NO DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 291, 21 September 1935, Page 5

NO DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS.

FRANCE AND BRITAIN.

DEFENCE OF THE COVENANT.

(Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, September 20.

The Associated 1 Press special correspondent at Geneva says British circles do not confirm the rumours from that Signor Mussolini is tentatively prepared to accept the Conciliation Committee’s proposals as the basis of negotiation. The movements of the chief actors do not indicate a prompt reply, inasmuch as M. Laval and M. Herriot are going to Paris lor the week-end, though Mr Eden and all other members of the committee will remain at Geneva. , M. Legen will deputise for M. Laval if it is necessary to summon the committee. . . M. Laval saw Baron Aloisi tins morning before meeting Mr Eden, u ith whom he had a satisfactory houris conversation. There now seems no doubt that however grave a situation develops there will lie no divergence of fundamental French ’ aiid British views in regards to the defence of the Covenant. It is officially denied that Italy has protested to Britain against the movements of the Fleet in the Mediterranean. The Assembly cannot conclude its business in any event before Saturday, September 28. The day passed without news of Signor Mussolini’s decision. There has been a deluge of speculation, including a French story, that he may defer his decision for two or three weeks and use the plan as the basis of negotiation with a view to betterment. The French press says that Italy has been greatly impressed by the British naval movements. .

ANXIOUS TO GET HOME.

AUSTRALIANS IN ENGLAND. (Received This Day, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. A correspondent of the “Sun-Herald Service says that as the outcome of anxiety regarding the Italo-Abyssinian situation many Australian visitors to the United Kingdom and Europe are clamouring for berths to Australia as early as possible. Travel agents say they have been inundated with applications and have been offered special inducements for accommodation befoio the outbreak of war.” One agency estimates that the business to Australia is 20 per cent, above normal. Even the freighters that accept a few passengers have been booked many weeks ahead. Clearly the French are endeavouring to i cheat from sanctions, which practically the whole of the Press, from the influential “Lc Temps” and the “Journal des Debats” downward oppose to-day. French withdrawal jfrom sanctions would leave Britain in an unenviable quandary and the position might be so manoeuvred that she would be compelled to adopt a lone-handed course in defending the Mediterranean, and especially Egypt, contrary to the Government poiicy of adhering to only collective security. Whitehall again insists that Britain has no quarrel with Italy and that tlio concentration of warships, troops and aeroplanes in the Mediterranean is solely in conformity with her obligations to the League, proving that Bntain’s words at Geneva are not empty ones. ■