NEW ERA OPENED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1938, Page 8

NEW ERA OPENED

IS VIEW OF BRITISH PRIME MINISTER STEP TOWARDS SANE STATE OF THINGS. AGREEMENT WITH ITALY DEFENDED. (British Official Wireless) (Recd This Day, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 2. The House of Commons debated the Anglo-Italian Agreement on a motion by the Prime Minister (the Rt Hon Neville Chamberlain), aproving the results of the recent conversations in Rome. Mr Chamberlain said lie had been encouraged by the agreement and the praise and congratulation it had evoked to hope that the first step had been taken towards a healthier and saner state of things in Europe. “I believe that for Italy and ourselves this agreement marks the beginning of a new era,” he said. An important part of the speech. disclosed the fact that in the course of the Rome conversations. Count Ciano (Italian Foreign Minister), gave the British Ambassador a full assurance regarding Palestine. After examining the protocol and its annexes, Mr Chamberlain said he thought the House would agree that they dealt in a very careful and comprehensive manner with possible sources of difficulty between Britain and Italy.

“In case anybody should think Palestine has been purposely left out,” he added, “I should like to mention that that subject was also discussed and that as a result, Count Ciano has given Lord Perth oral assurances that Italy will abstain from creating difficulties oi’ embarrassment for Britain in Palestine, and Lord Perth has given similar assurances that Britain for its part intends to preserve and protect legitimate Italian interests in that country. We ourselves are perfectly satisfied with the oral declaration we received and I am sure Italy also is perfectly satisfied with the declaration we have given in return.” He then described the place of the agreement in the general scheme of the Government’s foreign policy, the aim of which was to restore general confidence that peace could and would be maintained. STRIKING CONTRAST CALM FOLLOWS RECENT TENSION. POOR MUSTER IN HOUSE. (Recd This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. The Australian Associated Press says it was difficult to realise that today’s debate on the Anglo-Italian Agreement concerned the same issue which a few weeks ago, amid scenes, resulted in the resignation of the then Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden). A greater contrast could hardly be imagined than that of this afternoon, when Mr Chamberlain opened the debate in an atmosphere more appropriate to an unimportant private member’s day than a first-class international issue. Only thirty-four Labour and Liberal members occupied the Opposition benches at the commencement of the speech, nine-tenths of which was devoted virtually to summarising documents. AGREEMENT APPROVED. (Recd This Day, 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. The House of Commons approved the Anglo-Italian Agreement by 31G votes to 108.