SIR EDWARD GREY'S SPEECH.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 5

SIR EDWARD GREY'S SPEECH.

DEBATED BY THE HOUSE

PRESS OPINION LAUDATORY,

[Press Association—Copxkight.]

. London, Noy 28. In the House of Commons, in the debate on Sir EdAvard Groy's speech on the British Foreign policy, Mr Mac Donald (Labour) "strongly disapproved of the ..continuation of Lord Lansdowne's policy. He declared that Mr Lloyd George's speech with regard to Germany had been unfortunate, and Sir Edward Grey's narrative was essentially a dramatic condemnation of secret, diplomacy. He suggested an inquiry into the best means of keeping the House of Commons in touch with foreign affairs. Mr Dillon attacked the Government's policy in Persia. Mr J. F. Mason denounced Italian atrocities in Morocco.

Mr Asquith, Premier, said that diplomacy was necessarily secret. No country could carry on diplomacy with the cards on the table, the doors open and the blinds up. A Government must negotiate under confidence, but the people were not necessarily kept in darkness. There were no secret treaties not unpublished. Britain did not desire to stand in the way of any Power wishing to find a place under the sun. British friendships were neither exclusive nor jealous, and he would bo glad if they could be enlarged to include other nations.

Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, replying to criticisms, said that Mr Shuster's policy in Anglicising the Persian civil scrvico was contrary to the spirit of the Anglo-Russian agreement.

Mr F. D. Aeland, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in reply to a question, informed Mr Dillon that there was no record of Mr Chamberlain's project to partition Morocco, giving Germany a port on the Atlantic. The debate was adjourned sine die. The newspapers generally applaud Sir Edward Grey's speech and hope that better international relations will be established now that tho Morocco question is removed.

"The Times" says it is difficult to explain Herr yon Kiderlen-Wachter's singular lapse of memory.

The "Daily News" expresses disappointment at the chilliness of Sir Edward Grey's response to the Reichstag's appeal for better relations. Tho speech created a good impression on the Stock Exchange.

The "Westminster Gazette" and tho "Pall Mall Gazette" agree that Sir Edward Grey, Mr Asquith and Mr Bonar Law struck the right note in the debate, and that the whole tendency of the debate was towards a better understanding.

The "Pall Mall Gazette" especially eulogises Sir Edward Grey's firntnesß and candour.

The "Star" says that three capital errors wore made in Morocco. The first was the French marching on Fez ; the second the German despatch of the Panther; and the third Mr Lloyd George's speech. The moral for the three nations was that they must control diplomacy with a firmer hand.