SETTLING DISPUTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1939, Page 7

SETTLING DISPUTES

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN TOWARDS AGGRESSORS Problems Could Be Solved If Goodwill Existed

NO NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THREAT OF FORCE By Telegraph. —Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 29. Referring to a proposal in the House of Lords yesterday to establish machinery for the settlement of international disputes, the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Lord Plymouth, said that the British Government was convinced that no problem could not be settled if goodwill existed, but was not prepared to negotiate under a threat of force and did not see any object in establishing machinery for the settlement of disputes while the world lay under the menace of forcible action. Lord Plymouth was speaking on a motion tabled by Lord Davies which, in addition to the proposal for the settlement of disputes, welcomed assurances that the Government was considering the desirability of assuming wider mutual obligations to prevent furthei aggression and urged the establishment of a financial, economic and military commission by co-operating nations to prepare measures for mutual defence and measures for the restoration of Czechoslovakian freedom and independence. The powerful States, he said, had discarded the method of friendly negotiations for the settlement of disputes. They had resorted to direct or indirect force. Surely it was not remotely possible that they would refer their grievances to impartial adjudication. Lord Plymouth said it was clear that the restoration of Czechoslovakia’s independence could be effected only by force of arms. Neither Britain nor other Powers with whom she was consulting harboured any such design. • Lord Buckmaster tabled a motion in favour of compulsoiy national service for home defence only.

CLOSER WORKING URGED BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES. SWIFT, RESOLUTE & UNITED ACTION NEEDED. (British Official Wireless.! RUGBY, March 28. A plea for closer working between political parties in the face of the menace of the aggressor States was made in a speech today by Mr Duff Cooper, former First Lord of the Admiralty. Referring to Signor Mussolini’s speech, he said that, had such language been heard 10 years ago, it would have provoked horror. The story that Herr Hitler wanted only to unite all Germans in Germany had now- been exposed and exploded by the Fuehrer himself, with neither excuse nor apology. The time, therefore, .had come for resistance. He thought that war could still be avoided, but only by swift, resolute and united action. Referring to the need for political unity, Mr Duff Cooper urged that other parties should be asked to share in the task of national government. The sight of all parties rallying under one leader would have a heartening effect throughout the world. He thought it desirable also to form a smaller body within the whole Cabinet in order’ to secure rapidity of decision. TALKS PREFERRED TO CALLING LEAGUE COUNCIL MEETING. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.9 a.m.) RUGBY, March 29. Britain does not favour calling a meeting of the League Council to consider the international situation and prefers at the present'time to conduct consultations upon issues arising from recent events through ordinary diplomatic channels as to whether there is to be a conference of certain states for a discussion of the possibilities of common action, as proposed by the Soviet. These points emerged in the House of Commons in answers by Mr,R. A. Butler (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs). Mr Chamberlain was. asked by Mr R. I. G. Boothby to give favourable consideration to a proposal for summoning immediately , a conference of powers whose interests lies in the preservation of peace in Eastern Europe, and for an assurance that the object the diplomatic negotiations the government was now conducting was • not merely a joint declaration on the part of powers interested in the maintenance of peace, but the conclusion of a definite pact of mutual defence against aggression. He confined himself, however. to referring the House to the statement he had made in the Commons at question time yesterday. Mr Chamberlain added that the Government was in touch with the Soviet. At another stage. Mr Chamberlain repeated the assurance already given

that as soon as there would be anything to report on the negotiations with other governments he would give it -to the Commons. The Government was fully aware of the urgency of the time and as many matters under consideration were of a very complicated nature some time would be spent in making decisions and acting upon them. TERRITORIAL ARMY INCREASE TO TWO MILLION • MEN URGED. SUGGESTION IN COMMONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 28. Asked to consider an increase in the establishment of the territorial army to 2,000,000, the War Minister, Mr Hore-Belisha, pointed out to a House of Commons questioner the organisational difficulties of such a sudden and great increase, but added that the Government had certain proposals under examination. NO CONSCRIPTION. INTERPRETATION OF RECENT STATEMENT. (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, March 29. The territorial field army does not include eighty thousand anti-aircraft forces and other non-field units, thus presumably the total territorial strength of all units will be nearly half a million men. Mr Chamberlain’s statement in the House of Commons that the Government felt Britain could demonstrate that the voluntary system was an answer to all needs is interpreted to mean that the Government is not introducing conscription. ON WAR STRENGTH THIRTY-TWO DIVISIONS AVAILABLE. INCREASED ESTABLISHMENT ANNOUNCED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY. March 29. The territorial field army is to be brought forthwith up to war establishment, and the war establishment is to be doubled, making thirty-two divisions available for service overseas in place of nineteen announced by the Secretary of State for War, Major L. Hore-Belisha, three weeks ago. The announcement of the increase was made by Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister indicating that it is a first result of the re-examination of every aspect of national life which, as he stated in his Birmingham speech, was necessitated by the new international situation. In the course of this review he said the Government had been impressed with the need of available itself still further of the spirit of voluntary service which was manifest throughout the country.