FOREIGN POLICY DEBATED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 5

FOREIGN POLICY DEBATED

(BritiBh Official Wireless.)

Mediterranean Amity : Thfe Spanish Problem COMMONS DISCUSSION

RUGBY, Oct. 22. When speaking in the House of Commons on the foreign situation, Mr Anthony Eden, Foreign .Minister, said that once the Spanish question and its attendant problems, strategical and political, ceased to be the nerVe centre of international policy it would be possible for the Meulterranean nations to seek in friendly coiiversations aiining themselves to restore the relations of traditional amity which had eSisted between them in the past. Turning to the Far East, Mr Eden said the paramount desire on everyone must b'e to see an end put to the slaughter, suffering and misery. The British Government would enter the Brussels Conference with a detennination to do everything in its power to assure the success of its laboure, Mr C. 11. Attleo, Leader of the Opposition, 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, he declared, stood for the rule of law and the development

of the Commonwealth oi Nations, but the Government was back in the prewar days. The iesson or the Nyou Conference was that when Britain, in conjunotion with other Governments, was prepared to act firmly, results accrued. bir Archibald Sinciair, for the Liberals, thought the response to President 'lloosevelt inadequate. Regarding the Far East, Sir Archibald, while urgmg the use of plessure to bring peace it persuasion lailed, thought the nation which must take the lead in such mattei'B was the Lnited States, With her immense interests in China. . Mr J. McGovern (Labour) said, in reference to ltaly's non-intervention proposal, that he would refuse tu believe arly stateA^nf> fiom Signor Mussohni, who had u/gunised the grcattesL Sduggery in history. The Prime Minister, in winding up the debate, said that if in foreign affairs one was going to take the view that no-oue could keep promises, one would not get far, The Government had to find 8; pi'actical method of restoring peace. lfc no uso repeating parrot-iasiiion that they believed in the League. Tho League at presenb provided no guaranteo against aggression, and so it wa3 necessary to hnd other means pendiug j.ts development into an effective in6trumeut. Tho task wus to |et volunteers from Spain and tne Government would not consider any aj rangement if it allowed further volunteers, arrus and munitions to be poured in while volunteers were nominaily being withdrawn. Count Ciano, as recently as October 15, had assured the British Ambassador that Italy had no territoml designs in Spain and no interest in Ma jorca. He had no reason to believe that the movemenb 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.