FRENCH OUTLOOK STILL DUBIOUS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 18 September 1935, Page 13

FRENCH OUTLOOK STILL DUBIOUS

British Assurance Awaited HITLER'S SPEECH BRINGS RELIEF ( t JNITEI) PKBSS ASSOCIATION—COPTETGUT. 1 (Received September 18, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 17. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says Herr Hitler's Reichstag speech, in which Memel was the only foreign reference, has been received with relief, as it was feared that he would attempt to profit by the European unrest. His cautious response to Italian advances and his restraint in the Reichstag have raised the hope that he may realise that the best fishing is not always in troubled waters.

The French point out that they are still awaiting Britain's reply to their Ambassador's enquiry whether Britain would be as firm in support of the league as she is now in any future case of aggression in Europe, particularly if Austria was attacked. An assurance on this point would strengthen those who believe that loyalty to the league is the only alternative to jungle rule. Meanwhile the opinion is expressed that Italian withdrawals of troops from the French frontier are worth 200,000 men to France against Germany. This, however, is not believed sufficiently decisive to make M. Laval abandon his pledge to the league. France, because of her fear of Germany, still has to decide whether she can gain the most security by adhering to collective security, or by limited understandings bought by privileged aggression.

ITALY GETS IRAQ OIL

CONTROLLING INTEREST IN TWO COMPANIES MR P. W. RICKETT HELPS (Received September 18, 2.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 17. Italian interests have acquired sufficient shares to control Mosul Oilfields Limited, and its associated concern, the British Oil Development Company, which holds a concession over 45,000 square miles from the Iraq Government. Mr F. W. Rickett was . closely associated with the obtaining of the concession. LThough, it is short of many im<.portant raw materials, oil has for years been Italy's weakest point. She has no supplies of her own and for some time bought largely from the Soviet.]

LLOYD'S TO CANCEL WAR RISKS

NOTICE TO SHIPPING COMPANIES ORIENT LINE CONTEMPLATES CHANGE OF ROUTE LONDON, September 16. The Sun-Herald news service says tlfat the various shipping companies with ships sailing to Australia and the East via Suez continue to book passengers and freight as usual, though there was a significant development to-day when Lloyd's underwriters cancelled the war risk clause with 10 days' notice, after which there will be separate war contracts between the underwriters and the merchants at a slightly increased rate. The Orient Line, in the event of difficulties in the Mediterranean, will omit Naples, avoid the Straits of Messina, and, steering south of Sardinia, will go direct from Toulon to Port Said. No change is so far contemplated, but it will become operable at a moment's notice. The importance of Lloyd's giving the merchants notice of the cancellation of war risks for the first time since the World War should not be exaggerated, but nevertheless it deepens the impression of the seriousness of the position.

DEFENCE OF MALTA AEROPLANES ARRIVE (Received September 17, 7.5 p.m.) GIBRALTAR, September 16. Hawker Demon two-seater aeroplanes are being unloaded at Valetta and anti-aircraft batteries installed at Malta and Valetta. BRITISH PRECAUTION AT GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR, September 16. An official message says that an obstruction has been placed across the southern entrance of the Admiralty harbour, passage through which is prohibited. BRITISH ASSURANCES TO EGYPT CAIRO, September 16. Official confirmation has now been given to the statement in the newspaper "Algehad," that in conversations with the Premier the ActingHigh Commissioner for Bri*« n has given an undertaking that -in the event of war Britain will not interfere with any Egyptian rights and will not takfe any special measures in Egypt without the Egyptian Government's agreement.

SATISFACTORY STATEMENT BY LITHUANIA

REFERENCE AT GENEVA TO HITLER'S SPEECH (BRITISH OmCIAX. WIEELESS.) (Received September 17, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 16. The Lithuanian Government has now replied to the joint representations made in Kovno at the end of last week by France, Britain, and Italy regarding the forthcoming elections in Memel. In London, the reply is regarded as generally satisfactory. It is understood that the Lithuanian Government issued a public declaration on the subject in the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva to-day. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister (M. Lozoraitis) referred to the. Memel question, and the recent speech of Herr Hitler. The Lithuanian Government was not asking the league to take up the question, he said, but he was convinced that a certain declaration which had been made elsewhere was of such a nature as to disturb the good atmosphere that should prevail between the nations. Lithuania would continue in her devotion to the league which, he added, was not only an organisation for the settlement of disputes, but one that could a'so prevent them. I

THE ELECTIONS IN MEMEL