FOREIGN POLICY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 20 April 1939, Page 9

FOREIGN POLICY

RUMOURS DEPRECATED INTERNATIONAL SITUATION DEBATE IN THE LORDS (Official Wireless) ''Received April 20. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, April 19 Viscount Halifax, in the foreign affairs debate in the House of Lords, dealt with a number of questions, including rumours regarding Spain, the negotiations with Russia, and Mr Roosevelt’s peace move. He also announced that Sir Xevile Henderson would very soon return to Berlin.

Regarding Spain, Viscount Halifax said it was important that as full information as possible should be given. He continued: —

“There have been a great number of rumours regarding troop movements. It ought to be borne in mind that we are now witnessing the demobilisation of the Spanish Army and, therefore, a great deal of the troop movement going on is naturally to be accounted for by that.

‘ There has been a special crop of I rumours arising from the continued j presence of Italian troops in Spain. I : have made careful inquiries and we aro perpetually watching the situation and sifting all information which reaches us, but all I can say is that our information shows that too much credence, ought not to he paid to these reports.” Regarding the negotiations in Moscow, Viscount Halifax said: “I don't | tiiink that there is anything I can say i at present beyond that we are engaged in the active pursuit of these negotiations, and I have every hope that recognition of the different points of view will enable us to make that progress which we all desire.” Position In the Pacific To Lord Strabolgi, who asked if the negotiations included the question of the Pacific, Viscount Halifax replied that he would not exclude the possibility of the conversations being more widely extended. Speaking of Mr Roosevelt’s message, Viscount Halifax said it had already been made clear that Britain found itself In essential agreement with the outlook on International relationships which Mr Roosevelt had expressed with great clarity of language and with the immense authority at his command. He had no doubt that millions of people in all countries would trust that Mr Roosevelt’s initiative might have a successful outcome. Regarding Mr Roosevelt’s suggestion about considering the economic side, Britain was prepared to play its part in that matter. Britain’s Desire For Peace In reference to general negotiations in progress as a result of recent events in Europe, Viscount Halifax said it would be quite fantastic to think that the consultations which Britain had been engaged in and the guarantees which it had given covered any aggressive designs on its part. Those efforts did not throttle the legitimate aspirations of other nations, and if his voice could reach as far as he wished it to he would be prepared, on behalf of the Government, to give the most solemn undertaking that no such idea would ever find a place in British policy. If war ever came to the world It would, as far as the people of this country was concerned, only be because they would feel that there was no other way of defending causes and values which to them were more important than life Itself.