The atmosphere, however, was tense and expectant when the Chancellor of the. Exchequer, Sir John Simon, rose to answer questions on behalf of the Foreign Office.
He made a statement on Austria describing the situation in somewhat greater detail than Mr. Eden had been able to do last week. His statement was on information received from Austrian sources on the changes resulting from the meeting at Berchtesgaden, which had all been the subject of oficial communtaues {issued in Vienna.
In another reply, Sir John Simon said that His Majesty's Government had no information on the altitude of the Mahan Government towards recent developments in Austria, beyond that which had appeared in the Ballan press.
Question time was cheering. parts of the To Rose {0 speak from the scat the angway, which is usually taken Mould] gotiations, Britain had signed the Mediterranean Agreement and, within ina] a few days, more Tldlians had been continued. ce cee ent to. Spnin while the propaganda
After the Prine Minister had changed leiiers with Signor Mussolini, there was a temporary Improvement. Soon afterwards, however, there were events in the. Mediterranean with Srhich the Howse was Camila, nnd the hood of the Mahan' Government. lid lorifed the violones of the. Mahan forces: in Spain.
He submitted that Great Britain ought not to Fish a repetition of these diilusioning experiences. He wished, therefore, before. opening conversa: ations with Taly. to have an agree: mont not only on the principles of the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain, Suton "the delaied conditions withdrawal 'They were in the presence of proressive deterioration of the respect for international obligations and' ate tempts to secure palileal designs by forcible means.
"Time to Stand Firm"
"This is the moment for this country to slond firm." (Cheers), "This country," Mr. Eden went' on, "should not. plunge into negotiations unprepared and with the full know= ledge thal the chief obstacle had not been resolved and because one party indicated that it is now oF never."
This was not the sole issue between himself and the Prime Minister, Mr. Eden declared.
Within the past few weeks, he said, upon one of the most important dee sions of Britain's foreign polley. which not concern Taly" at all, their difference was fundamental, and Mr. Chamberlain, he knew, was conscious of it. There had been a difference in outlook and method.
Unity ju the Government should be ws; restored at the earliest possible moment.
Continuing Mr. Eden declared:
"OF tate the conviction hax grown Jeteadity upon me that qhere has been too keen a desire on our part to make rather than. that sould rake terms with ws, ry in the past, and it should in the interests of peace be our not believe that we can make progress in European appeasement, nor particularly in the tight. pf levants of the past few days—and these events must surely be present all our minds—if we allow the impression to gain currency abroad that we yield to constant pressure.' (Cheers).
"T am certain in my own mind that progress depends, above all, on the temper of & nation, and that temper must find expression in a firm spirit' Mr. Eden concluded. "That spirit. am confident, is there, and not to sive voice to it is. I believe, fair neither to this country nor to the world, Lord Cranborne intimated that he had resigned because he was in the fullest agreement with every word uttered by Mr. Eden.
He added that the Ttalian Govern ment had done none of the things it could have done as guarantees, and to lenter official conversations would be regarded not as a contribution 10 pence, but aga surrender to black-mall, (Loud cheers).
Opposition Leader's View Mr. Eden and Lofd Cranborne, declared Mr. C. Tt Altice, Leader of the Labour Opposition, had taken the tine ciple. There parallel to the present ca Just when a colleague was being flacked and abused by foreign coun-mates and the estimates "for the Revenue Departments for the coming year represent an increase compared with 1997, of £20812,636, the total being 519,192,315. ernment was ready to begin conver ations Immediately in Rome, and Wat settlement could be agreed to chieh did not include Ue settlement Jor the tion, by the Minisiers who have resigned.
Mr, Eden's Explanation speech to explain tries, Mr. Attlee said, the rest of the Cabinet threw him to the wolves.
Referring to the holding of cor versations with. aly, the Opposition Ceader stated that "iL would be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.