further beneficial results while the international situation is subject to tension arising from the. position in Spain and from the problem of the Sudeten Deutsche, As to the first, it is the earnest hope of Britain that the Nonintervention Committee’s scheme for the withdrawal of non-Spanish combatants will be put into effect with the least possible delay. The Spanish situation as it stands Is obstructing a good understanding between Rome and Paris, and also postponing the coming into force of the Anglo-Italian agreement, but while for these reasons Britain attaches the greatest importance to Srogress with the programme of the [on-intervention Committee, official circlees in London are known to feel that a really satisfactory outcome of the Spanish situation can only ensue if means should be found to bring about a cessation of hostilities. It may be assumed that Britain will keep a close watch and take soundings from time to time in the hope that an opportunity may occur in which outside Powers might influence the situation, arid from which might emerge some means of arriving at authority in Spain enjoying some measure of general assent. Central Europe The situation in Central Europe, which has shown more hopeful signs during the past fortnight, continues to engage the attention of Britain, which now has the advantage of first-hand impressions collected by the head of the Central European Department in a tour he has just completed of the British Diplomatic Missions ■in Paris, Berlin, and Prague. The British attitude is well known, and there will be no relaxation of the influence that Britain has consistently exerted in favour of moderation, concession and peaceful understanding. So long as these preoccupations exist, however, there is less possibility of the policy of appeasement succeeding for friendly relations to ensue between Britain and Germany, which it is Britain’s desire to promote. ff a peaceful solution is found to the Sudeten question, and satisfactory relations are in consequence established between Germany and Czechoslovakia, it appears from London that' such a settlement to which British good offices might be considered to have made an important contribution would afford fresh opportunity in London and Berlin for friendly consideration of AngloGerman relations. KELLOGG-BRIAND PACT THE AMERICAN REMINDER FULL SUPPORT FROM BRITAIN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 1. (Received June 2, at 5.5 p.m.) The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) was asked in the House of Commons whether, in view of the recent developments in Central Europe, the Government would associate itself with the recent declaration by the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull), on behalf of his country,' in regard to the Kellogg-Briand Pact. Mr Chamberlain, replying, said that Britain was in full agreement with the views expressed by Mr Hull. “ I need hardly add,” Mr Chamberlain said, “that on its part Britain is fully resolved to respect the obligation it entered into in signing the Pact of Paris.” Alarmed at the international situation, the United States Secretary of State ■ (Mr Cordell Hull) issued a statement reminding the Governments of Europe of their obligations to keep peace under the KelloggBriand Anti-war Pact. The statement is regarded as putting America’s moral weight behind the efforts of the European democracies to prevent war in view of the crisis in Czechoslovakia.