BRITAIN’S POSITION IN EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19960, 19 November 1934, Page 7

BRITAIN’S POSITION IN EUROPE

NO ENTANGLED COMMITMENTS British Ollclal Wireless (Received November 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY. November 16. Mr J. H. Thomas in a speech at Newport said that neither directly nor indirectly was there any secret agreement which involved Britain in any commitment on the Continent of Europe. They were faced with many difficulties and elements were abroad over Europe which created the war spirit, namely suspicion, ill-will and mistrust, but he saw no warrant, or justification for the war talk now prevalent. Dealing with the question of the traffic in arms he said that he appreciated the anxiety that was felt in the subject. Britain, however, was the only country which Had a licensing system for the export of armaments, by means of which effective government control could be exercised, and to his knowledge millions of pounds worth of orders in the last three years had, in consequence of this system, been refused. They also had refused and would continue to refuse Government credit of any kind to the manufacture of armaments. He wished that other nations would follow their example. He would welcome any' inquiry into the situation in regard to the private manufacture and national control of armaments. He believed that it would show results of which they would have no reason to feel ashamed.