Lord
Halifax's
THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 9, 1989.
Conscience
Not Wrung By Reproaches
FOREIGN POLICY
DEBATE IN
HOUSE OF LORDS
London, To-day.
Initiating the foreign affairs debate in the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Snell (Labour) main- tained that the Government had been driven at last to accept the main principles of collec- tive security.
·PRINCESS IRENE'S WEDDING
Rome, To-day.
King George of Greece will ́at- tend the wedding ceremonies of Princess Irene of Greece and the Duke of Spoleto, to be held at Florence on July 1, according to an announcement made here.-
Trans-Ocean,
will shortly be concluded.
BRITAIN AND SPEAR INCIDENT
LONDON, TO-DAY. "WHAT ACTION IS BEING TAKEN. WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT RELATIVE TO THE ARREST OF LT.-COL SPEAR?" ASKED LT.-COMM. R. T. H. FLETCHER (LABOUR) IN HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY.
The Labour Party were perplexed when they saw ment between the two countries THE that what they advocated was supposed to be "Our assurances to Rumania and a war policy until taken over by the Govern-Greece are unilateral in form and at present require no further de- ment when it became the sure bulwark of
finition. world peace.
Referring to Russia, Lord Snell said the delays tak- ing place in arriving at a decision were at least disturbing.
The situation in the Far East that as these several incidents arise seemed to be very unsatisfactory. we do our best to see that Britisn British ships were stopped and interests-and by that. I mean the searched, officers arrested and de- interests of British subjects-are tained and individuals apparently accorded due respect, and treaty stabbed to death.
provisions, which have been in The whole situation looked more than one direction called in question by Japanese action, are as far as we can secure, respected.
anxious.
UNSYMPATHETIC
"These assurances will operate,
Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-Secre- - tary for Foreign Affairs, replied that the matter had been taken up -urgently with the appropriate Japanese authorities with a view
as in the case of Poland, if there to securing the early release of our dependence of Rumania or Greece
should be a clear threat to the in- military attache in China.-Reuter. Lt. Col. Spear and Lt. Cooper are still being held by the Japan- ese at Kalgan.
it
which the Rumanian or Greek Gov- ernment consider respectively vital to resist with their national forces.
-TURKISH PACT "Regarding Turkey, the first stage of the negotiations was brought to a successful conclusion on May 12." Recalling the declaration made by the Government in regard to the agreement reached, Lord Halifax "I can assure the House we shall said that further consultations, for Without making any sort of at- tack on the Foreign Secretary, Lord do everything in our power in con-which the declaration provided, were Halifax, it would seem that his re-junction with other Powers to pur- being actively pursued. ply to Dr. Wellington Koo, the sue that policy. Chinese delegate, at Geneva, was disturbingly unsympathetic.
DIFFERENT VIEW
"Lord Snell referred to what re- Lord Halifax, replying, said hecently passed in regard to China anticipated that all foreign person-at Geneva, and was good enough to nel would be withdrawn from Spain say he had formed a particularly unfavourable judgment of the without delay.
Gov-quality and sympathy in my speech.
In regard to material the ernment had no intention of mis- leading Parliament.
Quite obviously what we had par-
ticularly in mind was the question
of war material under Italian or German control, because anybody who gave the subject a moment's thought must appreciate that there was nothing to prevent the Germans or "Italians selling war material to General Franco if they felt minded.
Franco if desired.
so
a
"Dr. Wellington Koo formed different view, and when he spoke he thanked me for the sympathy
with which I had spoken of the Chinese appeal, and therefore Lord Snell will forgive me if I say my conscience is. not particularly wrung by his reproaches."
PRACTICAL APPROACH
"I hope in a very little time to announce to the House that they have been successfully completed. (Cheers).
GOOD AUGURY
teral action, and it is clear that any attempt to do so will meet wide and resolute resistance, but provided the independence of na- tions is recognised the Government is not only willing but anxious to explore the whole economic leben- straum. (span of life), not only for Germany but all European nations.
to
RIGHT OR MIGHT? “With regard to the possibility of an international conference, sug- gested as a solution, I venture express some doubt regarding whe- ther a conference by itself, what- ever may be its appeal to the na- tural' feelings and emotions, offers any remedy.
"The friendly co-operation the Turkish Government had adopted throughout the discussions has been tion to the whole country, and the source of the greatest satisfac-. “Not all Germany's claims are to consideration round a the best augury for consolidation table, and Great Britain is only of peace in the Mediterranean area anxious to see rival claims adjust-
and in South-Eastern Europe."
is
open
ed on a basis which may secure lasting peace.
After recalling the Government's decision to send a Foreign Office "We are concerned to see these representative to Moscow to ac- things settled by negotiation and celerate negotiations, Lord Halifax not by force, for on no other terms Dealing with the question of ne- said the-action of the British Gov-than these can international life go gotiations with other countries in ernment in the last few weeks re- on." Europe for an anti-aggression line-presented a significant departure Concluding, Lord Halifax said he |up, Lord Halifax said:
in British foreign policy.
take
· NO GROUND FOR COMPLAINT
The point was extensively raised "We have endeavoured to
GENERAL SITUATION during the negotiations with the into account the special situation Referring to the general situa- Italian Government, and they had of each country with whom we have tion Lord Halifax said: “Above all made it quite plain that they must been in contact, and we are trying we must be sensible of the extreme have the right to sell to General to make a practical approach to a importance of doing our utmost to
practical problem.,
understand the viewpoint of other Lord Halifax did not think there "The House will understand that nations and get them to understand was any ground for complaint re-I cannot give detailed particulars our own.
"I garding breach of the Anglo-Italian of the discussions now in progress"". am encouraged by Signor Agreement.
Regarding Poland, Lord Halifax Mussolini's speech at Turin, when FAR EAST POLICY · recalled the declaration made by he said millions were asking whe. Lord Halifax said Lord Snell had the Prime Minister in the agree ther we are on the road to war, referred to the Far East, where, as ment with the Polish Foreign Min-and-declared there were no ques-
tions justifying war. he had said, the situation in a good ister on April 6, many directions and in regard to
"But if these problems are to be more than one incident was one He added that by that declara-revolved by negotiation, there must which was causing the Government tion, the assurance given to the Po-be goodwill on both sides and a considerable anxiety.
lish Government was made recipro-readiness to make allowances for Snell cal, "and I hope a permanent agree-
the viewpoint of others.
"I can only assure Lord
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"There must be a conviction both sides that the word of other will be-kept."
on
the
did not share the view that war was unavoidable.
COMPLICATED PROBLEMS There were complicated pro- blems in Europe only too likely to lead to war if roughly handled, and there were men who had in themselves the power to precipitate a conflict.
war or
"If the issue were ever to be no doubt at all joined, I have about the ultimate outcome, what- ever may be the varying fortunes of
the duration of the struggle.
GOOD FAITH "But I find it very difficult to be- lieve that with a certain prospect of resistance, with awareness of, the fearful consequences that must follow and with knowledge of the desire of all peoples for peace and the readiness of all peoples to see those who might feel tempted to matters settled by negotiation,
risk arbitrament by war would not feel, if they might once convince themselves of the good faith of those with whom they have to deal, that it is wiser and more profitable to resolve by negotiation the' diffi- culties which... inevitably arise in “But the day has gone by when adjusting the claims and satisfy- the independence of European na- ing the needs of a constantly tions can be destroyed by unila- | changing world.” — Reuter.
DAY PAST Lord Halifax continued: "So far from wishing to embarrass Germany in the economic field we know that a prosperous Germany would be good for Europe,
"Our one desire is to throw all our weight into the scale for peaceful settlement.
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