CONSULTATION OF RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 7

CONSULTATION OF RUSSIA

“No Objection In Principle” SOVIET AS GREAT PACIFIC POWER (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 14, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 14.

In the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) said that he trusted the House of Commons would realize that the suggestion that Russia was not being consulted was not justified.

Dr Hugh Dalton (Labour) asked if the Government at any time had proposed a definite military alliance between France, the Soviet and Britain. Sir John Simon replied that it was difficult to state certain things in a public debate, but he would meet the point in another way. There was no objection in principle to such a proposition. Britain’s traditional policy had been to commit herself by precise assurances of military and naval aid in certain definite cases only and that, regarding Europe generally and particularly the parts furthest from .Britain, she should not undertake precise commitments, but act as the case warranted. There was no fact more striking than that it had been possible to transform this policy by adding a series of most formidable commitments with the approval of the people. It would be well if the heads of the totalitarian States considered the change. It was not a change in the nature of the British people nor a sudden loss of the British historical sense, but a change in Europe.

The debate was adjourned till next Tuesday.

MONTREUX POWERS Dr Dalton said that it was better to suspend the operation of the AngloItalian Agreement, if it were not being denounced. He suggested that Britain call a conference of the Montreux powers. Labour desired an Anglo-French-Russian military alliance. Russia was a great Pacific power, in the same way as Britain and, in a lesser degree, France. New Zealand, Australia and Canada all touched the Pacific. It would be common sense for Britain and France to act in concert for common action in the Pacific.

Replying to a short debate in the House of Lords which followed his statement of the Government policy, the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) took up two points. He said that the. assurances received from Italy regarding the withdrawal of Italian forces from Spain covered the case of aeroplanes in the Balearic Islands. He also said that he fully recognized the importance of what had been said in the course of the debate on the subject of Russia. There were real difficulties—difficultibs not of British making—which' they had to meet in this connection, but it would not be Britain’s fault if they were not overcome. He had during this anxious week done his best to keep the Soviet Ambassador (M. Ivan Maisky) closely informed regarding all aspects of the situation as it was seen from London. Certainly nothing was further from the thought of the Government than itself to put unlogical difficulties in the way of realizing its determination to bring together all the nations which, might be found on the side of respect for international law. GUARANTEES GIVEN BY FRANCE ACTION TO STRENGTHEN DEFENCES PARIS, April 13. “We have taken action to strengthen our defences and ties of solidarity with those who are determined to oppose aggression since my speech,” said the Prime Minister (M. Edouard Daladier) in a statement. “We have done this without verbal demonstrations or vain provocation. Our action may be the more effective as it has no need to be accompanied either by speeches or threats. We have taken these military measures as a guarantee against surprises at the frontiers of France and the Empire.” M. Daladier gave Greece and Rumania guarantees similar to those given by the British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) declaring that the object was to organize the necessary collaboration of all those nations not wishing to threaten the vital interests of any people who would I not refuse loyally to examine the actual problems. He added that the close and profound agreement between Britain and France was never stronger and that France and Poland would guarantee each other immediately and directly against all threats affecting their vital interests.