EUROPEAN PEACE PACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1934, Page 5

EUROPEAN PEACE PACT

FRANCO-ITALIAN SETTLEMENT FRONTIERS GUARANTEED [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, December 29. It is expected that the French Foreign Minister, M. Laval, will go to Rome on January 12, in connection with the signing of a Franco-Italian 1 pact. Britain is so interested that Sir J. Simon, who is on holiday at Cannes, may cross the frontier to confer with Signor Mussolini. The “Daily Express’s” Paris correspondent says: M. Laval’s final proposals for a Franco-Italian agreement have been telegraphed to Rome. They suggest that a protocol, guaranteeing Austria’s independence, be signed by Italy, Jugo-Slavia, Czechoslovakia, Germany and Hungary as her geographical neighbours, and also bv France and Roumania. Secondly, they suggest that the signatories who are geographical neighbours shall mutually guarantee their frontiers, and thirdly, that, if Germany and Hungary prefer to reserve their attitude, the signatures of Italy, Jugo-Slavia, and Czecho-Slovakia be secured, and the Protocol left open to the others. It is stated that Czecho-Slovakia and Roumania have already endorsed the proposals, and that a favourable reply is expected from Jugo-Slavia. Doubtful points are whether Hungary will surrender or suspend her revisionist policy, and whether Italy will accept the stabilisation of the- existing frontiers.

AGREEMENT REACHED. (Recd. December 3L 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 30. “The Observer’s” Diplomatic Correspondent in an important exclusive article states: Although the news cannot be given full official authority; it became known last night that an agreement was reached at Rome between Mussolini and the French Ambassador, which constituted by far the most important achievement in European diplomacy for two years. It is likely to make a profound difference of the prospect of settled peace in Europe. It is understood that the actual agreement was not signed last night, because some points of Colonial interest are not settled, but the major issue safeguarding Austria’s independence means an international, guarantee will be resolved from the categoric written agreement, whereof the text will be issued in a few days.