BRITISH GUARANTEES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 5

BRITISH GUARANTEES

GIVEN TO GREECE AND RUMANIA Assistance in Event of Attacks on Sovereignty ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR CHAMBERLAIN SIMILAR DECLARATION MADE BY FRANCE (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, April 13. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, announced unilateral guarantees in respect to Greece and Rumania similar to that originally given to 1 oland. He stated that Britain found it difficult in the extreme to reconcile what had happened in Albania with the preservation of national sovereignty, as contemplated by the Anglo-Italian agreement and, after referring to the general uneasiness created by these events and the shock to confidence which has resulted, he said Britain felt it had both a duty and service to perform, bv leaving no doubt in the mind of anybody as to its position. MR CHAMBERLAIN CONTINUED: “1 THEREFORE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF SAYING ON ITS BEHALF THAT HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT ATTACHES THE GREATEST; IMPORTANCE TO THE AVOIDANCE OF DISTURBANCE BY FORCE OR THREATS OF FORCE, OF THE STATUS QUO IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ON THE BALKAN PENINSULA. CONSEQUENTLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN WHICH CLEARLY THREATENS THE INDEPENDENCE OF GREECE OR RUMANIA, AND WHICH THE GREEK OR RUMANIAN GOVERNMENTS RESPECTIVELY CONSIDER IT VITAL TO RESIST WITH THEIR NATIONAL FORCES, HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT WILL FEEL ITSELF BOUND TO LEND AT ONCE TO GREECE OR RUMANIA, AS THE CASE MAY BE, ANY SUPPORT IN ITS POWER. WE ARE COMMUNICATING THIS DECLARATION TO THE GOVERNMENTS DIRECTLY CONCERNED AND TO OTHER POWERS—ESPECIALLY TURKEY—WHOSE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GREEK GOVERNMENT ARE KNOWN. I UNDERSTAND THAT FRANCE IS MAKING A SIMILAR DECLARATION THIS AFTERNOON.” PREMIER LOOKS TO ITALY After announcing the assurance to Greece and Rumania, the Premier turned to consider the future of the Anglo-Italian agreement. He frankly confessed nis deep disappointment at Italy s action, whicn had cast a snaaow over genuineness of its intentions to carry out its undertakings, Put disagreed with the opinion he suggested some mignt nold tnat the agreement.should be ceded. He believed, on the contrary, tnat mere would be a widespread desire all me greater for the uneasiness now prevailing—to see fulfilment of remaining provisions of me agreement. He added that naturally, in _ view of recent events, it was to Italy they looked for practical evidence that she shared that desire. WITHDRAWAL FROM SPAIN Mr Chamberlain mentioned an assurance from Signor Mussolini, regarding Italian troops in Spain, given to Viscount Halifax by Signor Guido Crolla in the course of exchanges during the last six days. It was to the effect that Italy confirmed the statement that all Italian volunteers would be withdrawn from Spain immediately after taking part in the Victory Parade at Madrid. Count Ciano had informed Lord Perth that the Italian aeroplanes and pilots would leave also. The British Government, the Premier declared, had taken due note of these fresh assurances and, as it had always regarded the evacuation of Italian troops from Spain as a vital element in the agreement, it looked forward to their early fulfilment. Mr Chamberlain in conclusion spoke of how intolerable was the state of international affairs, which kept the whole world in a continually recurring series of alarms, blighted commerce and industry, depressed social conditions and poisoned every phase of human activity. Events of which Britain had had cause to complain in the past and which again it had to condemn today, could not have failed to stir the minds and consciences of all people. He took hope from that fact that the patience Britain had exercised over a long period, with many disappointments of its efforts to remove suspicion and promote goodwill and ensure peace, would yet be rewarded. He assured the House that, without prejudice or preconceived ideological motions, Britain was endeavouring to the utmost of its ability successfully to marshal the forces still favouring peace and willing to resist aggression. A similar statement was made by Lord Halifax in the House of Lords.