CECIL GIVES UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 135, 29 August 1927, Page 1

CECIL GIVES UP

Defeated in His Efforts for European Trust and Harmony RE SIGN A 7 lON FR OM CABINE T

By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. MISCOUNT Cecil told “The Observer” that the real cause v of his decision to resign from the Cabinet was the failure of the Naval Disarmament Conference, at which he strove Ins hardest to prevent a breakdown which would have been avoidable had Britain been readier to compromise.

He postponed his resignation until Mr. Baldwin’s return from Canada, because he wishes frankly to make a statement regarding his reasons and an explanation to the Prime Minister. The “Observer” adds: ‘‘The disarmament fiasco lessened the prospects of the League Disarmament

Committee’s success, and Viscount Cecil’s position became most difficult.” The “Standard” says there have also been Cabinet dissensions over the re duction of the Rhine army, Viscount Cecil contending that its maintenance opposed the spirit of the Locarno pact. Sir Austen Chamberlain supported the French refusal to agroi to substantial reduction.—Sun. The political correspondent of the “Daily Express” earlier said Lord Cecil’s proffered resignation was connected with the Rhineland controversy. He argued that France’s previous re-

luctance to reduce her troops by more than 5,000 was contrary to the spirit of Locarno. Lord Cecil even declared that there should not be an army of occupation, and that France’s security was sufficiently guaranteed by Britain. Sir Austen Chamberlain sided with France, said the correspondent. The result is something like a Cabinet split. How far the situation will be altered by yesterday’s decision by the French Government is not known.— A. and N.Z. The portfolio held by Viscount Cecil in the British Cabinet is that of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He has always been an ardent supporter of the League of Nations, and in 1919 he went to Paris as a private individual to co-operate in launching it. In 1920 he acted as South Africa’s representative at the League Assembly by request of General Smuts. He has represented Britain at all the meetings of the League since the present Government came into power.