THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 26, 1939.
MR.
CHAMBERLAIN'S RETICENCES
Uproar In House Over Statement On Russia
Agreement In Principle
Believed Reached
1
London, To-day.
There was an uproar in the House of Commons yesterday when the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, again refused to say any- thing definite when asked for a statement on the negotiations with Russia.
Mr. Chamberlain opened his statement by an- nouncing that all relevant points of view "had been made clear," and although he said he "had every reason to hope" that a full agreement would be reached soon, he intimated that he
recess.
LEAGUE RESOLUTION ON CHINA
Geneva, To-day.
. The League Council, at a pri- vate meeting yesterday, adopted the resolution of the committee on China inviting member States to increase any assistance they might individually be giving China.— Reuter.
BULGARIANS AGITATE
Sofia, To-day.
would say nothing until after the Whitsun DEMONSTRATIONS for the re- turn of Dobruja (held by Pressed by the Labour Opposition, Mr. Chamber-Rumania) to Bulgaria, took place
lain employed his old tactics and refused to re- ply further.
should forma-
all over Bulgaria yesterday.
"Return
School-children marched in pro- cession singing the Dobruja Song, The proceedings were opened the international situation,
and crowds shouted by the Leader of the Labour Op- we make these delays in
Dobruja to Bulgaria." position, Mr. C. R. Attlee, who tion of the peace front?
Similar demonstrations occurred asked a question on Anglo-Soviet Mr. Chamberlain did not reply. at the University and the sports relations.
Reuter.
ground where, before the football match between Bulgaria and Latvia, a black flag was hoisted in memory of the Bulgars killed on the Ru- manian frontier a few days ago. Plays and spectators knelt and sang the Dobruja Song after a minute's silence. Trans-Ocean.
Mr. Chamberlain in reply said: "The House is aware that the Foreign Secretary was able to have conversations with the French Ministers in Paris on his way to Geneva.
"He was also able to continue in Geneva the conversations which had been conducted with the Soviet Ambassador in London.
“AT AN EARLY DATE” .
"As a result of these conversa- tions, all relevant points of view have now been made clear, and I have every reason to hope that as a result of the proposals, which. His - Majesty's Government are now
in a position to make on the main questions arising, it will be found possible to reach a full agreement at an early date.
"There still remain some further points to be cleared up, but I do not anticipate that these are likely to give rise to any serious diff- culty."
NECESSARY TO WAIT
Mr. Attlee: Is it possible to make a more definite and fuller state- ment before the House adjourns for the Whitsun recess? ·
Mr. Chamberlain: It is possible that such a statement of course will be made.
AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE
***Although Mr. Chamberlain, a mas not say as much, it is believed ter in the art of under-statement, did in well-informed circles that an agree ment in principle has been reached between Britain and the Soviet and that only minor points require to be disposed of.
French quarters are saying that the agreement is as good as made Bri- tish and Russian circles are still dis- posed, for the present, to be more guarded in their comments.
Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the Prime Minister, in stating that some further paints require to be not cleared added that he did
up, anticipate that they would give rise to any serious difficulties.
The question at issue is believed to be no more than the precise formula for defining obligations already agreed in principle.
dis- All important matters under cussion have been satisfactorily dis- posed of.
ROYAL PARTY AT EPSOM
London, To-day.
BACK TURNED ON MUNICH
Paris, To-day.
BRITAIN AND RUSSIA
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ALLIANCE
London, To-day.
IN accordance with Mr. Cham-
berlain's announcement in the House of Commons yester- day, Reuter's diplomatie corres- pondent learns that a communi- cation will shortly be sent to the Soviet, in effect accepting the basic Soviet proposals for an Anglo-Franco-Soviet mutual as- sistance alliance.
Under the alliance, it is under- stood, where one of the parties goes to the aid of a victim of aggression, assistance from the
other parties will be immediately available
The small points which Mr.
Chamberlain indicated still need-
ed clearing up, will probably be dealt with by the Foreign Se- cretary, Lord Halifax, and the Soviet Ambassador, M. Maisky, when the latter returns from Geneva.
It is not thought this will hin- der conclusion of the agreement and may concern only drafting points. Reuter.
PRINCE PAUL'S PLANS
London, To-day, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia will not visit England in the near future, it is declared in informed circles in contradiction of recurrent rumours. The King and Queen, it is pointed "Ce Soir" states that in giving his out, will not return from America will approval to the pact with the Soviet for at least three weeks and Union, Mr.. Chamberlain has defin-then take a vacation of four weeks itely turned his back on the Munich in Scotland so that the visit could policy.
not come into question before the "Le Temps" which is often re-end of July. garded as the mouthpiece of the
It is regarded as probable Quai d'Orsay, states that the aim Prince Paul may visit England un- of the British Cabinet was not to cfficially in August or September. come to an immediate decision but
Rumours of "official feelers" be- to agree upon the fundamental between London and Belgrade ing for London and Moscow to ex- also denied.-Trans-Ocean. press their acceptance in principle of the main points of an agreement, and the technical details can then be ironed out. Trans-Ocean.
4
MIAJA IN MEXICO
Mexico City, To-day.
The Duke and Duchess of Glou- cester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Princess Royal and Lord Harewood watched from the Royal Box at Epsom while the favourite, General Miaja, former comman- Lord Roseberry's Blue Peter, wonder-in-chief of the Republican the Derby Stakes by four lengths armies in Spain, arrived at Vera from Mr. E. Esmond's Fox Cub, Cruz yesterday in the British with Lord Derby's Heliopolis third steamer "Orizaba.” and Lady Zia Wernher's Casanova
As I mentioned there are some points which still have to be cleared up, and I think that probably it will be necessary to wait until after we come back, when I hope it will be possible then to give a complete fourth. account of the agreement which trust will then be reached.
LABOUR UPROAR
I
Queen Mary was unable to go to Epsom after the road acoident in which she was involved on. Tues- day, and as a result of which and the minor injuries she received her This reply by the Prime Minister public engagements for some time caused an uproar among Oppost-ahead have been cancelled.
Brilliant weather favoured the tion members.
Mr. Hugh Dalton (Labour): In meeting which drew a crowd of
half a million-British Wireless." view of the continuing dangers
General Misja, who arrived from Havana, Cuba, whence he had gone after leaving Spain, gained fame as the defender of Madrid. Trans- Ocean.
that
TREATY TALKS DENIED
Warsaw, To-day.
are
The official Polish. news agency issued a statement yesterday dony- ing foreign press reports which alleged that Poland and Rumania had decided to replace the defensive alliance pact between the two countries, which refers only to the Soviet attack on eventuality of a one of two countries, by à moré com- prehensive agreement.
The statement issued by the Po- Another remand was this morn-Heh Newsagency denies that ing granted by Mr. E. Himsworth negotiations are now going on in when the case. in which four men Warsaw for settlement of details are charged with assaulting with or a more comprehensive Polish- intent to rob Mrs. J. Egan and her Rumanian alliance pact.
Ocean. son, Ronald, again came up.
Trans-
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