(CRITICS who compared the ae tivity of the League of Nations in connection with the Italo-Ethiopian imbroglio with its alleged "inaction" in the vase of the dispute between China and Japan were answered in the louse of Commons on Oct, 23 ty Mr. Anthony Eden, Minister without Portfolio for League of Nations Affairs end chief British delegate at Geneva.
Spteking in the course of the second day's debate on foreign affairs. Mi. Eden said that the a1 analogy was a false one. Japan, he declared, had not been declar ed the aggressor by the League. The dispute did rot, at any stage, result in resort to war by either of the parties. China had not ruptured relations with Japan, and had not invoked Article XVI providing for sanctions). Moreover, there were practical considerations since two great States bordering the Pacific were not members of the League, and the essential condit ious for collective action were absent, Sie 8, Moore Speaks London, Oct, 22, Suggestions that Great Britain was attempting to use the League of Nee tone rs sosh ends and forthe by''sie Samuel Hoare, the Foreign wumitiation of Ttaly were repudla
Secretary, who initiated the eagerly avaited debate on the internation! SStuation when the 'House. of Com= mons reassembled at 245 o'clock this faflernoon in an excited atmosphere, 'The British policy, he stated, 1e-mained unchanged. It was the policy of Parliament and the great majority for the people in. Great Briain and her' Dominions. Foreigners dia not realise the sincerity of the British faith in the new order of international relations and were under-rating British "support. of the "League Nations as am instrument of impartial and comprehensive. justice HM. Government, he continued, regarded the League of Nations a5 2 bridge between Britain and. Europe this bridge "was broken, operation with the. Continent, "would Decome diMieult and dangerous. The League never before had shown such encouraging vitalty az it was now Showing.
"We have never regarded the present controversy as an opportunity for attacking' Fascism," declared Sie "and we have never intended Interfering in the domestic affairs of other peoples. We have taken o full part at Geneva with the sore motive of maintaining the principles of the Covenant of he League' of Sir Samuel repudiated criticisms that economic sanctions against Ttaiv would inevitably lead to war. He said he believed that, if econom!-
Mr, Anthony Ede
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.