Frank and Stalwart Support of League of Nations and of Collective Peace System London, May 16.
at Fulham to-night by the Lord Privy Seal, Mr. A. Eden, important survey of the international situation was made at the first public meeting he has addressed since his recent illness.
'The reality of the formidable character of the European' difficulties, he id, could not be doubted, but he was convinced that they were not insuperable.
If they were to be overcome, however, every nation had its part to play. Britain's part should be to pursue a foreign policy that was frank, stalwart and, above all, firm in the support of the League of Nations and of a collective peace system.
Reviewing the background of the European situation against which he, and the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, set out on their travels, Mr. Eden said that the most important event in the international history of the past few months was undoubtedly the agreement reached in London between the French and British Governments on February 3, There was surely good reason for hoping that this agreement would have made it clear to all that any lingering doubts as to Germany's true equality of status, which might still remain anywhere, ought to no longer be entertained.
The communique of February 3, said Me. Eden, stated definitely that nothing would contribute more to the restoration of confidence and to. prospects of peace among the nations, than a general settlement freely nego-tated between Germany and the other Powers, Tt was in an attempt to carry this work'a stage further and to facillfate, at the same time, a general European appeasement, that their tra vols were undertaken.
the main with two. subjects—security The communique deatt_ and armaments. On neither of these heads was it possible to record a substantial progress at Berlin As to security, Germany had made fan offer in respect of a multilateral pact of non-aggression in eastern Europe. That was welcome news, and it was important that every, of: fort should be made to make the best possible constructive use of that of-for. This country, however, based {te conception of European security upon the League of Nations, and, unfortunately, they were not able to record Germany's present willingness to resume her membership of that organization.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.