BRITAIN A BUTTRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 16, 9 April 1927, Page 13

BRITAIN A BUTTRESS

SOVIET ANIMOSITY WORLD REVOLUTION HOPES FOREIGN SECRETARY’S ATTACK Bp Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright (British OJJicial Wireless.) Reed. 11.40 p.m. RUGBY, Friday. At a meeting in his Birmingham constituency yesterday, Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, described British relations with the Soviet Government as difficult. The Soviet made no secret of its desire to promote revolution in every part of the world. They regarded the British Empire with particular animosity and jealousy because of the common sense of its people, and because of the freedom of its institutions, which were a reproach to the tyrannies exercised in Russia. Britain was a buttress against the spread of the revolution which they would promote. They worked through Communist, international and other sources to foster ill-feeling against Great Britain and the Empire. With such provocation the British Government had a clear right before the whole world to decline to entertain any longer, diplomatic relations with a Government which had so little regard for the obligations of international life. If this had not been done it was not because Great Britain was ignorant of the provocation, or unaware of the policy they were pursuing. It -would have been because in a world which above all things needed peace, Great Britain was disinclined, even under such provocation, to introduce a new disturbing element, not so much on account of Britain’s situation, for Britain could break off these diplomatic relations without it costing anything, but because any new dis turbance in the world reacted more strongly on other nations, whose position was less stable and less assured than her own. NO WEAKNESS SHOWN “This was not a mark of weakness,” he said, “but rather of strength, and of our confidence in ourselves, that we could afford to pass over an outrage which no Government had a right to inflict on another Government with which it wished to remain in ordinary diplomatic relations.” “While we might, for these international reasons and in the larger interest of the peace of the world still tolerate this outrageous conduct, it was necessary to watch closely those who could bring ruin upon the Empire.” Referring to China, Sir Austen said that Britain proposed, as other Powers proposed, to ask satisfaction for the outrages at Nanking, and he hoped and trusted it would be accorded. Britain was not prepared to surrender to violence what might be given freely in friendly negotiations. The Government would pursue a policy of conciliation while upholding the honour of the Flag and the safety of nationals.