SEVERE COMMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19765, 21 December 1935, Page 7

SEVERE COMMENT

UNITED STATES’ OPINION. f THE ATLANTIC WIDENED." BRITISH REPUTATION TARNISHED. l United Prass Assn.—Elec TeL Copyright, NEW YORK, Deo. 19. “ Europe’s statesmen may as well make up their minds that the recent events in London and Paris have again widened the Atlantic as far as Congress and the State Department are concerned." Thus one well-known Washington correspondent sums up officials’ reaotion to the House of Commons’ debate to-day. American comment is notably severe on the statements of Mr Baldwin and Sir Samuel Hoare. Even such a usually staunch pro-British journal as the New York Times employs terms of the heaviest censure, calling the whole thing “ a sorry exhibition.” This paper continues: "The whole thing was done so Ineptly and so clumsily as to seem almost unbelievable. Both Mr Baldwin’s and Sir Samuel Hoare’s speeches have succeeded only in causing the matter to appear worse than ever.

Nothing In the British diplomatic record for years past equals this seemingly gratuitous tarnishing of the repute of the Government.

The whole is a most distressful and disgraceful episode. The position is more dangerous than before.” The New York Herald-Tribune refers to the “ amazing and abject scene in the House," and declares: “Sir Samuel was made a whipping-boy for blunders that he was not alone in com< mlttlng.”

OPINION HARDENED.

AGAINST SIGNOR MUSSOLINI. HIS BITTER SPEECH REGRETTED, THE FEELING IN FRANCE. United Prass Assn— Elec TeL Copyright, (Received Deo. 21, 11.0 a.m.),, PARIS, Deo. 20. M. Laval returned from Geneva to And opinion decdedly hardened against Signor Mussolini. The opinion is crystallising that If Signor Mussolini had been more conciliatory Instead of bitter in his speech at Pontinia Mr Baldwin might have taken a different line and Sir Samuel Hoare might not have resigned. . ROME, Deo. 20. Official circles deolare that Signor Mussolini’s speech at Pontinia was in nowise a reply to the Anglo-Frenoh proposals, but there is a growing feeling that II Duce blundered in describe ing them as a trick.