FRAMING PEACE AIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20110, 2 December 1939, Page 10

FRAMING PEACE AIMS

CONSULTATION NEEDED FRANCE AND EMPIRE MR. MACDONALD’S VIEW (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (lintish Official Wireiuss.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 30. “Replying to the debate in the House of Commons, the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, said he did not agree that the Government should more closely define its peace aims. There was a responsibility to other Governments. The close co-operation of the French and Dominion Governments demanded that any peace aims should be made only after consultations which, if they were to be fruitful, must be confidential in the first instance. Cooperation would not be served by the British Government, laying down a law about peace aims. Referring to the suggestions of the Leader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, as to the post-war colonial policy, Mr. MacDonald said that here again this was a question to which Britain alone could not give an answer. When it came to peace making, economic or political, the colonial policy to be pursued must be the result of example. Right to be Heard The French Government was a great colonial Power and had the right to have a say in the matter. Certain other people had a right to be heard on this important topic, including the peoples of the colonies themselves. Mr. MacDonald then quoted the Nazi Foreign Minister, Herr Von Ribbentrop, as saying in Danzig that there was no part of the world where the British flag was not waving against the will of the people in question. “What a travesty of the truth,” said Mr. MacDonald. “All the Dominions have got their own free Parliaments and a few months ago claimed successfully the right to decide each forthemselves whether they would share in any war in which Britain might become involved.

“In the early September days, each one, freely and of its own will, declared war on Germany.”

Voluntary Declarations

Dealing with the colonies which did not enjoy the same political freedom, but were governed largely from Westminster, Mr. MacDonald said: “When it was certain at the end of August that we would be at war in a few days, I made no suggestion to the Governors of the colonies that they arrange for messages of 'support to come from the colonies. I took no initiative in the matter, “Voluntarily, the people of the colonies came to their decision. They took action within a very few hours of the declaration of war. Within a few hours messages began to pour in and the messages came from every single colony, every single protectorate, and every single mandated territory coming under British administration.’’