CHANNEL TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1929, Page 5

CHANNEL TUNNEL

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, January 22

The Prime Minister, Mr S. Baldwin, in a statement regarding the Channel Tunnel project, said that, in view of there being wirespread public interest in the project, the Government had come to the conclusion that the time was ripe for a comprehensive re-exam-ination off the question. They were anxious that a very thorough'examination should lie made of the economic aspects of the matter, in order that these ht> weighted with Imperial defence considerations, and a decision reached on broad grounds of national policy. In view of the time that would be required to carry the project through all of its stages to the completion of the tunnel, the Government wore convinced that it would he in the public interests, iff it were possible, to deal with the question outside a party atmosphere, and to have an agreement that the decisions of one Government might not be upset by another. Air Baldwin said that if the course adopted by Air Rainsaty MacDonald when lie was Prime .Minister of the Labour Government in 1924 sir ’

again commend itself to Air MacD'mnld and to Air Lloyd George, the Lib eral leader, he would like to proceed on similar linos, and obtain their co operation from the outset of the in-

quiry. Sir Robert Horne (Conservative' asaed in what way the Prime Minister proposed to solve the economic problem. The Prime Minister replied: “That is a question that I have to considei. I think that the economic side is of the greatest importance, and 'for some years past it has not been investigated. 1 ’

,\;N INTERESTING summary

LONDON, Jan. 23. “The •Times” says: A non-party method, of settling the question of the Channel Tunnel will commend itself to the coriianonsensc of the country. I his project has had a hard and hitherto unsuccessful fight against primitive national instinct, which distrusts a chfinge considerably stripping the country of the advantages enjo' from the fact of its being an island. There ranges on one side those who still firmly believe that a tunnel in case of war would be of too little help, and would 'even be a source of grave peril. Among objections which they consider fatal are the nervous responsibility that the safety-first expedient of flooding the tunnel by pressing a r button would impose upon statesmen | and their military advisers, and risk .that such an action might actually precipitate hostilities. I here also <ue arguments about the length of time required for the transport of any considerable number of troops; also about the vulnerabilty of the Dover end to attacks from the air.”

■ ‘On the other hand, just as many laugh at these apprehensions, nncl aro of the opinion that the tunnel would remove the rigours of the Channel crossing. They think that the tunnel would make it easier to send goods to the Continent and to receive food, and would increase the facilities for foreign travel, and would stimulate not only commercial intercourse, but a friendly understanding. There is so much to he said and inquired into, on both sides, that a wise decision can only he reached hy the use of the utmost tact and self rest, 1 lint by all concerned.

FRENCH PROMOTERS.

PARIS, .Tammi- 22

Simultaneously with Mr llaldwin’s statement in the House ol Commons, the French Channel Tunnel Committee held a special meeting to celebrate tinoccasion. Subsequently the Comm if issued a statement, welcoming the unanimity of the British Press in tavniir of the tunnel, and characterisin'' eventual authorisation of the tunnel hy the British Government as liemost precious instrument of Fra neoBril ish rapproachmenl and as a guarantee of European peace.

The Committee also sent a cordial message of congratulation to Sir William Bull.