NEXT STEPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 99, 29 April 1938, Page 7

NEXT STEPS.

. - i DIPLOMATIC MOVES. Franco-Italian Accord Most Desired. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. LONDON, April 23. The general assumption that Mr. Chamberlain will now make a new bid for an agreement with Germany is not fully justified, according to the "Daily Telegraph ,, diplomatic correspondent. It is more likely, he thinks, that conversations between France and Italy will come next. There is much speculation in foreign diplomatic circles. the correspondent says, on the Prime Minister's next probable move in international affairs. Because of Mr. Chamberlain's earlier declarations of his belief in a European peace founded on understandings between Britain and France on the one hand, and Italy and Germany on the other, it is freely taken for granted Germany and Britain come next, but it would be unwise to carry this argument too far. It is understood that tlie Prime Minister of France, M. Daladier. and the Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, indicated that they don't wish to discuss a hypothetical Western Pact with (Jermany during the forthcoming London I talks. It is much more probable that the Franco-British talks will concentrate on the prospects of removing another danger spot from the European system, namely, the bad relations between Italy and France and on the possibilities of closer Franco-British defence collaboration. Italy Waits Settlement. The correspondent of "The Times" in Rome states that political circles in Italy confidently await a settlement between Italy and France similar to the Italo-British agreement. Apart from long-standing subjects, such as French recognition of the Abyssinian conquest and the normalisation of French diplomatic representation in Rome, it is assumed that two subjects for discussion will be the effects of the Arab nationalist agitation in French Tunisia and Italian Libya, and the use of the railway between Jibuti and Addis Ababa in the development of Abyssinia. Doubts of Italy. The Paris correspondent of "The Times"' points out that the fact that there is no French Ambassador in Rome and that none can be appointed until after the League discussion on Abyssinia is an obvious difficulty for early Italo-French discussions but is not insurmountable. The extreme Left in France, of course, does not want the (•overnment to take any initiative mi the ground that an Italo-French agreement would only strengthen the Rome-Berlin axis; also, moderate opinion may have some doubts as to the good faith <>| the I Italian (Joveninient. I It seems to be felt, however, that | these doubts should not be allowed to stand in the way of a final attempt to improve Italo-French relations. RUSSIAN ANGER. ITALO-BRITISH AGREEMENT. MOSCOW. April 23. "Pravda." organ of the Russian Communist party, comments with bitter hostility on the Italo-British agreement. "It is an expression of Britain's policy of capitulation," says the paper. '"Britain undertakes the dishonourable I task of getting Italy's seizure of Abys- ] sinia legalised, and openly gives Signor Mussolini her blessing for further war ii gainst the Spanish people. "Signor Mussolini by this agreement hopes to obtain a loan of £.10.000.(100, I Britain's object is to establish a 'Concert I of Powers' as a substitute for collective I I security and the League. The anti-j i Soviet character of the contemplated concert is beyond doubt.' , "Pravda" adds that the latest moves will not smash the Berlin-Rome axis. ' and that '"the appetite of the Fascist aggressors for British colonial territories will not be glutted by throwing them small States." 1 !