IS BRITAIN TIRED OF SANCTIONS ?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20445, 16 June 1936, Page 9

IS BRITAIN TIRED OF SANCTIONS ?

KEEN INTEREST IN LONDON

CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH

CRITICISED

GROWING UNEASINESS IN FRANCE

British Official Wireless

RUGBY, June 13.

, English newspapers give considerable prominence to the discussion aroused by the speech ot the Chancellor of the Exchequer at a political dinner on Wednesday night, when the Prime Min ister subsequently explained in the House of Commons, when he put forward suggestions with regard to the ending of League sanctions, were "provisional reflections on the ItaloEthiopian dispute, which occurred to him—Mr Chamberlain—personally.” Despite Mr Baldwin’s additional comment the Government had as yet reached no conclusions on the matters discussed by Mr Chamberlain, in what was practically an impromptu address to an “exclusive and politically educated audience.”

There is vigorous speculation In the Press as to the relations of the Chancellor’s observations to the policy of the British delegation at Geneva when the Council meets on June 26, writers tending to anticipate the Governments decision according to their individual hopes or fears. A number of questions will be addressed to the Foreign Secretary in the House o f Commons on Monday, arising out of the Chancellor’s reported remarks, and in Parliamentary circles there is a growing feeling that it will be found convenient to have an early debate in the House of Commons on foreign affairs. Journalists in touch with State and Parliamentary business mostly fix June 22 as the likely date for the debate, but others anticipate an earlier date. Mr Chamberlain’s speech last Wednesday was criticised by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr C. R. Attlee, when speaking at Oxford, and also by Lord Davies, addressing a demonstration in South Wales. Uneasiness in France The Paris correspondent of “The Manchester Guardian" says: The British Cabinet situation is creating uneasiness regarding Mr Chamberlain’s speech and < rumours of Mr Eden’s resignation. These are interpreted as signs of England’s abandonment of collective security, the very policy M. Blum hoped to pursue hand in hand with Britain. The Paris correspondent of “The Daily Mail” believes that the French Government regards the maintenance of sanctions as useless and dangerous. M. Delbos is therefore anxious to meet Mr Anthony Eden before the end of the month to discuss the situation. FOCAL POINT OF DISCUSSION BIG ISSUES INVOLVED IN SANCTIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 15, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, June 14. Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech is still the focal point of the discussion on sanctions. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” commenting on the surprise caused by Mr Chamberlain, as being the first responsible Minister to ventilate the subject, says: Mr Chamberlain is anxious to take the earliest opportunity of countering Lord Cecil's latest belligerent pacifist campaign. The correspondent adds that the Ministers have already agreed on the main aims of the British policy which is directed towards securing an early end to the sanctions experiment, and renewed collaborations with Italy, in order to restore European confidence. The Ministers are becoming increasingly convinced that Britain must assume the responsibility of proposing the abolitlun of sanctions, which it is believed Mr Anthony Eden now favours. France has intimated to Britain her view that sanctions should be ended, to enable an immediate start to be made with larger endeavours for the pacification of Europe.

Difficulties in France

The correspondent points out that M. Blum, a strict doctrinaire and inter nationalist, is reluctant that the French Government should take the public initiative, and desires to limit himself to a promise of French support for B’itish action. Moreover M. Blum’s Ministers have been absorbed in domestic pioblems, and so far a clear idea of their views on European peace and security has not been obtainable. Accordingly London shares the views of Rome and Berlin, which are echoed in the smaller capitals, that internal difficulties at present render France negligible in the European equation. This is greatly regretted in London as being largely responsible for the stiffening German attitude. It also strengthens the view that the great European issues demand Italy’s renewed co-operation in the Locarno Powers’ task, following the German reoccupation of the Rhineland.