PRICE TO BE PAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1938, Page 5

PRICE TO BE PAID

CRITICISM OF THE ROME agreement

LABOUR MEMBERS FEARS MR EDEN’S CRITICISM (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 2. In the general debate which followed the Prime Minister’s speech on foreign affairs in the House of Commons, Mr Arthur Green (Labour) said that what mattered was the price to be paid for the Rome agreement, and, that price was going to be paid by the people of Spain.

Mr Greenwood thought that .the withdrawal of the 10,000 Italians, whom he described as war-weary or convalescent from wounds, was inadequate even as a token withdrawal of the Italian forces in Spain, which he put at 90,000. It was farcical, he said, to describe that as a "settlement of the Spanish question” while the civil war continued through the intervention of dictators and countless thousands of women and children would continue to be bombed and slaughtered and vital British communications would continue to be threatened and British shipping would continue to be attacked. He saw the Italian withdrawal as a trick designed to secure more delays favouring the rebel forces. To bring the Rome agreement into force now was to make'a concession without an adequate return and would not bring peace one day earlier. Referring to Abyssinia, Mr Greenwood said that his information was that the Abyssinia war was by no means over. Signor Mussolini could not be regarded as the effective master.

Speaking for the Liberals, Mr Wilfred Roberts contented that Signor Mussolini had not met the conditions laid down by the Prime Minister. One of these had been that Italy should do nothing to alter the balance of the forces in Spain in favour of General Franco, but the Italians themselves claimed that in the month of April alone the Italian air squadrons accomplished 2398 flights amounting to 4729 hours. He asked whether any assurance had been obtained regarding the bombing of British ships.

ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS NOT,MET Mr Anthony Eden (Conservative) claimed that the apprehensions which had caused his resignation had been justified by events. The main fact of the present situation was that when the Government put its name to the Rome agreement it made an essential condition, and Mr Eden went on to argue that it had not been satisfied. By “settlement in Spain” most members understood either the, ending of the civil war or at least the end of foreign intervention. So long as Italy had air legions in Spain it could not be said that there had been any effective limitation of foreign intervention, and the honest truth was that the essential condition which the British Government had laid down had not been satisfied. The British Government had been ready to make, and had made, very far-reaching concessions in its sincere desire to improve the general atmosphere, but up to now Mr Eden could discern few signs in certain other States of a similar spirit. He said he could not believe that the bringing of the Rome agreement into force in the present circumstances was in the inr terests of Britain, and he could not vote for the motion.. ’

After many further Labour speeches denouncing the agreement, Mr R. A. Butler, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that the information in the possession of the Government showed that the word of Signor Mussolini could be trusted. Approximately half the infantry had been withdrawn. The provisions of the agreement relating to the Near and Middle East would be particularly valuable at the present in order to ensure the continued absence of propaganda. The Government would continue its practical efforts for widening the area of world peace. The Government motion, moved by the Prime Minister: “That this House welcomes Britain’s intention to bring the Anglo-Italian agreement into force,” was carried by 345 votes to 138. About 12 Government members abstained from voting.

“WIPING THE SLATE’’ ADJUSTMENT OF RELATIONS WITH ITALY DETAILS OF AGREEMENT LONDON, November 3. The initial step in implementing the Anglo-Italian agreement will be -the presentation by Lord Perth, British Ambassador in Rome, of fresh credentials accrediting him to the King of Italy and Emperor of Abyssinia, after which he and Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, will exchange notes on November 11 declaring that the agreement has been made, effective. The Associated Press understands that Lord Perth, who is now over the age limit, will then retire from the diplomatic service. It is expected that by January next Britain and Italy will begin to exchange military information. They will both undertake to respect the independence of Saudi Arabia and the Yemen, Italy undertaking not to seek political influence in Arabia south of those territories. Britain and Italy will agree not to fortify the islands in the Rea Sea, and Italy will undertake not to use her East African nationals for extraterritorial military service. Italy will also immediately subscribe to the 1930 naval treaty. After this Japan will be the only abstaining Great Power. Reuters Rome correspondent says that general praise is given to Mr Chamberlain for his realism in tackling world problems. It is felt that a new era of friendship is now possible by wiping the slate clean of old scores, though Italy, while she has no territorial ambitions in Spain, is not prepared to weaken her desire for General Franco’s victory nor to impair the Rome-Berlin axis.

CONQUEST OF ETHIOPIA. SOUTH AFRICAN RECOGNITION. (Received This Day. 10.5 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, November 3. The Government has decided to recognise the Italian sovereignty of Abyssinia.