PREPARING WAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19777, 3 November 1938, Page 7

PREPARING WAY

POWERS’ PARLEYS FURTHER MEETING HINTED ANGLO-ITALIAN AMITY ATTITUDE TO SPAIN POSITION OF ETHIOPIA (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 3, noon.) LONDON. Nov. 2. The Star understands that the British Ambassador, Sir Nevile Henderson, will return to Berlin with instructions to follow up the Munich agreement and prepare the way for the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, to again visit Herr Hitler, probably before Christmas, as a preliminary to a four-Power conference directed towards peace by way of disarmament, and reserving the colonial problem for a later general settlement. In moving in the House of Commons to-day, “That this House welcomes Britain’s intention to bring the Angl'o-Italian agreement into force,” the Prime Minister recalled his observation of yesterday on the joint declaration with Herr Hitler at Munich that if it was suitably followed up it might well be found to contain the seed of a new era of confidence and peace in Europe.

Since the date of the AngloItalian agreement there had been no differences between Italy and Britain, but it was clear that if the improvements in relations which followed the conclusion of the agreement were to be maintained, the delay of already over six months in putting the agreement into force could not indefinitely be prolonged. Issue Before the House The issue before the House was not the agreement itself, which already had been approved by a large majority, but whether the preliminary conditions which he laid down as essential before it could come into force had now been fulfilled. In making the condition, he had stated the view that Britain's recognition of Italian sovereignty in Ethiopa would morally be justified if Britain could feel that it would constitute an important step towards general appeasement in Europe, but the Government must be able to consider that the Spanish question had been settled, and on July 26, in reply to an interjection by the Leader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, he had said: “If Britain thinks Spain has ceased to be a menace to the peace of Europe, I think we shall regard that as a settlement of the Spanish question.” Withdrawal of Volunteers

Since then the British plan for the withdrawal of volunteers had been accepted by the Powers on the Nonintervention Committee and the Spanish Government had announced at Geneva the intention to withdraw the International Brigade. Moreover, at Munich, Signor Mussolini had volunteered the information that he intended to withdraw 10,000 men from Spain. These had now been withdrawn.

It was true that Italian pilots, aircraft and other material remained in Spain, but Britain had received from Signor Mussolini assurances, firstly, that the remaining Italian forces of all categories would be withdrawn under the Non-intervention Committee’s plan when it came into operation, secondly that no further Italian troops would be sent to Spain, and thirdly that Italy never for a moment entertained the idea of sending a compensatory air force to Spain in place of the infantry forces withdrawn.

Earnest of Good Intentions

“These three assurances, in conjunction with the actual withdrawal of this large body of men, in my judgment constitute a substantial earnest o[ the good intentions of Italy and form a considerable contribution to the elimination of the Spanish, question as a menace to peace, but they are not the only considerations weighing with Britain,” continued Mr. Chamberlain. “When I was at Munich I spoke on the future of Spain with both HenHitler and Signor Mussolini, and both of them assured me most definitely that they had no territorial ambitions whatever in Spain.

“In my mind it is perfectly cleai that the Spanish question is no longer a menace to the peace of Europe and consequently there is no valid reason why we should not now take the step which obviously would contribute to general appeasement."

Mr. Chamberlain then made the point that if any justification were required for the policy of agreement with Italy, it could be found in the action of Signor Mussolini when, at Mr. Chamberlain’s request, he used his influence with Herr Hitler before the Munich meeting. Peace of Europe Saved

By that act of Signor Mussolini the peace of Europe was saved and it could not be supposed that he would have responded to Mr. Chamberlain’s request if the British relations with Italy liad remained what they were 18 months ago. Regarding the recognition of Italian sovereignty in Elhiopa, Mr. Chamberlain stated that new credentials would be issued to Lord Perth, the Ambassador to Rome, on similar lines to those which the French Government intended to give to its new ambassador in Rome. The French Government had slated that it welcomed the British Government’s intention as it welcomed generally anything which could contribute to an improvement in AngloItalian relations.

In conclusion Mr. Chamberlain read two messages received from the heads of the Governments or the Commonwealth of Australia and the South African Union.

Mr. J. A. Lyons had stated that the Australian Government was convinced that the Anglo-Italian agreement should be brought into operation forthwith as a contribution to peace and de jure recognition accorded the Italian conquest of Abyssinia. The withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Spam seemed to it a real contribution and in its opinion a peaceful and friendly Mediterranean was essential in the present condition of the world. To refuse de jure recognition would seem to ignore the facts and to risk danger over matter which now was immaterial.