BEHIND BRITAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 65, 28 December 1935, Page 5

BEHIND BRITAIN

EVENT OF UNPROVOKED ATTACK INDIVIDUAL REAFFIRMATION. SOUTH EASTERN EUROPEANS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 27. Mr R. A. Eden, who is in the country, is not expected back at the Foreign Office, with which he remains in continuous touch, before next week. It is not anticipated in London that any important developments in connection with the international situation will occur within the next week or two. It is understood that the governments of Jugoslavia, Greece and Turkey have replied to inquiries addressed to them regarding their willingness to implement their obligations under Article XVI of the Covenant in the event of unprovoked attack on Britain as one of the Covenant-enforcing states. Inquiries of a similar nature were made in Paris some time ago and the French Government sent a Note affirming its intention to stand by the League obligations. What is in question is individual reaffirmation of the resolution adopted by 50 nations represented on the League’s Co-ordination Committee last October, when they declared their loyalty to these provisions of the Covenant.

THREE COUNTRIES AGREE. JUGOSLAVIANS, TURKS AND GREEKS. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m ) LONDON, December 27. France, Jugoslavia, Turkey, and Greece have informed Britain that they would support her in the event of an attack by Italy, thus reaffirming thenobligations of mutual support in accordance with the League Covenant. THE ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. MEDITERRANEAN PROBLEM. PARIS, December 26 ; To-morrow’s interpellation of M. Laval’s foreign policy is expected to result in the survival of the Govern* ment, though by probably less than the reduced majority of 52, which it received 10 days ago before the resignation of Sir Samuel Hoare. There s.eems little doubt that the Premier has lost the confidence of the Chamber, but Parliamentarians want the Budget passed before the end of the year without the disturbance of a Cabinet crisis. Some, too, are anxious to see what Mr Eden’s foreign policy is likely to be before making a change. To day, M. Laval presented the Cabinet with an outline of the defence he will give for his Italo-Ethiopian policy, one of the features of which, it is understood, is that France will retrain from any military or naval move against Italy unless Italy gave provocation by attacking the British Fleet. Although deputies are expected sharply to question the Government to-morrow, the debate may not end in a test vote. After giving an explanation of the abortive Laval-Hoare peace plan, the Premier may .be able to avoid & vote, and that course is desired by many who are anxious to keep the Government in office until the new session begins in January.