SUPPORT ASKED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 124, 7 March 1936, Page 5

SUPPORT ASKED

FRENCH MISTRUST OF LEAGUE. IN EVENT OF ITALIAN ACTION. VITAL ISSUES RAISED. United Press Association- -Copyright) LONDON, March 6. Cabinet considered yesterday the French Government’s request for assurance of immediate British support in the event of German aggression even if Italy should repudiate the Locarno treaty; but according to the “News Chronicle” no final decisions were made. . The political correspondent ot Ihe Times” says that Mr Eden’s report to Cabinet confirmed the report that Signor Mussolini had indicated that the oil embargo would be met by withdrawal from the League and repudiation of Locarno and the Franco-Italian military agreement. The correspondent adds: “France has asked for compensatory assurances to balance the retaliatory actions which Italy has threatened to take if an oil embargo should become necessary. France lias also warned Signor Mussolini that she will be forced to support an oil embargo if he rejects the League’s appeal. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says the British reply to the French request is regarded as no less vital than the Italian response to the Committee of Thirteen. France contends that" as the Locarno Treaty can only he annulled by the League, Italy’s defection could not weaken British obligations. Moreover, France is convinced that ir Britain were to construe Italian repudiation of Locarno as in any way modifying her own obligations, Germany would instantly claim that she is no longer bound by the provisions of the treaty, especially that relating to the demilitarised Rhineland zone. What is undoubtedly exercising French opinion is the rapidity with which British support would be given against flagrant German aggression. The development of the Abyssinian dispute is held to prove the League’s inability to act quickly enough to produce adequate support in the first few critical days of a war.

The Geneva correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that M. Motta ),Swiss Foreign Minister) considers the present situation at Geneva alarming. He said that Switzerland regarded with intense anxiety the prospect of being bounded to the north and south by powerful non-league States, and added that if both Italy and Germany renounced collective security as represented by Geneva, Switzerland could scarcely continue to support the League with safety.

FRIENDSHIP FOR FRANCE. UTMOST TO PRESERVE IT. DECLARATION BY MUSSOLINI. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) PARIS, March 6. Siguor Mussolini,' interviewed by a representative of tho newspaper “Excelsior,” declared: “The storm cloud at Geneva is most grave. I hope the crisis will not destroy Franco-ItaffSln friendship, which is necessary for world peace. I will do my utmost to prevent this.”

MUSSOLINI’S SILENCE. NEWSPAPER URGES PEACE. BATTLEFIELD A DOUBTFUL ISSUE ROME, March 5. Signor Mussolini awaits the Cabinet meeting on Saturday before expressing his views regarding the peace proposals. The newspaper “Osservatore Romano” appeals to European statesmen for an immediate, just Italo-Abyssm-ian peace, and asks the Governments to secure a lasting solution because, as the world war demonstrated the best peace is not always obtainable from the battlefield. NO OPTIMISM IN PARIS. SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S ATTITUDE. REPORT CONDITION expressed. PARTS, March 5. Official circles are pleased with the Emperor’s reply, but there j s n°t optl- - regarding the attitude of Si:gnoi Mussolini, to whom the liench Am bassador made direct appeal on behalf of M. Flandin (Foreign Mimstei) pom > intr out that if Italy rejected the appeal it would be impossible to make-a similar demarche without compromising France’s political position. The Rome correspondent of the “Paris Midi” states that Signor Mussolini will agree to open negotiations provided lie obtains a military guarantee that the Abyssiniaiis will be unable to rearm and reorganise after their recent defeats. This will probably mean continuance of the military operations, as Italy is unwilling to risk losing the fruits of victory if the parleys fail.