HOPES FOR THE LEAGUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1938, Page 8

HOPES FOR THE LEAGUE

BRITISH ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE Foreign Minister’s Review DENIAL THAT NON-INTERVENTION WAS ONE-SIDED (British Official Wireless.) . (Recd This Day, 12.25 p.m) RUGBY, This Day. Viscount Halifax (Foreing Minister), speaking at Bristol, emphasised that the aim of British foreign policy was peace and reiterated British hopes for the League of Nations. Lord Halifax paid a tribute to Mr Anthony Eden and said: “I look forward to the time when the country will again enjoy the benefit of his service and guidance in administration.” “We desire,” he added, “to improve our relations wherever we can, because we believe that if we can relieve tension anywhere, we shall relieve it everywhere. We have already succeeded in effecting improved relations with Italy, one of our oldest traditional friends in Europe, which I am very confident will make its good influence felt not only as between our two countries but in all the Mediterranean area, and indeed over the whole of Europe.” Lord Halifax said he had never minimised eithei- the extent or the mischief o’f the breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement, but did not believe that non-intervention had been a one-sided policy working in favour of General Franco. Moreover it was only the non-interven-tion policy which had prevented the Spanish civil war from developing into a general European conflagration, of which no one could foresee the end. . “This nation,” the Foreign Minister said, “will have no Spanish blood upon its hands. It has . been our privilege to render help to both sides through different forms of humanitarian’and rescue work which have brought honour and gratitude to those engaged, and not least to his Majesty’s navy. It will be everyone’s hope that before long we may be able not less to render disinterested service in the task of peaceful reconstruction.”