DIPLOMATIC MOVES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1939, Page 5

DIPLOMATIC MOVES.

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMON FRONT FEARS OF FRESH AGGRESSION. ■ CONFERENCE MAY BE HELD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 23. Commenting on the situation today, the “Daily Telegraph” says that the manner of the Memel coup makes it more obvious that new aggressions are in store. “The Times” says that the coup has all the characteristics of the militarised diplomacy of which the Nazis have made a specialty. “The incompatibility of the Nazi methods with any reasonable code of international intercourse remains as glaring as ever,” adds the paper. . The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says that the British and French Ministers discussed the British suggestions for a joint declaration regarding the Hungarian and Rumanian' tension and the situation in Memel.

Britain was able to report that an affirmative reply had been received from the Soviet, but that nothing definite had been received from Poland, for whom the draft does not go far enough. The question, therefore, arose of strengthening the wording and making the terms of co-operation more explicit. The idea of a conference has not been dropped. Yesterday Mr Chamberlain, Lord Halifax and M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, who is accompanying President Lebrun on his visit to London, conferred on the general European situation. The discussions will be resumed this afternoon. GOING ON WELL CONVERSATIONS WITH RUSSIA. REVELATION BY CHAMBERLAIN. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 23. A deputation of labour leaders urged upon the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, closer understanding with Russia.

Mr Chamberlain was noncommital, but it is understood he revealed that conversations with Russia are going on well. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE REDEFINED IN PRECISE TERMS. MR CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS IN COMMONS. (British Official Wireless. > (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, March 23. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, said he could not at present say anything on the progress of consultations with other governments but he redefined, in very precise terms, Britain’s attitude which he had already indicated in his Birmingham speech. He said: ‘‘Britain already had made it clear that the recent action of Germany raised the question of whether Germany was not seeking, by successive steps, to dominate Europe and perhaps even go further than that. Were this interpretation of Germany’s intentions to prove correct the British Government would feel bound to say this would raise the successful resistance of Britain and other countries who prize their freedom, as similar attempts had done in the past. I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the consultations which have been held with other governments as a result of recent developments. I wish to make it clear, however, that there is no desire on the part of Britain to stand in the way of any reasonable efforts on the part of Germany to expand her export trade. On the contrary we were on the point of discussing, in a most friendly way, the possibility of trade arrangements which would have benefited both countries when events took place which, for the time being at any rate have put a stop to those discussions. Nor is this Government anxious to set up in Europe opposing blocks of countries with different ideas about the forms of their internal administration. We are solely concerned here with the proposition that we cannot submit to a procedure under which independent States are subjected to such pressure, under threat of force, as to be obliged to yield up their independence and we are resolved by all means in our power to oppose any attempts, if they should be made, to put such procedure into operation. Replying to a question Mr Chamberlain indicated that he could not forecast when he would be able to repoit on the outcome of the present consultations with other governments. .