EVE OF OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21324, 19 April 1939, Page 7

EVE OF OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Interest in Foreign Policy

Important Statements

Promised

Heavy Responsibilities of Leadership

British Official Wireless (Received April 18, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, April 17.

The Imperial Parliament reassembles to-morrow and a week later, on April 25, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon), opens his budget. Questions to be addressed to Ministers in the House of Commons tomorrow cover a wide field, permitting statements upon all developments of importance in foreign and empire affairs and at home. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain), in particular will be given an opportunity to acquaint the House with the progress of negotiations in relation to the new situation in Europe, and with the Government's views on events since the debate last Thursday. The Prime Minister will be asked about President Roosevelt's peace message, and about the discussions with the Soviet, which are understood to be proceeding in a friendly promising atmosphere. Other questions addressed to Ministers on foreign affairs relate to Spain and the Far East.

BRITISH REVIEW OF POSITION PROMISED BY MR CHAMBERLAIN United Press Association —By eiectnr Telegraph—Copvrlabt LONDON, April 17. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain will make a statement on the international situation in the House to-morrow. It is expected that he will announce Turkey’s closer association with the alliance against aggression. The diplomatic correspondent c< “The Times” says: Mr Chamberlain will probably assure the House of Commons of the satisfactory progress of conversations for the organisation of Eastern European security, and the conversations with Moscow which are concerned with the manner whereby English, French and Soviet assistance will be available to threatened States.

Turkish diplomacy continues to be active with a view to promoting Balkan unity, and the progress of the SerbianCroat conversations is being anxiously watched. In this connection, rumours of hostile troop concentrations in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar are not taken too seriously.