MOVES TO STOP AGGRESSION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 157, 29 March 1939, Page 9

MOVES TO STOP AGGRESSION

British Government Urged To Act CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER POWERS Chamberlain Expected To Make Statement (British Official Wireless.) (Received March 28, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 27. A debate on foreign affairs will take place in the House of Lords tomorrow on a motion which welcomes the assurances of the Foreign Secretary that the Government has under consideration, in conjunction with other Powers, the desirability of assuming wider mutual obligations in order to prevent further acts of aggression in Europe. The motion, which stands in the name of Lord Davies, expresses the conviction that the deterrent effect of such a policy can only be developed to th full by means , of the immediate establishment of a commission composed of financial, economic, and military experts of the co-operating - nations for the preparation of measuies of mutual defence and for the restoration to Czechoslovakia of her freedom and independence. It also urges the Government to consider what steps can be taken to establish adequate machinery for the impartial settlement of all inter-State disputes as an essential corrollary of a plan for collective security. Following an unscheduled meeting of the Foreign Affairs Sub-committee of the Cabinet last night. Mi. Chamberlain is expected to make a statement on the progress of the anti-aggression talks at question time in the House of Commons today. Lord Halifax is also expected to make a statement winding up the debate in the House of Lords.

Asked in the House today what alterations were contemplated in the defence arrangements recently announced in view of the change in the international situation, Mr. Chamberlain told his questioner that he had no statement to make at present, but he recalled that he had already announced that the whole circumstances were already under reconsideration.

The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, assured Commander Fletcher at question time in the House that the review of policy necessitated by the recent changes in the international situation did not involve any economic measures of a retributive character against Germany.

The fact that Mr. Chamberlain was not questioned in the House of CoißBious yesterday on the progress of the consultations with other Governments was probably accounted for by the general knowledge that these consultations are being pursued, as far as Britain is concerned, 'in a mood which precludes unnecessary delay, while she acknowledges the need for due consideration.

Mr. Chamberlain was, however, asked to what extent the Government still regarded the Anglo-German declaration of September 29 as an effective instrument for regulating the relations between Britain and Germany. The Premier referred the questioner to his Birmingham speech, and in reply to a suggestion that be should get into touch personally witli Herr Hitler and obtt’ in the latter’s own explanation of his grave inconsistency, Mr. Chamberlain said be did not think any useful ■purpose would be served by doing 60.

Domestic affairs, according to the present arrangements, will engage the chief attention of the House of Commons this week, though several questions have already been tabled which will give an opportunity for Ministerial statements on various aspects of the disturbed international situation.

In the absence of the leader of the Opposition, Mr. Attlee, because of illness. the Prime Minister today received alone the deputy-leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Greenwood, at Downing Street. The Liberal leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, who is at present in Scotland, will see Mr. Chnmberluiii later in the week.