BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1938, Page 6

BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY.

'J'HOUGH its policy of taking' no action in Spain which conceivably might lead to a European war has again been endorsed by a substantial majority in the House of Commons, the British Government evidently is finding its position in the matter somewhat embarrassing. Some ol the Government’s own followers are now actively attacking its failure to offer any resistance to the bombing of British ships in Spanish ports, but other aspects of the silnation are even more disturbing. In the Parliamentary debate reported today the British Prime Minister declared that the motive of his Government’s policy “was not a preconceived idea in favour of one side or the other in the Spanish civil war, but the will to preserve the greatest of all British interests—peace.” It is by no means in accordance with detached impartiality, however, that Britain should be seeking understanding and agreement with Italy while that country and Germany are freely assisting the Spanish rebels, and apparently have provided a large part of the forces at General Branco’s disposal. According to otic of yesterday’s cablegrams, Mussolini has made it clear io Mr Chamberlain that his constant aim of complete and final victory for General Branco remains unchanged. The Duce is reported also to have intimated that his approval of a truce or a cessation of hostilities in Spain is contingent, not only on victory lor the insurgents, but on General Branco dictating terms and extinguishing the Republican Government. II these allegations are untrue, they ought to be denied authoritatively. If they are true they appeal' to lay Mr Chamberlain open to the charge of departing from the policy of non-intervention he proclaims to the serious extent of condoning deliberate aggression.