LEAKAGE IN PARIS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 11

LEAKAGE IN PARIS

A PARTIAL VERSION

SITUATION MADE DIFFICULT

BRITISH RETICENCE

(British Official Wireless.) (Received December 11, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, December 10. The formulas drafted at the weekend conversations in Paris between the French Premier, M. Laval, and the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, were examined at last night's meeting of Cabinet, to which they had been referred. The Cabinet meeting lasted for about 70 minutes. It is understood that consultations between the Ministers are continuing as various matters are still under consideration. The text of the proposed formulas is not disclosed, and meanwhile summaries professing to give their substance which have appeared in the Paris Press should be treated with reserve. British policy in regard to this matter remains unchanged. The Ministers will continue to exert their influence in favour of peace acceptable to the three parties in the dispute, namely, Italy, Ethiopia, and the League of Nations.

OFFICIAL RESERVE,

Complete reserve regarding the draft of the Paris formulas has been maintained in London official quarters, in accordance with the undertaking given during the Laval-Hoare conversations/Consequently the British Press has concentrated attention, on an unofficial and partial version of the draft terms published in Paris newspapers. British Press comment is in nearly all cases highly critical of these versions. According to "The Times," these French Press reports have also created an unfavourable impression among a large number of members of the House of Commons.

The Leader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, asked the Prime Minister at question time in the House of Commons whether before any further action was taken the House would be informed of the nature of the proposals for settlement of the dispute. Mr. Baldwin replied: "The House is aware that the Committee on Coordination at Geneva has approved the negotiations by the French and United Kingdom Governments in attempting to find a basis for a settlement of the dispute. Such a basis would, of course, have to be submitted for the views of the parties concerned. The Foreigu Secretary^ in passing through Paris, had conversations on this subject on Saturday and Sunday with M. Laval. Certain proposals both as to substance and procedure were discussed between them. No suggested basis at present has been submitted to either Italy or Abyssinia, and it would clearly be premature to make a statement on the subject at present."

KEPORTS AT VARIANCE.

Pressed to say whether the reports which had appeared in the newspapers were substantially correct, the Premier said: "I have not examined the Press reports. A leakage in Paris has made very difficult a delicate situation. lam told by those who have studied both the original proposals and the Press reports that there are considerable differences in matters of substance."

Mr. Baldwin was then urged, in view of the leakage, to make known the real proposals, and replied that any discussion in the House before the question could be considered by the interested parties would do no good and might do a great deal of harm.

I have spent the whole of this morning in consultation regarding the messages which have been coming through on this matter, he said, and I am not at all sure that finality has yet been reached.

He added that a statement would be made to the House as soon as the whole of the relevant paners could be laid.

Both Major Attlee and the Liberal Leader (Sir Archibald Sinclair), as well as other members, continued to ask supplementary questions,, in the course of his replies to which the Prime Minister emphasised that the proposals were merely a basis for discussion, and that it was a necessary condition, as the Government had always said that it could be approved by the three parties—the League, and the two nations concerned.