SOLD BY FRANCE?

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

SOLD BY FRANCE?

BRITAIN FORCED

ACCEPTANCE OF PLAN

COMPROMISE WITH LAVAL

(Received December 11, noon.)

LONDON, December 10.

I The "Sun-Herald" agency is informed that the French have virtually forced Britain to accept the peace plan. Sir Samuel Hoare realised upon his arrival that unless he compromised with M. Laval's plan the French would completely withdraw from sanctions, and therefore he was forced to negotiate the best possible agreement. In other words, the plan which M. Laval produced was virtually the price he paid for the Fascist League's support whereby lie secured a vote of confidence last week. Murmurings in the lobbies last night, such as "The French have sold us and forced us to double-cross the League, and will drive us more to Germany for friendship," represent a large section of feeling in the House I of Commons. j The possibility of Mr. Eden's resignation is being discussed. Mr. Baldwin was placed in an unenviable position. Virtually he had to decide between agreement with M. Laval or Britain carrying the baby, because France's withdrawal from sanctions meant Britain carrying on against Italy practically single-handed, possibly leading to war for the sake of Abyssinia, which the country would never support.

Another aspect is whether the small Powers, shocked by the proposals, will interpret them as smashing the League and lead them to ask why should they run the risk of supporting the League.

Authoritative quarters insist that Sir Samuel Hoare has not committed himself or the Government to the proposals, that Sir Samuel Hoare, having concluded the discussions with M. Laval, forwarded them to Cabinet to take them or leave them, and that consequently Britain so far is not in any wise pledged.

Unhappily, this view does not allay disquiet, because Sir Samuel Hoare, as Foreign Secretary, jointly signed Sunday's communique that complete Anglo-French accord had been reached.

Such of tlio cablo news on this pace as is so headed has appeared In "The Times" and Is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should bo understood that the. opinions are not those of "The Times" unless expressly stated to bo so.