Evening star., 1935-12-19
Premier Takes
Responsibility
inHOuse.
HOARE STATES
PLAN REASONS
Denies Fear Italy
May Attack Was
Motive.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Sir Samuel John Gilrney Hodre,
cabinet member continually eTcept
for tetp months since 1922. became
foreign secretary June Z, succeed
ing Sir John Simon, ouSted for
"ldck OF frmneSS." He sought
through parley to preUent Ethiopian
ipUaSion until Italy struck in Octo-
Der, Uhen he began mOUe to inUoke
League 1Udr-preDention machinery.
After elections Of November II,
Hodre changed policy, On Decem-
Der 9 he and French Premier
LdUdI submitted peace plan 1Uhich
qaUe Ethiopia corridor to sea, italy
more OF Ethiopia than she has
conquered. Ethiopia. League and
British populace protested. To SdUe
cabinet, HoGre had to quit.
(Copyright, 1885. by the Associated Press }
LONDON, December 10 Prime
Minister Baldwin told the House q
Commons today that the Franco-Brit-
ish peace plan for Italy and Ethiopia
was absolutely and completely dead
and the British government would
make no attempt to resurrect it.
His statement followed an appear
ance by Sir Samuel Hoare. who re-
signed as foreign secretary because
of the public protest against the
peace plan.
Sir Samuel told the crowded cham
Der that he did not entirely approve
of the plan himself. but that it seemed
the best aid to Franco-British rela-
tions.
Had No Fear of Italy.
The resigned foreign secretary as
sured his audience that, in any case,
Great Britain had not advocated the
plan from fear of Italy, stating:
1--WE had no fear as a nation what
ever of any Italian threat. If the
Italians attacked us, we would retail
ate and, judging from past history, we
should retaliate with full success"
Baldwin declard he felt himself
chiefly responsible for the plan, ad-
mitted he had made an error. and
pledged the legislators that he would
never get himself in such a position
again.
The prime minister said a lesson to
be drawn from the situation was the
danger of the present practice of
sending ministers to the continent to
reach conclusions without maintain
ing a close contact with London.
IiaisOn Absent.
He said there was no liaiSon be-
tween the London government and
Hoare in Paris on the Sunday the
peace agreement was reached.
L hope" said Baldwin. that other
governments will profit from this les
son of lack of Iaison."
He asserted the cabinet felt it
necessary to stand by Hoare after the
peace plan had been drawn up. Op-
position members cried angrily:
Stand by your country!"
After declaring to the House that
the British did not fear Italy, Hoare
explained:
I'VE had no fear as nation what
ever of any italian threat" said the
man whose peace agreement with Pre-
miere Laval of France has brought the
British government to the face of a
crisis
IF the italians attacked us, he de-
clared, I'VE would retaliate and, judg-
ing from past history, we should re-
taliate with full success.
Dissolution Feared in Attack.
what was in our minds. however,
was that an isolated attack of this
kind, launched on one power without
the full support of the other power,
would almost inevitably lead to a
dissolution of the League.
When the election was ended the
war had been in progress some weeks.
1 had done everything in my power
to mobilize world opinion against it
in the Assembly at Geneva.
Despite our efforts, war had broken
out and every day it continued it
involved the world in greater and
more dangerous problems"
The Prince of Wales was present
TO hear Sir Samuel's statement.
Prime Minister Baldwin had come
before them without any of the ap-
plause which usually greets the ap-
(See LONDON, Page 81