SUGGESTED ATTEMPT TO DRIVE WEDGE

Southland Times, Issue 23513, 20 May 1938, Page 5

SUGGESTED ATTEMPT TO DRIVE WEDGE

ITALIAN “PRESSURE” ON FRANCE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 18. Several questions on the Spanish situation and the conversations between France and Italy were answered in the House- of Commons by the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler). Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) asked for an assurance that the British Government would support the French Government in resisting Italian pressure to change French policy towards the Spanish Government. Mr Butler in reply stated that the good offices of the British Government were always at the disposal of the French and Italian Governments should they desire them with a view to expediting a settlement of the Spanish situation.

Mr Henderson: In fact the policies of the French Government and the British Government over Spain are the same. Does the British Government intend to allow the Italian Government to drive a wedge between them on this question? Mr Butler: I do not necessarily accept the interpretation Mr Henderson puts on Signor Mussolini’s speech and I cannot therefore give the assurances he desires. Replying to another question by Mr P. J. Noel-Baker (Labour), who wished to know whether he could define the circumstances in which his Majesty’s Government would consider that a settlement of the Spanish question had been arrived at, Mr Butler said that he could not go further than the statements made by the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) on May 2. Mr Noel-Baker: Does the Government accept or repudiate the definition that Signor Mussolini has now given that there must be a victory for General Franco before a settlement can be arrived at? Mr Butler: Government policy is given by the Prime Minister and not anyone else. A question by Mr W. Wedgwood Benn (Labour) referred to an interview between Mr Chamberlain and the Italian Ambassador. “This interview with Mr Chamberlain was private and he is not prepared to answer questions about its nature,” said Mr Butler. “The Right Honourable member must not assume that the Prime Minister gave an explanation of the words cited in his question.” PEERS’ DEBATE ON FOREIGN POLICY MOTION OF CENSURE BY LORD SNELL (British'Official Wireless) (Received May 19, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 18. A debate on foreign affairs was opened in the House of Lords by the Leader of the Opposition (Lord Snell), who moved that “in the opinion of the House the foreign policy of the Government, which includes acceptance of the sacrifice of Abyssinian independence and is detrimental to the democratic Government of Spain, offers no certainty of any compensating gain to the principles of peace and democracy.” Later Lord Brocket moved an amendment approving the Government’s foreign policy, including the AngloItalian agreement and non-intervention in Spain. The Foreign Secretary (Viscount Halifax) will reply for the Government to the debate.