BRITAIN & FRANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1939, Page 5

BRITAIN & FRANCE

SOLIDARITY AGAIN AFFIRMED DECLARATION BY LORD HALIFAX. NO MENTAL RESERVATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.57 a.m.) RUGBY, February 23. A debate was raised in the House of Lords on the question of Anglo-French relations by Lord, Addison, who welcomed Mr Chamberlain’s statement on February 6: — “The solidarity of interest by which France and this country are united is such that any threat to the vital interests of France, from whatever quarter it came, must evoke the immediate co-operation of this country.” Reply in the debate, Viscount Halifax (Foreign Minister) said that statement of course represented the unanimous view of the British Government, and public. The response to it constituted, he thought, an impressive testimony of the substantial unanimity of the whole country on that question. There had been attempts in certain quarters to underestimate or qualify Mr Chamberlain’s assurance of solidarity with France. . “Any such attempts as those I must greatly regret,” said Lord Halifax, “since it would be a profound error to suppose that any mental reservation of any kind accompanied Mr Chamberlain's words.” The declaration indeed,, he added, was quite clear and unmistakeable, and translated into a homely phrase it was: “Halt—Major Road Ahead.”, That was its purpose. It was not necessary to make verbal assertions of British solidarity with France.' That solidarity would shortly again be proved by the welcome the country would give the President Le Brun. It was not only geographical situation that drew Britain close to France, but an identity of interests and completeness of mutual understanding. These factors were the best guarantee against the danger that, under certain circumstances, one might be tempted to subordinate its policy to that of the other.

“Anglo-French solidarity is not and never has been intended to constitute any menace of any sort to a third party,” Lord Halifax said. “The records of both Governments and the efforts of both Governments have made to maintain peace, is sufficient evidence of the truth of that statement.”