DANGER OF WAR IN EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20839, 22 September 1937, Page 7

DANGER OF WAR IN EUROPE

BRITAIN’S SUPPORT OF LEAGUE MENACE OF DOCTRINE OF FORCE [UNAVAILING EFFORTS OF PACIFIC PEOPLES British Official Wireless (Received September 21, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 20. Speaking of political affairs in his address to the Assembly of the League of Nations, the British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) instanced the rearmament programme which has been forced on Britain by the deterioration of the International situation, as an example of the failure of the world to make effective the people's universal will for peace, and its results on those not engaged directly or indirectly in the conflicts of the moment. Britain had 450,000 tons of warships under construction. The last three naval programmes represented an aggregate expenditure of £130,000,000. The naval personnel was being expanded at a rate without precedent in Britain in time of peace. The Air Force was being expanded and equipped with formidable results. The Army was also growing in strength with everincreasing momentum. Pacific Means Favoured Yet, Mr Eden said, the League stood for the principle generally accepted in 1919, that war did not benefit either the victor or the vanquished. That remained as the declared attitude of Britain, which believed that war was wasteful and futile. There was no dispute that could not be settled by pacific means. Britain was determined always to seek such a solution. Referring to the Spanish situation and non-intervention, Mr Eden said that some of the engagements entered into had not been kept. If this state of affairs continued it would be dangerous for the whole of Europe. If the policy of non-intervention in Spain were abandoned, Europe would be swept into deeper and more dangerous waters. Britain would spare no endeavour to prevent war engulfing Europe. If wars like the Great War could have been avoided, the world would be Immeasurably more stable and prosperous to-day, but there were still some who did not seem to understand this. Principle Not Understood Though the League was still able to settle some disputes which might arise between its members, it could not render its full service to mankind until all understood this principle. The British Government was ready at any time to join in an agreement for a reduction in the limitation of armaments, but until that time Britain must be prepared, be able to defend .herself and the British Commonwealth, and carry out her international obligations. Turning to the Far East Mr Eden said that all efforts by British and other third parties to avert hostilities had failed. If cooperation had succeeded an appalling loss of life would have been avoided to say nothing of the harm done to trade. REACTION IN FRANCE ( MR EDEN’S SPEECH APPLAUDED United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 22, 12.25 a.m.) PARIS, September 21 Mr Anthony Eden’s speech created a favourable Impression in the French Press. Official circles interpreted the speech ' as consolidating Anglo-French unity.