BRITAIN’S PAST FOREIGN POLICY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 442, 25 May 1937, Page 5

BRITAIN’S PAST FOREIGN POLICY

SOME DOMINION DELEGATES CRITICAL SANCTIONS AND REFORM OF THE LEAGUE Mr J. A. Lyons In Defence Press Association—Copyright. Received May 25, I 1.5 a.m. LONDON, May 24. In the absence of Mr Neville Chamberlain and Mr Mac Kenzie King, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons was invited to preside at this afternoon’s Imperial Conference discussion on defence. Meanwhile, it is now possible to reveal points from the speech by Mr Lyons during the closed door discussions on foreign affairs. The Australian Association Press has reason to believe that Mr MacKenzie King and a couple of other Dominion representatives were somewhat critical of Britain’s past foreign policy. It is believed that Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage considered that Sanctions should have been pursued, and that Britain displayed weakness in this connection so far as Abyssinia was concerned. It is gathered that Mr Lyons turned on, Britain’s critics, emphasising the difficulties and complexities with which Britain had been faced. He also vigorously defended the calm and balanced handling, which, he averred, if it had been otherwise might have ended tragically. Mr Lyons appealed to the Dominions to stick together in the future, as it was imperative for their own safety to discard any isolationist inclinations. Britain, as the outcome of the Dominions’ representations at the Imperial Conference, has tentatively abandoned its intention to support at the League of Nations Assembly the early recognition of Italy s conquest of Abyssinia, says the political corres P on dent of the Australian Associated Press. This was apparently the issue from which difficulties arose m the foreign affairs discussions, necessitating the appointment of a committee of heads of delegations. Mr Anthony Eden, it is believed, emphasised that Britain regarded recognition distastefully, but perceived some advantages in it. However, Mr Savage’s, and to a lesser degree General Hertzog’s, opposition culminated in Britain abandoning the initiative. A small committee also dealt with League reform in connection with this question. Most of the Dominions advocate a universal League, but on a consultative in preference to a coercive basis. The Dominions appear to agree that unless reform is soon undertaken it will be too late to rescue the League. They regard a western European Pact as an important contribution toward pacification and approve of Britain’s understanding with France and Belgium for increasing the security of ;ts own frontiers, but they vigorously oppose any British commitment in central European complications. The Dominions seem to favour a rapprochement with Germany, realising the alarming deterioration in Anglo-Italian relations.