FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10491, 30 November 1911, Page 3

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

LLOYD-GEORGE l S SPEECH UNFORTUNATE.

(Received November 29, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, November 28. In, the House of Commons, discussing Sir E. Grey's speech, Mr Ramsay Macdonald strongly disapproved of the continuation of the Lansdowne policy. He declared that M>r Lloyd-George's speech was unfortunate. Sir E. Grey's narrative was essentially a dramatic condemnation of secret' diplomacy. He suggested an inquiry a£ to the best means of keeping the House of Commons in toucih. with foreign affairs.

Mr John Dillon attacked iJie Government's policy in Persia.

Mr J. F. Mason denounced the Italian atrocities in Tripoli. Mr Asquith said displomaey was ■•necessarily secret. No country sliomd carry on diplomacy with cards table, the doors open and the blinds up. They, must nndeV co;tfiden.ce, but iihe people were not necessarily kept in. darkness. There were ■no secret treaties ri'o<w unpublished. Britain did not desire to stand in the way of any Power wishing to find a place under the sun. Britislvfriendsihips were neither inclusive nor jealotis. He would lie glad if they co-..1l be arranged to include others. Sir E. Grey, replying to criticisr.is said the Shusters policy of Anglicising the Persian Civil Service was contrary to the spirit of the Anglo-Rus-sian Agreement. The debate was adjourned sine die. The newspapers generally < applaud Sir E. Grey's speech and nope better relations will be established now that the Moroccan question, has been removed.

The Times says it is difficult to explain Herr von Kiderlin-Waechter's (German Minister for Foreign Affairs) singular lapses of memocy. The Daily News expresses disappointment at the chilliness of Sir E. Grey's response to the Reichstag's appeal for better relations.