1 think it likely that the House may wonder. why I at this hour place so much emphasis on performance as opposed to promise, and even why I speak so much of the Spanish problem. It is only because it happens to be in this instance an example. We cannot consider this problem except in relation to the international situation as a whole. The conditions today are not the same as they were last July, nor even the same as they were last January.
Recent months, recent weeks, recent days (cheers), have seen the successive violation of international agreements and attempts to secure political decisions by forcible means (cheers). We are in the presence of The Immediate Issue So I come with that introduction, to the immediate issue which unhappily divides me from my colleagues. It will be known to the House that certain exchanges of view have been taking place between the Italian Government and his Majesty's Government in respect of the opening of conversations between the two Governments. Indeed, his Majesty's Government have been committed to the principle of such conversations ever since the Prime Minister himself exchanged letters with Signor Mussolini last summer. There is no dis-
Mr. Anthony Eden pute anywhere about that.
The immediate issue is as to whether such official conversations should be opened in Rome now. It is my conviction that the attitude of the Italian Government to international problems in general, and to this country in particular, is not yet such as\to justify this course (opposition theers). The ground has been in no respect prepared.. Propaganda against this country by the Italian Government is rife through-cut the world (cheers). the progressive deterioration of respect for international obligations (cheers). It is quite impossible to judge these things in a vacuum. In the light—my judgment may well be wrong—of the present international situation this is a moment for this country to stand firm (cheers) not to plunge into negotiations unprepared, with the full knowledge that the chief obstacle to their success has not been resolved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.