BRITISH AIM

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 5

BRITISH AIM

STRESA POLICY

DECLARATION NEEDED

"STEADIER FOR NERVES”

PLANS FOR CONFERENCE

PROPOSALS BY FRANCE

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.

Rec. 7 p.m. London, April 9. The importance the British Government attaches to the Stresa talks . is shown by the inclusion in the delegation of Sir Robert Vansittart* (Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office), Sir William Malkin (legal adviser) and Messrs. R. F. Wigram (head of the central department), W. Strand (head of the League section) and R. A. Leeper (head of the news department). They will be accompanied by Signor Grandi (Italian Ambassador at London) and will be joined at Stresa by Sir Eric Drummond and two high officials from the British Embassy at Rome. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says the British Ministers are strongly of the opinion that an early declaration re-affirming Britain’s determination to carry out all obligations under the covenant of the League and the Locarno Pact should be made as a steadier for European nerves. The News-Chronicle in a leading article says there is a danger that if the British delegation allows it to be thought that Britain cannot as a last resort be relied upon in a fight against an aggressor France, Italy and Russia, nervous of Germany and impatient for action, will form a military alliance, thus bringing about the very thing the British Government most deprecates. Mr. Ward Price in the Daily Mail says M. Laval at Stresa will place a definite plan before the British and Italian Governments. He is convinced that the peace of Europe is impossible without a Franco-German reconciliation, but he will not suffer Germany’s infraction of the Versailles Treaty to pass without protest; otherwise the breach might be repeated. France favous the formation of a group of Powers pledged through a military alliance to preserve peace,-a place therein being reserved for Germany whenever she is disposed to accept the engagements involved.

UNITED SUPPORT.

The Times in a leading article says that foreign countries are certain to be somewhat disappointed at Britain’s failure to give a more precise indication of her policy, but Sir John Simon’s reason was that the other Governments had been assured that no definite decisions would be taken before the Stresa conference. “Mr. McDonald and Sir John Simon can count on the support of a united country, both at Stresa and at Geneva,” the paper adds. Answering supplementary questions in the House of Commons, Sir John Simon gave an assurance that 'as in the case of previous conferences no definite commitment would be entered into without previous discussion in Parliament. ■ The Government’s freedom of action, he said, would not be affected in any way by what passed at Stresa. The conference would be followed closely by a special meeting of the League Council, but he did not anticipate that matters would there reach a final stage.-

Asked to explain Germany’s reason for the exclusion of Lithuania from the countries with which she was willing to make bilateral non-aggression pacts, Sir John Simon said the reason given was confined to present circumstances. He referred to the difference in connection with Memel.

Asked whether the Government had considered putting down the question of Memel on the agenda at the League meeting, Sir John said the British Government had not waited until now but had taken up the matter and pressed it on several occasions. At the end of last month the Government communicated with the French and Italian Governments on the subject, and he hoped shortly to learn more clearly what their views were, as the three Governments had a special interest in the Memel question.

COLONIES MANDATE.

The Prime Minister was asked whether in order to remove misapprehensions in German official quarters, and which if allowed to continue must adversely affect Anglo-German relations, His Majesty’s Government would consider the advisability of intimating to the German Government that the transfer to Germany of any colonial mandates by His Majesty’s Government ,was a matter which Britain was not in any circumstances prepared to consider. Mr. McDonald replied that he had no reason to suppose that the German Government was under any such misapprehension. The policy of the British Government had been repeatedly and- clearly stated by the present and previous Governments.

Replying to a question Sir Phillip Sassoon said that if all relative factors were taken into account he believed the Royal Air Force had still a margin of superiority over the German Air Force. Nevertheless the rate of Germany’s air development was such as to cause the British Government grave concern. The situation would need careful and continuous watchfulness in order that any necessary alterations might be made in the British programme should circumstances so demand.

Herr Hitler had claimed parity in numbers with the 'Royal Air Force, but first line aircraft were only one of the factors in reckoning the real military efficiency of any air force. 'Neither Germany nor any other Continental country published figures of their current production of aircraft. Until they did it would be contrary to the public interest to disclose Britain’s production. Sir Austen Chamberlain, joining in Mr. Lansbury’s and Sir Herbert Samuel’s demand for the earliest possible statement on the European conferences, said the only object was that the Government should know in these critical times that it had the support and authority of the House behind it, Mr. J. Maxton protested that Mr. McDonald and Sir John Simon might undertake commitments at Stresa and Geneva of which the House had no indication. “We have heard where Italy, Germany, Russia and Poland stand,” he said. “I do not know where my own country stands.” Sir John Simon said nobody contemplated that Britain or anyone else -would enter commitments at Geneva on May 15. Sir E. W. M. Grigg: While our representatives at Geneva will not enter fresh commitments without consulting Parliament I hope they will nevertheless make it clear that we stand by our existing commitments. ' Mr. G. le M. Mander: Is it not possible for the Government to state its policy before going to Stresa and Geneva?. May wc be assured that the Government really has a policy? No reply was given.