Let no one suppose that the Government's armament programme implies our abandonment of the League of Nations, or of the idea of collective security which the League is intend ed to provide."
"Nothing in the recent history of Socialist opposition" he went on, been more disastrous fo its reputation than the equivocal attitude fon the vital subject of defence, For our part we shall proceed with our plans. whatever the Opposition may li. Chamberlain emphasized, that the main purpose and desire of the Government. was the, preservation of peace. "They coveted noone ise's Xerritory and had no wish to tnter-fore In the internal affairs of any other nations. Indeed, the dangers of intervention could not more for-elbly be illustrated than by the roent Ineldents in connection with the Geplorable struggle in Spain.
Tribute to M, Blum of M. Leon Blum, the French Pre-But for the, courageous snitlative mier, supported by the British Government, all Europe might have been @rawn Into opposing camps.
Me Chancellor welcomed the establishment of the International Committee in London, to which Por tugal had now adhered, to supervise the agreed polley of non-intervention, In the opinion of the British Government, he declared, the prospects of peace would be materially strengthened by the formation of regional pacts within the Government of the League, under which known storm centres could be made the subject of mutual assurances by the nations vitally concerned.
The Government intended to try to negotiate a pact in respect of western Europe.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.