FOREIGN AFFAIRS PLAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 9

FOREIGN AFFAIRS PLAN

INTRIGUING PRESS FORECAST REFUTED BY OFFICIAL CIRCLES United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 8, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. “The Daily Mail” and “The News Chronicle” forecast that an informal agreement is likely to be reached on May 9 between the Government and the Dominions’ Prime Ministers on the new Empire foreign affairs plan, enabling Britain to take swift decisions on behalf of the Empire without waiting for the consent of individual Dominions. “The News Chronicle” says: “The condition is that these decisions must not involve departure from the Covenant of the League of Nations and adds that the Dominions, however, will retain the right either of ratifying or refusing to ratify the decisions which seem to involve them in military commitments.” *

“The Daily Mail” says: “Owing to sudden changes in the European scene, it is now thought that the British Cabinet should have a free hand to act without committing the Dominions, who would only be called on to give their views in cases of emergency.” “The News Chronicle” says: “The Dominions broadly sympathise with the new plan.”

RECEPTION OF REPORT SUGGESTED PLAN REPUDIATED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 9, 12.14 a.m.) LONDON. May 8. British quarters unreservedly repudiate the suggestion of two London newspapers that the Anglo-Dominion meeting yesterday contemplated the abandonment of the British practice of consulting the Dominions on all European developments in order to enable Britain to act more speedily without commiting the Dominions, whose views would be sought only in the case of emergency.