In opening his speech to explain the reasons for his resignation as Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden said: "On both personal and politico] grounds this is a most painful occasion."
No man, he continued, would willingly sever the links binding him with colleagues and friends. There were occasions, however, when strong Political convictions must over-ride all other considerations. The issue on which he had resigned was whether conversations with Italy should be opened in Rome now, "In my conviction," he went on, "the attitude of the Italian Government to international problems generally, and to this country particularly, is-hot such as to justify this course." (Cheers from the Opposition.)
The ground, Mr. Eden pointed out, had in no respect been prepared, while "propaganda against this country by the Italian Government was rife throughout the world."
Moreover, little progress in fact, though much in promise, had been made with the problems arising from the Spanish Civil War.
While he had been Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden declared, he had made several attempts to better relations between Britain and Italy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.