ISSUES AT STAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 5

ISSUES AT STAKE

LEAGUE RESPONSIBILITY APPEAL FOR ITS SUPPORT MR. CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS BRITAIN STANDING FIRM By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct 15. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech at Glasgow referred to the tremendous issues now being debated at Geneva and the astonishing demonstration of agreement there had come about because of the realisation that there were fundamental issues at stake, that the old system of alliances and balance of power had gone and in its place the League was the only instrument to which they could look to give security against war. The League was an imperfect instrument, but there was enough left of it to make it a very formidable body to offend if its members chose to take collective and effective action.

If the League were enabled sufficiently to exert its authority to limit or shorten the struggle in Africa it would inspire such new confidence and earn such new respect that its powers in preserving peace would be multiplied indefinitely. If the League were to abdicate its function under the Covenant every weak nation would first begin to arm, then to seek an alliance with its strongest neighbour, and before long the peace of Europe would be at the mercy of the biggest and strongest Powers. Mr.. Chamberlain said that he had no reason to doubt what Signor Mussolini had said that whatever happened he did not intend to injure the interests of Britain, but in putting that forward Signor Mussolini missed the whole point. MUSSOLINI MISUNDERSTANDS. “He has not apparently understood that it is possible for a nation to think not of its immediate direct interest but of the ultimate object which is to be gained and in which that nation has only a share in common with all its fellowmembers of the League,” said Mr. Chamberlain. “We have admitted that Italy may reasonably entertain a desire for expansion. We professed our readiness to help her to secure her legitimate ambitions so long as she did that without resort tp war. Even now, when she has begun hostilities, we have never withdrawn those words, and we have not sought in any way to • close the door which a little while ago we sought to open to her. “In spite of the fact that we seem' to have been singled out for special re-sentment—-and I am sure the feelings of Italians have been further embittered and their hostility deliberately directed against this country by those in authority—l can only say that we cannot be turned from our purpose by any reproaches of that character—reproaches which are without any justification whatever, for, indeed, the issues are far too big. “The choice before us is whether we shall make a last effort at Geneva for peace and security, or whether by cowardly surrender we shall break the promise we made and hold ourselves up to the shame of our children and their children's children.” COLONIAL RAW MATERIALS. Sir Samuel Hoare, Foreign Secretary, in a broadcast address to the fifth annual women’s, conference on current problems meeting at New York, said he hoped that his speech in the League Assembly on September 11 established beyond doubt that the British people were solidly behind the Covenant He had tried to look behind the immediate political difficulties to the causes of bitterness and strife, and had selected for special attention among the causes to be removed the question of control and distribution of colonial raw materials. He had suggested that it would be well to anticipate the controversy by examining that question without unnecessary delay. Sir Samuel then commended to his hearers a recent publication of the economic section of the League secretariat called “Remarks on the present phase of international economic relations,” describing it as a sermon on the folly of our times.

He cited the statement, “The malady from which the world is now suffering is no longer entirely a crisis, but rather the inability of countries to co-ordinate their several efforts to .emerge from the crisis.” “I fully agreed,” he continued. “It seems to me that the lowering of barriers to international trade is slow, and difficult as the task must inevitably be it is one of the most fundamental of the tasks of the present time.” Sir Samuel Hoare said that in democracies statesmen must appeal to the understanding and imagination of the people, for if they could not carry the people with them their individual wisdom was of no avail. “This is why I welcome a chance of speaking to the great American audience,” he said. “I want to convince you that we in Britain stand for the abolition of war, and the mentality of war, whether on the field of battle or on the field of commerce, industry and labour. We want a new world and a new order in human relations in. which peace, justice, trade and intercourse shall be secure, and I am sure that these are also your wishes and ideals.”