Mr. Chamberlain's clear intimation in the House of Commons this after-oon that Great Britain would not stand idle in the face of further ag-'Eression in Europe did not come as 8 surprise, for a declaration in this sense had' been predicted.
Britain's decision was reached as the result of intensive discussion in the British Cabinet and between the British, French, Polish and Rumanian governments yesterday. While official Seerecy still surrounds details of the arrangements reached, there is reason to believe that the salient feature was a suggestion to Poland and fo extend their pact of ssistanice to include the case by Germany. It is. understood that Poland replied late, Interim Period Covered In reply to a question, the Prime Minister then stated: "I think the statement was clear and that what 1 said is intended to cover the interim period."
He added that His Majesty's Government wax in consultation with other Governments including Soviet Russia and that the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, held "a very useful conversation this morning" with the Soviet Ambassador, M. Ivan Maisky.
"Ihave no doubt that the prin= ciples on which we are acting are fully understood and appreciated by Government," he cons Labour View Stated Following Inv. Chamberlain's statement, Mr. Arthur Greenwood, for the Labour opposition, declared' to the House "Lam quite sure that the House realizes the potentialities which may arise out of the statement the Prime Minister has made, Tt may prove to bbe in its consequences as momentous a statement as hax been made in this House for a quarter of a cen: tury. Tt is very diMeult with such a statement so immediately before us to say very much, but may T ask the Prime Minister one or two questions on what I do not think is quite clear in his statement, 1 would I ask whether the statem which he hog now read is to be Yegorded as the first step in the development of a policy to deter and restrain aggressions. if x0, will the Government take immediate action and energetic steps to bring into this arrangement other Powers? Will they especially think of the value of the USSR? (Cheers) Will they 80 with ollier Powers large and sin: and will they do so with the wise object of obtaining the maximum Amount of ce-operation in the defence fof peace? Will they" consider now the "advisability of an immediate conference of those Powers which might be prepared to range thems selves on the side of peace against aggression
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.