Evening star., 1939-03-27
Britain Rejects
Econon1icAction
ToHa|tGermany
Disregords Hints
Of fCo-operotion
By America
ey the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. March 27.-The Brit
ish government today rejected sug-
gestions of an economic boycott
against Germany or attempts to
apply League of Nations penalties
with American cooperation" to
halt German territorial expansion.
Richard Austen Butler, parlia-
mentary under-secretary for for
eign affairs. told the House of Com
mons that Britain was not consider
ing the possibility of boycott.
He also said that Foreign Secre-
tary Viscount Halifax was unable
to consider steps which Laborite
Morgan Price suggested should be
taken with American cooperation
to apply economic sanctions against
future disturbers of peace in
Europe"
Cites U. S. Note to League.
Mr.. Price made the suggestion "in
view of the friendly reply received
from the American Government in
dicating willingness to cooperate
In the economic activities of the
League" His reference was to a
United States note to the League
February % promising greater COL
laboration with the Leagues techni-
cal and non-political activities.
Mr.. Butler indicated that the
United States collaboration in non
political work seemed to exclude
economic penalties.
Replying to further questions, Mr..
Butler said Britain had expressed
to the Lithuanian government her
sympathy in the situation in which
the Lithuanian government has been
placed by the return of Memel to
Germany.
Denies Rumania Lost Freedom.
Prime Minister Chamberlain,
meanwhile. told the House that
Rumania has not signed away her
economic independence in her new
trade treaty with Germany. He
declared that Rumania still was
anxious that plans for sending of
a British trade commission to
Bucharest should be carried out,
and added, That, of course, is our
Intention
He sidestepped a question by
Conservative Vyvyan Adams on
whether it was the long range
objective of his majesty's govern
ment to restore independence to
that part of Czecho- -Slovakia which
survived the Munich agreement"
Mr.. Chamberlain pointed out that
he already had branded German
absorption of Czecho-Slovakia as
devoid of any legality" and added,
II am not prepared to add to this
statement"
Answering a question by Mr..
Adams on Rumania's status under
the trade treaty with Germany, Mr..
Chamberlain said that I'VE must
await developments" before coming
to conclusion.
THE Rumanian government has
informed the British government
that the agreement contains no po-
litical clause and Rumania has not
olSllCu away llCl CCOllOIIllC ulQe-
pendence," the Prime Minister said,
adding that the Bucharest govern
ment had informed Britain that the
accord "is directed against no third
party"
Trade Talks Began February %.
Rumania, Mr. Chamberlain said,
Informed Britain that trade negoti-
ations with Germany began Febru-
ary % land proceeded along normal
lines until an agreement was signed"
The Prime Minister did not ex-
plain the apparent discrepancy be-
tween this statement and informa-
ton the British government was
reported to have received March II
that Germany had addressed
virtual economic ultimatum to King
Carols country.
Mr.. Chamberlain faced an in
creasingly impatient House of Com
mons with new grounds for dis
illusionment in his hope of a gen.
eral European settlement and with
out having united the big and little
European powers who fear Adolf
Hitler.