BRITISH OBLIGATIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 162, 13 July 1935, Page 9

BRITISH OBLIGATIONS

SPEECHES BY LEADERS ATTLEE’S MOTION NEGATIVED Received Julv Ip. 10.40 p.m. LONDON, July J2. The leaders of all parties participated in the debate. Sir Herbert Samuel said that some of Signor Mussolini’s utterances were sinister, but perhaps they might see the Duce at the eleventh hour agree to a settlement which would enable him to go to the Italians as a statesman who achieved peace with honour. Britain ought not to leave Italy in ignorance. The feeling here was that they were taking an action which was cutting the mot of the principle of collective security. Major Attlee submitted an anti-Gov-ernment resolution. He said that Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech was retrograde, showing no clear policy. It was nothing but temporising and parleying with the forces of disorder throughout tho world. There was no attempt to make Europe stand up for the rule of law against the rule of force. Mr. Winston Churchil] said he was glad to hear that Britain was not going to art individually. Britain was not strong enough to act as both lawgiver and policeman for the world. Mr. Lloyd George said tho League had been flouted repeatedly, and no action had been taken He. described Stresa as a fatuous piece of bluster and added: “We must begin afresh and see if it is possible to devise some covenant bv which the nations would stand and civilisation be saved. Dramatic Passage There was a dramatic passage when Mr. Lloyd George was asked what could be done to stop Germany rearming and stop Tta’y. He replied: “Economic sanctions, short of war.” Sir Austen Chamberlain: “It is no good talking about economic sanctions unless you mean war.” (Conservative cheers.) Mr. Lloyd George: “Then what is the good of putting those words into the Geneva resolution'” (Labour cheers.) Sir Austen Chamberlain: “Mr. Lloyd George says he would never have allowed the situation to reach tho present stage. Would he have proposed to France, who never proposed it to us, that France’s army should have marched into Germany when it became

evident that Germany was rearming?” (Cries of “answer.”) Mr. Lloyd George, instead of answering, shouted; “What do you mean by economic sanctions?” Sir Austen Chamberlain replied: “A blockade which would be as effective as an act of war. Nothing short of war can make economic sanctions effective.” “Must Take the Risk” Sir Austen Chamberlain -aid: “We must take the risk of saving that we are prepared to fu. il our obligations to the collective system. We should say that even at the risk of others refusing. ’ ’ Air. Anthony Eden said: “The conciliation machinery having broken down, the Government has been in consultation with the French Government regarding Abyssinia. There was no -- vitatiou on our part to France to join in economic sanctions against Italy. Britain’s endeavour was to discover whether France had any constructive suggestion to make to promote . settlement of the dispute. We have made our contribution; it is France’s turn to make hers.” Alajor Attlee’s motion was negatived by 236 votes to 40.