FRENCH DILEMMA

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 7

FRENCH DILEMMA

Choice Between Britain and Italy

WAIT-AND-SEE POLICY

Consequences of Failure to Support Britain

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. (Received August 29, 10.20 p.m.)

London, August 29.

The Paris ..correspondent of “The Times” says that the Government is clearly adopting a wait-and-see policy in the hope that an opportunity of securing peace will occur either before or during the League Council meeting, but whether M. Laval has solved the dilemma awaiting him there is known only to himself. M. Laval has no illusions about the firmness of the British determination to stand by the League, and the consequences of failure to uphold British initiative are not likely to have escaped his notice. All the advantages of what could then only be a gesture would He with Britain and all the onus for betrayal with France, who would be saddled in addition with the long' standing reproach that behind ber much-vaunted attachment to the League lay no more than a desire to use it as a combination against Germany More important still, there is certain to be a revulsion of British public opinion against any failure to support the common ideal, and- it is equally certain that there would be determination to have the fewest possible future dealings in Europe.

Faced as a last resort with an inevitable choice between British and Italian ideas no French Government is likely to hesitate long. M. Laval s present concern is to avoid almost at any cost that choice.