FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 9

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

DEBATE IN COMMONS REVIEW BY MR. EDEN MEDITERRANEAN SITUATION REAL CHANCES FOR PROGRESS ( British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, Oct. 21. Parliament reassembled to-day and in the House of Commons Mr. A. Eden opened the debate on international affairs. The House was crowded and the Russian, Belgian, Argentine, Spanish and Chinese Ambassadors listened to the speeches from the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery. Mr. Eden began by reviewing the events in the Mediterranean. He said that the British Government would not cease to be sincerely grateful for the part played by the signatories to the Nyon agreement after Italy’s reply to the invitation to join the tripartite conversation. France and Britain had thought it only fair to make it plain that, if the Non-Inter-vention Committee could not achieve results within a limited period, the Governments would have to be free to resume liberty of action. The British Government did this, not because it had ceased to believe in non-inter-vention, but because no Government could continue to associate itself tor an indefinite period with an international agreement that was being constantly violated. At the end ot Tuesday’s meeting of the NonIntervention Committee, Mr. Eden confessed that he saw no alternative but that the next day the Committee should report failure, with all the consequences such a decision must inevitably entail, but at the eleventh hour came the new and welcome contribution by Italy.

The chief difficulty regarding the withdrawal of volunteers had nfcen the relation in time between such withdrawals and the grant of Belligerent rights. On this issue both Italy and Germany had substantially moditied their attitudes.

Proportional Withdrawal The second stubborn difficulty had been the proportions of withdrawals from either side, on which, without proof of numbers, it had been virtually impossible to reach an agreement. Here, too, Italy had proposed a solution which should be acceptable. The British Government were themselves in full accord with this sincerely appreciated contribution to the international agreement which these two concessions undoubtedly implied. “I should be the last to indulge in exaggerated optimism. There are problems enough and to spare still outstanding, but to-day there are real chances of making progress. The British Government will spare no endeavour to see that the progress now’ once begun proceeds speedily and unchecked. With this end in view, the Non-Intervention Committee will meet again tomorrow, when it is hoped that the replies of all of the Governments to Italy’s new offer will be received.”

Mr. Eden denied reports th-.t yesterday the British Government took some new decision to modily their action. He said that he was convinced that the British people were united and emphatic in not wishing the Government to take sides in Spain and in wishing the Government to do everything in its power, by example and by conference, not to let the principle of non-intervention be finally and irrevocably thrown over, but non-intervention must be sharply distinguished from indifference in the respecting of the territorial integrity of Spain or of British Imperial communications through the Mediterranean.

"Let me therefore once again make it plain that our rearmament bears in it neither the overt nor latent strains of revenge, either in the Mediterranean or elsewhere. Our position in the Mediterranean is simply that we mean to maintain our right of way on this main arterial road. We have never asked, and do not ask to-day, that the right should be exclusive. The Government is conscious that foreign intervention in Spain is responsible for preventing all progress tbwr.3 is international appeasement. Anyone who wanted to see how completely bad its effect has been should have been at the League Assembly this year.”

Mr. Eden continued: "Once the Spanish question and its attendant problems, strategical and political, cease to be the nerve centre of international policy, it will be possible for the Mediterranean nations to seek in friendly conversations among themselves to restore the relations of traditional amity existing between them in the past.” Turning to the Far East, the Foreign Secretary said that the paramount desire of everyone must be to see an end put to the slaughter, suffering and misery. The British Government would enter the Brussels Conference with determination to do everything in its power to assume the success ot its labours. Labour’s Viewpoint Mr. Attlee, Leader of the Labour Party, complained that throughout Mr. Eden's speech he had seemed to reiterate that the only thing which inspired the Government’s policy was the interests of British imperialism. The Labour Party, ue declared, stood for the rule of law and the development of the commonwealth of nations, but the Government was back in the pre-.var days, narrowly viewing what they Believed fallaciously to be British interests. The lesson of Nyon was that w.ien Br tain, in conjunction wi’.a otheGovernments, was prepared to act firmly results accrued. Sir A. Sinclair, for the Liberals, thought that the response to Pratident Roosevelt was inadequate. Regarding he bar East, Sir A. Sinclair, while urging the use of prusu'e to bring peace it persuasion f.-iikd, thought that the nation w.Gn mu..| take the 'ead in such matters was the United States, with her imm-.:i s e interests in China and her lack of pieoccupations in Europe.

DEBATE IN LORDS

LONDON, Oct. 21. During a brief debate in the House 'of Lords, Lord Plymouth made a

statement on similar lines to that made by Mr. Eden.

Lord Barnby, dealing with the suggestion of a boycott of Japanese goods, said that a boycott generallyrebounded to the disadvantage of those proposing it.

Lord Strabolgi said that Al Capone would have refused to sit in the NonIntervention Committee; it would have been too crooked for him. Mr. McGovern said in reference to Italy’s non-intervention proposal that he would refuse to believe any statement from Signor Mussolini, who had organised the greatest thuggery in history. Prime Minister’s Speech. The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, winding up the debate, said: “If in foreign affairs you are going to take the view that no one will keep his promises, you will not get far.” He said that the Government had to find a practical method of restoring peace. It was no use repeating parrot fashion “We believe in the League.” The League at present provided no guarantee against aggression and it was necessary to find other means pending its development into an effective instrument. The task was to get the volunteers from Spain. The Government would not consider any arrangement if it allowed further volunteers, arms and munitions to be poured in while volunteers were nominally being withdrawn. Count Ciano as recently as October 15 had assured the British Ambassador that Italy had no territorial designs in Spain and no interest in Majorca. He had no reason to believe that the movement of Italian troops to Libya had any connection with current events.

Regarding the Nine-Power Conference, Mr. Chamberlain said it would be a mistake to enter into it talking about sanctions and force.