Abstention of the Britith Empire and of Britain particularly from European affairs had never served and never would serve the terests of peace. No nation could violate itself today. Anything serviously affecting the peace of Europe Imus: affect every nation, beligcrent ler not. Our signature to the Cove-mant of the League wus incompatible isolation, "Our safety lay not lin seeking impossible isolation bat In wise atd prudent use of our i Huerce und power to obtain pence and prevent war.
The Government was of opinier {that it was impossible for the Brit ch Empire or Britain to undertake universal extension of the cblilation we had alrendy incurred ar ithe League and as signatories of the Covenant and, therefore, they lucid the special reed: ci the iment must be met by special vougement of a purely defensive character framed in the spirit. ai ithe Covenant and working in close y with the League and under its guidance.
Mr. Chamberlain emphasized thet no treaty or draft treaty existed, Imerely a parliamentary statement of what the different countries fe: to be possible for them to undertak land in what direction they thought they cold make on advaree,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.