FULL SUPPORT FOR FRANCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21280, 25 February 1939, Page 17

FULL SUPPORT FOR FRANCE

PLAIN STATEMENT IN BRITAIN

No Reservations in

Declaration

Safeguarding Identity

of Interests

Foreign Minister's Pledge British Official Wireless • Received February 24. 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 23. A debate was raised in the House of Lords on the question of AngloFrench relations by Lord Addison, who welcomed Mr Chamberlain’s statement on February 6, that “the solidarity of interest by which France and this country are united, is such that any threat to the vital interests of France, from whatever quarter it came, must evoke the immediate co-operation of this country.” Replying to tile debate the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) said that the statement of course represented the unanimous view of the British Government and the public response to it constituted, he thought, an impressive testimony of the substantial unanimity of the whole country on that question There had been attempts in certain quarters to underestimate or qualify Mr Chamberlain's assurance of solidarity with France. "Any such attempts as those I must greatly regret, since it would be a profound error to suppose that any mental reservation of any kind accompanied Mr Chamberlain’s words,” said Lord Halifax. The declaration indeed, was quite clear and unmistakeable, and translated into a homely phrase it was “Halt—Major road ahead,” That was its purpose. It was not necessary to make verbal assertions of British solidarity with France. That solidarity would shortly again be proved by the welcome which the country would give to the French President (M. Lebrun). It was not only her geographical situation that drew Britain close to France, but their identity of interests and the completeness of their mutual understanding. Those factors Were the best guarantee against the danger, that in certain circumstances, one might be tempted to subordinate its policy to that of the other, Franco-Italian Differences "The Anglo-French solidarity is not and never has been intended to constitute any menace of any sort to a third party,” added the Foreign Secretary. “The records of both the Governments and the efforts which both governments have made to maintain peace is sufficient evidence of the truth of that statement." Referring to the differences between Italy and France, Lord Halifax said that in one respect they did not concern Britain, but in another sense they concerned Britain very closely. Not only were British relations with France on a solid foundation, but they had been glad recently to have restored relations with Italy, and he hoped that they would maintain those relations on the basis of complete cordiality. Lord Halifax said that neither the French nor the Italian Governments had shown any desire for third party mediation. He went on to refer to suggestions which had been made abroad that if the British Government stood for peace there were others in England who stood for war. and that that fact justified suspicions regarding the purpose of British rearmament. “I should have thought,” declared Lord Halifax, amid cheers, “that everyone must have recognised that there is ho war party or statesman who would for one moment contemplate an aggressive war. or who would get any support for such a policy. To hold such ideas shows that such people are singularly ignorant of the British nation.” No Desire to Test Strength There was another diametrically opposed idea which had a certain currency in some quarters abroad, and which interpreted the British love of peace as a sign of weakness. That was as completely uninformed as the other. "Let them make no mistake. The material and moral resources of Britain are enormous, and the spirit of our people is in no way altered,” be declared. “We do not desire to test our strength, for we believe that wars unsettle more than they ever settle, and that there are no questions which, given good will, cannot be brought to a solution by discussion, but should the test ever be forced upon us. our people would be found to-day not less tenacious in the defence of their liberty than they have ever been ” Lord Halifax, after saying that neither the French nor Italian Governments had shown any desire for thirdparty mediation, added "And of course nothing of that sort can be expected unless and until it is desired by both parties. Indeed, at present, the Italian Government has not formally indicated what it thinks are the precise points of difference between itself and France.”