BRITAIN’S POLICY DEFENDED

Southland Times, Issue 23461, 18 March 1938, Page 7

BRITAIN’S POLICY DEFENDED

CLAIM TO INSULATION OF WAR IN SPAIN LABOUR URGES SUPPORT FOR FRANCE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received March 17, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. The Leader of the Labour Opposition (Major C. R. Attlee) asked the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in the House of Commons whether he had received any representations from the French Government about the latest position in Spain and if he had a statement to make. The Prime Minister said that his Majesty’s Ambassador to Paris had received from the French Government an indication of the anxiety with which it viewed the present Spanish military situation. His Majesty’s Government was fully alive to the importance of the recent developments and was keeping in close touch with the French Government. Major Attlee then asked whether the Prime Minister would confer with the French Government with a view to restoring to the Spanish Government its right to receive arms and assistance. The Prime Minister repeated that Britain was keeping in close touch with the French Government.

Major Attlee then asked whether the Prime Minister had considered any action in view of the continued breach of the non-intervention agreement and recalled Mr Chamberlain’s statement, when informing the House of Commons of the conversations with Italy, that any further activity or change in the Spanish military situation would necessarily affect the continuance of the Italian conversations and the whole situation. Mr Chamberlain said that the recent developments appeared to have taken place with men, arms and equipment which were already in Spain. Mr Attlee then sought to move an adjournment to call attention to the lack of any material policy to counter the grave menace to British interests arising out of armed intervention in Spain by certain Powers. When the Speaker asked whether Major Attlee had leave of the House all the Liberal and Labour members rose and, their number being considerably more than that required, 40, assent was given and the debate continued.

Major Attlee drew attention to the lack of ministerial policy in countering the grave menace to British interests and security arising from foreign intervention in Spain. If Mr Chamberlain believed it possible to get peace by agreements with Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, based on a reliance on their pledges, he had had a rude awakening. While Mr Chamberlain was talking peace to Herr von Ribbentrop, the Germans had invaded Austria. While the Anglo-Italian conversations were proceeding, Signor Mussolini and his allies were trying to consummate the conquest of Spain, although Mr Chamberlain had made a Spanish settlement a condition of an Anglo-Italian agreement. “Does anyone doubt that Herr Hitler’s assistance in Spain is part of the price of Signor Mussolini’s betrayal of Austria?” asked Major Attlee. Major Attlee concluded by giving the Government what he described as a warning. He said the Government was seeking to help workers in rearmament. It could not go before them if it betrayed them; the British people would not stand by a craven Government.

Mr Chamberlain replied that the situation was too grave for reproaches or accusations across the floor of the House. The intervention of certain Powers was no new thing. It could not be said that General Franco’s new advance was the result of an accession of fresh forces or munitions. “I have no definite information about a fresh accession,” said Mr Chamberlain. He added that the British Gov-

ernment had never taken the Opposition’s view that a victory by General Franco would mean that Spain would pass into the control of Italy and Germany. “We intend to continue to keep in close touch with France,” said the Prime Minister. “I believe that we shall best serve the cause of peace and. freedom if we keep out of Spain, maintain our policy of non-intervention and do not attempt to burn our fingers as the other nations may well do.” VINDICATION OF POLICY? Mr Chamberlain referred to rumours of additions to the foreign forces on both sides in Spain and said: “Our policy has been non-intervention. It would be ridiculous to pretend that there has not been intervention since the policy was adopted, but. I assert that the policy has restricted intervention which otherwise would have occurred on a far greater scale. Secondly, the policy has averted an international war, first of all carried on on Spanish soil and afterwards probably spreading beyond. The fact of the war being confined to Spanish territory and for the most part to the Spanish people is a tribute to the success of the British policy of non-intervention.

“The Opposition assumes that a success for General Franco means the handing over of Spain to what Major Attlee calls the fascist Powers. He assumes that a rebel victory means that Spain will pass under the complete control of Italy and Germany and that that has been the intention of Italy and Germany all along. “The British Government has never taken that view, and does not take it today. We intend to continue in future as we have done in the past, in close touch with the French Government.”

The Liberal Leader (Sir Archibald Sinclair) begged the Government to give an assurance that Britain would stand by France as far as she wished to go. The back benchers continued the debate.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon), replying for the Government said: “British policy in the Spanish war is definite. We will not intervene and will endeavour to dissuade others from intervening. It is impossible to change that policy according to changing fortunes of the war. It is unreasonable to describe it as handing over Spain to the fascist Powers.” ACCUSATION REFUTED A scene occurred when Sir John Simon challenged Mr Arthur Greenwood (Labour), who said the Opposition had never asked that Britain should go into Spain. Sir John Simon commented that this represented a complete change from the position that had been taken up. Major Attlee challenged Sir John and demanded evidence that me Opposition had ever demanded that Britain should go into Spain. Sir John said that it was obvious that opposition to the policy of nonintervention meant the policy of intervening. Sir John denied that any Note wi»s received from the French Government asking Britain to take some action in Spain. Major Attlee’s motion for an adjournment was defeated by 317 votes to 141.