FRANCE AWAITING ITALIAN DEMANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 11

FRANCE AWAITING ITALIAN DEMANDS.

DALADIER SPEAKS. Claim Of New Rights From Conquest Rejected. NOTE TO BE PUBLISHED. United Prees Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) PARIS, March 29. "France awaits Italian proposals," was M. Daladier's broadcast reply to Signor Mussolini. M. Daladier recalled a Xote from Count Ciano on December 17 last, stating that it was not considered that the 1935 agreement was valid, and a speech by Signor Mussolini on March 20 declar- | iug that the Xote of December 17 set ' out clearly the Italian problems in , Tunisia, Jibouti and the Suez. j "I affirm that the Xote of December 17 [did not contain any precise points. Its I essential argument was that the con- ! quest of Ethiopia and the formation of j the Italian Empire created new rights in favour of Italy. I need not say we cannot accept this argument. It would mean that each new conquest would I create new claims without limit." I M. Daladier announced his intention i of publishing a Xote to-morrow, together ' with the French reply given several days j after the receipt of the Italian Xote. He declared that France remained faithful to her engagements. "France does not refuse to examine proposals which may be made to her," he added, reiterating that Italy's claims remain unspecified. M. Daladier said that no one could argue that they had been presented by newspapers, articles or street cries. Nation Will Defend Liberty. M. Daladier said that France wanted peace, but if war was imposed, or became an alternative between freedom and dishonour, the whole nation would arise to defend its liberty. He had sought full powers, because it was necessary to take rapidly and silently exceptional measures for the defence of the country.

France listened calmly to noisy claims because she knew negotiations could only reveal that she was right. France's position had beeiv made clear. "We will not cede an inch of territory, nor a single one of our rights." The Prime Minister described charges of ill-treatment of Italians in Tunisia as inventions, and referred to the> 900.000 Italians living in France, who had not complained of its hostility. Referring to the Munich agreement, he said France had not ceased to give evidence of goodwill towards Germany, but consequent events in Czechoslovakia dealt the severest blow to her persistent efforts. None could deny that war would be a catastrophe to all nations. "In the name of France I invite collaboration of all Powers who. like ourselves, are ready to collaborate for the maintenance of peace, but who would rise against aggression with one bound. "I know these words will find a brotherly echo in the hearts of friendly nations in Europe and across the Channel, even across the Atlantic," he added.

NO LEAGUE COUNCIL. Britain Not Favourable To Calling Meeting. DIPLOMATIC CONSULTATIONS. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY. March 29. Britain does not favour calling a meeting of the League Council to consider the international situation. She prefers at the present time to conduct consultations upon the issues arising from recent events throutrli ordinary diplomatic channels as to whether there is to be a conference of certain States for discussion of the possibilities of common action as proposed by the Soviet. These points emerged s*i answers in the House of Commons by Mr. R. A. Butler. Foreign Under-Secretary. Mr. Chamberlain was asked by Mr. R. J. Boothby (Con.. Aberdeen) to give favourable consideration to the proposal for summoning immediately a conference of Powers whose interests lie in the preservation of the peace of Eastern Europe, and for an assurance that the object of the diplomatic negotiations the Government is now conducting was not merely a joint declaration on the part of Powers interested in the maintenance of peace, but the conclusion of a definite pact of mutual defence against aggression. The Prime Minister confined himself, however, to referring the House to the statement he made yesterday. He added that the Government is in touch with the Soviet. At another stage Mr. Chamberlain repeated the assurance already given that as soon as he had anything to report on negotiations with other Governments he would give it to the House of Commons. The Government was fully aware of the urgency of the times, and as the many matters under consideration were of a very complicated nature, some time would be spent in making decisions aiu l acting upon them. ITALIAN NOTE. NO PRECISE DEMANDS. (Received 11 a.m.) PARIS, March 29. The Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously decided that the Italian Note of December 17 last did not formulate precise demaodsT