1938-12-20 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 20, 1938.

NO CONFIDENCE MOTION ON FOREIGN POLICY

Mr. Dalton Questions Value Of Visit To Rome

Premier Asks Opposition For Sound Alternative

London, To-day.

Moving the Opposition motion of no confidence in the foreign policy of the Government in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. Hugh Dal- ton (Labour) asked whether it was useful for Mr. Chamberlain to visit Rome when all the evidence was clear that undertakings given by Mussolini had not been kept.

Mr. Dalton asked for an assurance that belligerent rights would not be given to General Franco, and accused Mr. Malcolm Macdonald of "de featism" in his recent speech on colonies. Mr. Dalton painted a terrible picture of the plight of Czecho-Slovakia, and declared that the Munich Agreement had unsettled all Europe. Replying, Mr. Neville Chamber- "All you can expect is that lain said that Mr. Dalton had not everything which it is possible to said what he would have done if he be done shall be done, and that no had been in his (Mr. Chamberlain's) | claim and no interests shall be place at Munich.

overlooked.

PREMIER PUTS END TO RUMOUR

London, To-day.

Mr. Neville Chamberlain de- clared in the House of Commons yesterday that he was glad to have the opportunity of denying categorically the rumours report- ed in certain quarters that the Government was contemplating cession of colonial territory to the Italian Government.

Mr. Chamberlain added that no such suggestion had been made Government.— by the Italian Reuter.

FAVOURABLE ITALIAN COMMENT

BERLIN, TO-DAY.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WITH YESTERDAY 'HAS MET APPRECIATIVE APPROVAL IN GERMAN POLITICAL CIRCLES.

They say, however, that they cannot understand why Germany is so often characterised

as the black sheep of Europe. Eastern Europe, it was Mr. Dalton A spokesman declared that Ger- look to strategic considerations in all States willing to work for peace. contended, all the more necessary to many is willing to co-operate with

the West, and he asked about the The spokesman added: "We are policy of the Government in Spain. not struck by Mr. Chamberlain's He argued that membership of speech. We like peace as much as the League of Nations, in which he does." were a number of powers threaten- ITALIAN REACTION In Rome, says a message

from ed with aggression, was still a potentially formidable force if Bri-the Italian capital, Mr. Chamber- tain and France were ready to or- lain's speech has made a good im- ganise it for resistance to the fur-pression in political circles. ther dislocation of Europe.

Italians note with satisfaction

lowed the Premier, said that on the vent Mr.

Sir Archibald Sinclair, who fol- that attempts to discredit and pre- Chamberlain's visit to Liberal

benches they repudiated Rome were unsuccessful. the doctrine of the inevitability of Mr. Chamberlain's statement that he does not expect to bring back LIBERAL MISTRUST any specific agreement caused no

war.

Mr. Chamberlain said the Opposi-

"I want to assure the House that tion policy as an alternative to that is being done, and we are de- Munich would have involved the fending our rights, and that we What caused him mistrust, was surprise, as the forthcoming talks country in war simultaneously with are not prepared to deny to either the evidence in the Premier's fare regarded chiefly as a full and Japan, Germany and Italy, and per- of the combatants the normal re-speeches that he misconceived the frank exchange of views.--Reuter. haps with Gen. Franco as well.

lations which they are entitled to whole problem so that he failed, to expect from a friendly power."

PREMIER'S TAUNT

The Prime Minister said he thought it would have been wise if Mr. Dalton had no policy of his own, at least to try and give a chance of success to the Government's policy.

If the Government's policy failed he (Mr. Chamberlain) would be the first to agree that something else should be put in its place.

was a source of continued It satisfaction to know that efforts were being made to keep all the Dominions fully informed as to the foreign situation.

see that the controversy was not U. S. LOAN

between those who believed in the, Referring to the loans from the inevitability of war and those who United States, Mr. Chamberlain did not, but between those who

said:

"I

understood this loan is

thought with the Prime Minister a that peace

would be secured by appeasing aggression with conces-

credit designed to facilitate United States exports to China.

-

sions and those who believed that one-sided concessions stimulated the invention of fresh grievances.

"In principle, His Majesty's Gov- ernment would be very glad if it found it possible to facilitate cer- tain United Kingdom exports to restored when this

National unity would only be or some other China in the same way. That is a

government would lay down question which will be considered policy commanding the moral sympathetically when the Exports assent of the whole British people Guarantees Bill has been passed. in that it made clear to the world "In the meantime, we can only their recognition that their para-

a

TON OF MAIL TO-DAY

Imperial Airways announce that the Christmas Man from England will arrive in the Co- lony this afternoon by two aero- planes arriving at 3.15 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. respectively.

There are approximately 1,067 kilos aboard the two planes or just over a ton of mail.

ad-

Referring to Anglo-French rela- tions, Mr. Chamberlain observed await the outcome of the hostilities mount interest was to build up a the Government's policy ав that these remained of a most cor- in the Far East. while watching world in which peace would be on vocates of war. The only question dial character, and he recalled the closely for any opportunity which the basis of justice.

was which was the better method declaration of the French Foreign might enable us to assist in bring- Mr. Lloyd George, deprecated of achieving peace.-British Wire- Minister that all the forces of ing it to an end upon fair and rea- the tendency to represent critics of less. France would be spontaneously and sonable terms."-Reuter. immediately used for the defence of Britain in the event of unpro- voked aggression.

BIG ERRORS

Mr. Dalton contended that by a series of big errors in judgment the INTENTIONS COUNT

National Government had brought Such declarations, said Mr. Britain into the most dire peril Chamberlain, were really more since 1914. The world was strewn significant than actual treaties, be- with wreckage for which the policy cause it was intentions rather than of Mr. Chamberlain's Government forms of words that counted when and its predecessors since 1931 'had 'the occasion arises.

been largely responsible.

Turning to the Far East, Mr. He expressed the view that the Chamberlain said that the suffer-outcome of Munich was due to the ings inflicted on the Chinese popu-circumstance which, he asserted, that lation far exceeded in scale the the Prime Minister had not been Spanish tragedy, and the oppor- himself equipped to deal with the tunities for alleviation were much problems at issue, and had not been less.

properly, advised as to their implica-

"Our own long-established in- tions. terests in China have inevitably・ Mr. Dalton asked for information suffered serious material loss dur-on a number of points, including a ing this conflict," he added. definition of attitude by the govern-

ment NO CLAIM OVERLOOKED

to threat which he alleged "In face of the forces which have existed to the status quo in Eastern been loosed simultaneously in the Europe as a result of German in- Far East and Europe, you cannot fluence and action in Ruthenia and

any the Ukraine. expect this government or government to secure satisfaction for any claim ås it arises under such abnormal conditions. -

STRATEGY IN WEST

If it were in the Government's mind to let Germany have her way in

Mr. Lloyd George's Attack

Chamberlain

On

Mr.

London, To-day.

Mr. Lloyd George, who nowa- days participates in debates less than formerly, intervened last night in the House of Com- mons in an attack on Mr. Cham- berlain.

1

The Liberal veteran declared that the Prime Minister's com-' placency was shared by nobody outside Parliament.

The level of gilt-edged securities, he said, showed the genuine opinion of the Prime Minister's friends in the City regarding the Munich Agree- ment.

Notwithstanding Mr. Cham- berlain's four visits, to the Com- tinent, the clouds had darkened and are more lowering.

There was anxiety about Mr. Chamberlain's visit to Rome. People thought he was no match for astute, crafty, ruthless and and unscrupulous Dictators he is not.

Accusing. Mr. Chamberlain of being obstinate and stubborn, Mr. Lloyd George pointed out that he (Mr. Chamberlain) had said that nothing he had done in the last eighteen months he wished undone.

Nobody could say that unless he was very complacent. You cannot send a man with an obsession to Rome to meet Mus- solini,

Mr. Chamberlain seems to have the idea that he will get through by shouting “Pax vobiscum."-Router.