PACT WITH ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1938, Page 8

PACT WITH ITALY

VALUE INSISTED UPON BY MR CHAMBERLAIN DUCE CREDITED WITH SAVING PEACE. SURVEY OF THE SPANISH QUESTION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, November 2. Moving, in the House of Commons, a motion: “That the House welcomes Britain’s intention to bring the Anglo-Italian agreement „ into force,” Mr Chamberlain said the issue before the House was whether the preliminary conditions which he had laid down as essential before the agreement could come into force had now been fulfilled. In making these conditions he had stated the view that Britain’s recognition of Italian sovereignty in Ethiopia wouicr "oe morally justified if Britain could feel that it would constitute an important step towards general appeasement in Europe, but that the Government must be able to consider that the Spanish question had been settled, and on July 26, in reply to an interjection by Mr Attlee, he had said: “If Britain thinks Spain has ceased to be a menace to the peace of Europe, I think we shall regard that as a settlement of the Spanish question.” The Premier claimed that the assurances given to Britain by Signor Mussolini that the remaining Italian forces in all categories would be withdrawn from Spain, under the Non-In-tervention Committee’s plan, when it came into operation, that no further Italian troops would be sent to Spain, and that Italy had never for a moment entertained the idea of sending a compensatory air force to Spain in place of the infantry forces withdrawn, constituted —in conjunction with the actual withdrawal of a large body of men—a substantial earnest of Italy’s good intentions, and formed a considerable contribution to the elimination of the Spanish question as a menace to peace. When at Munich he spoke on the future *"of Spain with Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, who both assured him most definitely, that they had no territorial ambitions whatever in Spain. “In my mind it is perfectly clear that the Spanish question is no longer a menace to the peace of Europe, and consequently there is no valid reason why, we should not now take a step which obviously would contribute to general appeasement," said Mr Chamberlain. He then made the point that if any justification were required for the policy of agreement with Italy, it could beTound in the action of Signor Mussolini, when, at Mr Chamberlain’s request, he used his influence with Herr Hitler before the Munich meeting. By that act of Signor Mussolini, the peace of Europe had been saved. MESSAGES FROM DOMINIONS. Mr Chamberlain read messages from Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister of Australia) and General J. B. M. Hertzog (Prime Minister of South Africa) Mr Lyons said Australia was convinced that the Anglo-Italian Agreement should be brought into operation forthwith as a contribution to peace and de jure recognition accorded to the Italan conquest of Abyssinia. General lertzog said: “The step is wise and necessary and materially contributes to he appeasement of Europe.” VIEWS NOT STATED NOTHING FROM NEW ZEALAND OR CANADA. PROTESTS BY LABOUR CRITICS. (Received This Day, at Noon.) In the House of Commons debate on the Anglo-Italian agreement the Rev Campbell Stephens (Ind. Lab.) asked if there was any message from New Zealand. Mr Chambbrlain: “No, nothing either way.” Mr Stephens: “Or Canada?” Mr Chamberlain: “No.” He added ■hat if the House approved of the motion the prospects of peace would generally be improved. “Let us end my idea that we desire to keep any State at arm’s length,” he said. Mr A. Greenwood said his information conveyed the impression that the Abyssinian war was by no means over and that Signor Mussolini could not be regarded as an effective master. The price of the agreement would be paid by the people of Spain. Helpless women and children might- be bombed and British lives and shipping endangered. Great Britain’s trade routes and interests were threatened and the integrity of the Empire endangered, so long as Mr Chamberlain ietained the friendship of a tottering dictator. CANADA’S REPLY. DEFERRED IN ABSENCE OF PREMIER. (Received This Day, 1.55 p.m.) OTTAWA, November 2. The Canadian reply to London regarding the Anglo-Italian Agreement awaits the return of the Prime Minister (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King) from J United States holiday. Departmenal officials assert that save for the recognition of the conquest of Ethijpia there is nothing in the agreement affecting the Dominion. The Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit Opposition groups op posed recognition of Ethiopia, but it is understood .that Mr Chamberlah will receive Canada’s treaty assen without reference to the Canadian House of Commons.