CENSURE REJECTED.

Wairarapa Age, 18 December 1924, Page 5

CENSURE REJECTED.

BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY.

ON EGYPT AND RUSSIA. (Press Association—Copyright.) (Received 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 15.—The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by the Labour member, Mr C. P. Trevelyan, who attacked the Government’s policy towards Egypt and Russia. He asked whether Egypt was now really independent, and what the Government proposed to do with regard to Russia, with which other countries were now making commercial agreements.

The Hon. Mr Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Minister, said his conversations with M. Harriot and Signor Mussolini had been conducted in the true spirit of tho League of Nations, establishing mutual relations of trust and confidence. Close to Agreement.

He emphasised the fact that the conversations had come as close to an agreement as possible, but never at the expense of those who were not there.

He had heard much of the foreign viewpoint regarding the Geneva protocol, but for himself he was unable to express any opinion, on the protocol on behalf of the Government, because the first Cabinet meeting to consider it was only held on the day of his de-

parture. Mr Chamberlain said the interAllied debts were- not discussed, it was not pretended that the conversations had decided the great issue. They had not sought to make any new treaties or to come to fresh decisions, but they had eliminated some small matters which would have been points of friction if they had not reached an agreement to recognise tho largeness of their common interests throughout the world, and to resolve each to do their best to prevent small differences which must arise occasionally and from impeding their co-operation in the greater common interests. Many Congratulations.

Referring to Mr Trevelyan’s speech, the Foreign Secretary said he had to come to the House of to hear really an anti-British declaration. He had received from foreign statesmen many congratulations on the British attitude in the Egyptian crisis.

Mr Chamberlain said that in. the Sudan, Britain must have authority to fulfil her obligations, but in Egypt all Britain desired was that the Egyptian Government should do its duty. If they were willing to do that then they would find no better, firmer or more loyal friends than the British Government and people. (Ministerial cheers.)

Tho Government did not desire to interfere with the independence of Egypt, but, he said, we required that the Egyptian Government should work with and not against us, and should accept loyally and frankly as the basis of independence the conditions attached to its grant. If we had to deal with a friendly Egyptian Government, loyal to the conditions upon which our co-operation was based, we would invite them to join in the inquiry into what water was available for the Sudan after making full allowance for the Egyptian requirements, and would propose a neutral chairman for the commission upon which Egypt and the Sudan would be represented.

Mr Chamberlain did not think the E gyP tian question in its present stage could come before the League of Nations. He pointed out the ill-effects that would ensue in the Sudan from the suggested application to the League for a mandate for administration.

The Minister mentioned the Zinovieff letter, the authenticity of which was confirmed by four entirely trustworthy sources. He did not think it opportune to resume negotiations with the Soviet at present. He added that coming fresh from meetings of the League Council, he could voice strong confidence in the future of the League. Mr Ramsay Macdonald pressed the Government to afford members of tne Hquse an opportunity to discuss the protocol before consultation with the Dominions, and urged the Chancellor of the Exchequer to impress upon the Allies at the forthcoming Finance Conference that it was necessary to ease the British taxpayers of the burden resulting from the Allies nonpayment of their debts. Mr A. Ponsonby moved the Labour amendement, regretting the Government’s policy regarding Egypt and Russia. This was rejected by 363 to 132.—(Reuter.) Communist Not Wanted. - (Received 8.40 p.m.) " LONDON, Dec. 16.—The Parliamentary Labour Party has decided not to admit to its membership M. Saklatvala, the Communist member for Battersea.—(A. and N.Z.) Zinovieff Letter Destroyed. (Received 9.35 pan.) LONDON, Dec. 16.—Mr Austen Chamberlain, in the Commons, said that there never would be an opportunity of getting the original Zinovieff letter; it was received and destroyed by a Communist body in London.—(A. and N.Z.)