Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1938. MR CHAMBERLAIN’S TRIUMPH.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1938, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1938. MR CHAMBERLAIN’S TRIUMPH.

a Parliamentary occasion—perhaps as a good deal more than that —the latest debate on foreign affairs in the House of Commons appears to have been, from the standpoint of the British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain), an unqualified success. Mr Chamberlain evidently enjoyed himself hugely in rolling back the attack of the Labour Opposition—not least in telling them that nothing would carry greater consternation into their ranks than a general election —and was rewarded by the plaudits of his supporters in what is, described as one of the most remarkable demonstrations of its kind for years.

For the sake of people in all parts of the Empire, to whom it is of vital concern that British foreign policy should be directed wisely and well, it must be hoped that Mr Chamberlain’s triumph will continue and that he will go on from strength to strength. An element of lingering doubt on the subject perhaps may be warranted, however, in the minds of tliose who approach the questions involved from no partisan standpoint and are concerned only with the simple merits of these questions. It has yet to be determined whether Mr Chamberlain is not placing an unwise and astonishing faith in Italian and German assurances, taking account of the conditions in which these countries are at present led and dominated. That friendship with the German and Italian nations is to be desired goes without saying. Whether that friendship is in existing circumstances really available is another question.

It has been said that the foreign policy for which Mr Chamberlain takes responsibility is based on the conviction that “small issues” should not, be allowed to be the cause of another world war. With that conviction and and with the contention it embodies it is easy to agree unreservedly. There is point also in the view expressed by Viscount Astor when he was interviewed not long ago in the United States. Denying that Mr Chamberlain’s attitude of conciliation constituted a surrender to dictatorships, Lord Astor said that: —

England was “prepared to take risks for peace” with European nations because conditions in the Orient demanded that the British Fleet be concentrated in the Far East. .“The real menace to the world conies from Jifipan,” he said, and until Great Britain improves her relations with Germany and Italy “it must, be impossible for England to muster her full naval strength in the Far East.”

Whatever may be thought of the necessity of confronting Japan as soon as possible in armed strength, there cannot, be any doubt that friendship with Germany and Italy, as with other nations, ought to be sought if it is attainable. It may be asked, however, whether that friendship is likely to be attained, or to be brought nearer,, by making friendly overtures to Italy while she completes her conquest of Spain, or whether the encouragement thus given lo the dictatorships is likely to contribute to a just and satisfactory treatment of the remaining- unsolved problems of the ill-omened Treaty of Versailles.

In the House of Commons on. Monday, Mr Chamberlain said his Government looked forward still to a time when the League ol' Nations would he so strengthened and so revitalised as io fulfil .its purpose of being an effective instrument for the prevention of war and the establishment of settled peace in the world. Many who sympathise profoundly with these aims, and who recognise that with the League in its present state Britain could not have been expected to intervene actively, alone and unsupported, on behalf of Spain; may still, wonder whether Mr Chamberlain and those who support him have not endangered the future of the League and the establishment, of settled peace by taking up altogether too complaisant an attitude towards the European dictatorships in their expression and practice of power politics.