ITALY AND FRANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1938, Page 7

ITALY AND FRANCE

RELATIONS MORE STRAINED EFFORTS TO DETACH BRITAIN [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Reed. May 20, 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 19The Associated Press’s diplomatic correspondent says: The anxiety about the course of lialo-French relations is based on the conviction that the Duce is attempting to drive a wedge between Britain and France, whereunder Britain cannot be passive. It is considered that if Britain joins the French against the Dictators, rendering the Anglo-Italian Agreement not worth the paper whereon it is written, Mr Chamberlain will have to face an outcry to the effect that Mr Eden was right, which might be a fatal blow to the Government.

France’s dilemma is equally serious. Her Government is not strong, and cannot close the frontier because of pressure from the “Left,” while pressure from the “Right” prevents increased intervention. Moreover, if the Government attempts to close the frontier, it will be followed by street disturbances and stay-in strikes. Meanwhile, a'rms\and aeroplanes are now reaching Franco in such a way that it is impossible for the NonIntervention officials to check them. Signor Mussolini’s irritation isi ascribed to four causes: (1) The Italian public’s lack of enthusiasm for Hitler’s visit to Rome; (2) he feels that in spite of the British-Italian agreement sections of the British press are still antagonistic to Italy; (3) the Spanish Government has not yet fallen; (4) the speech of the American Secretary for War (Mr 11. H. Wooding) against dictators. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says that Signor Mussolini’s. Genoa speech was one of the most menacing yet delivered and threatens the Western Powers with disaster. Not only was. it an attempt to drive a. wedge between Britain and France, but a demonstration of renewed German and Italian solidarity and of their firm resolve to secure a rebel victory and establish themselves permanently in Spain.

The speech imperils the BritishItalian agreement, the correspondent says, which is meaningless unless the Italians withdraw from Spain. Certain British quarters attempt to excuse 11 Duco’s action, saying that he must be certain of a victory for General Franco before he can dissolve the BerlinRome axis. This is entirely disingenuous, but there is reason to fear that he will make use of this attitude not only to justify his Genoa speech but to cover intensified Italian and German intervention in Spain, which may even become, quite open.

FRENCH DENTALS. ./vjL/V'PARIS. May 19The Foreign Office dd’nies the allegation that Russian and Czech war material is now going to Spain by way of France. ’ The Foreign 'Office also denies that the French.Geherh.l Staff have assisted the Republicans to prepare their defences, and that Signor Mussolini had demanded France should recognise there is a Nationalist victory in Spain. The French Press unanimously underlines the threat to the AngloItalian Agreement, in the hitch in the Franco-Italian negotiations. “Le Petit Journal” says if Germany and Italy will not recognise the chief aim of non-intervening by Britain and France is to let the Spaniards settle their own problem, then the AngloItalian Agreement will be a dead letter. “Populaire” says: “Having obtained satisfaction in London and Geneva over Abyssinia. Mussolini wants to win the second round in Spain, and play on a Franco-British disagreement.

PREMIER’S ANNOUNCEMENT. (Recd. May 20, 10 a.m.) PARIS, May 19. Premier Daladier issued a statement to the Press that the Government will punish the dissemination of false rumours. He gave as an instance, the recent announcement that a, certain foreign country (believed to be Germany) was mobilising, and another (Italy) had issued an ultimatum to France. These rumours are not always disinterested. He said that the Franco-British Entente threatens nobody. On the contrary, it serves European peace. Under whatever circumstances, France is capable of assuring the inviolability of her frontiers).

RUSSIA’S INTIMATION. (Reed. May 20, 10 a.m.) PARIS, May 19. “Epoque” states that the Soviet Ambassador has issued a demarche, threatening that if France abandoned the Spanish Republicans, Russia would' seek a rapprochement with Germany. PERTH—CIANQ TALKS. RUGBY, May 19.. It is understood that Lord Perth and Count Ciano reviewed the state of An-glo-Italian relations, in a conversation at Rome, in the light of what passed at Geneva, during the recent meetings of the League Council. Lord Perth also expressed the desire of the British Government to see satisfactory progress in the conversations which were begun some time ago between the Italian and French Governments. '

NON-INTERVENTION..; ..C RUGBY. May 19. Lord Plymouth, Chairman of the Non-Intervention Committee, has made such progress wit^jtiiez•consultations in connection witlWthe withdrawal of volunteers froih Spain, and the restoration of control, that, he hopes to be in a position to call a meeting of the Chairman’s sub-committee before the end of next week.

MR JORDAN CONGRATULATED. (Received May 20, 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. Cablegrams, telegrams, telephone calls, and letters, one of the latter from Haile Selassie, are pouring in on Mr Jordan, after his', return yesterday

[from Geneva, congratulating New 6”. Zealand on its stand for Abyssinia/* (Dozens of letters) arrived from all parts of the United Kingdom, chiefly -w from non-poiitical organisations. X'A feature in the number from conservative clergymen, one of whom i ffi/ites- “T am on,e ?.of many English : Conservatives who afe bitterly a sham- / ■ e<l of the action, of Britain, at Geneva. ' r would like to tell you how grateful / !i and many others 1 feel at New Zealand’s stand! for non-recognition of the i conquest of Abyssinia. It is extremely < •comforting to know that at least one member of the British Commonwealth. / i stands for principle before exped-, (iency, and! is not afraid to support i feeble nations’ rights.” : X i The Australian Associated Press understands that Mr Jordan isi likely to be appointed president of the League Council at the meeting in Sep-/ tern her.

ITALIAN PLEDGES KEPT. T (Received May 20, 2 p.m.) / LONDON, May 19. - Initiating the debate on foreign affairs, in the Commons, Mr. Wedgwood/ Benn, alluring to Abyssinia, said; found ourselves in shorp sharp conflict with one of the Dominions. New / Zealand was forced on a question of/ principle to challenge the Mother ■•» country. Let the British Government.;, remember that the League is the basis / of the British Commonwealth. There - in no other document which binds all the Dominions, save only the Coven-/ ant.”

Mr. E. L. Fleming said the Empire ; was bound together long before the -■ League came into existence. Sir J. Simon, in reply, said the ’ central fact explainnig the Govern-/ ment’s course was the extreme Anglo- „ Italian tension in the middle of last ■ year, constituting a situation full of < gravity and menace. Mr. Chamber- * lain’s crime was that he did his best * to cure the situation.

There was considerable interruption when Sir J.' Simon declared the Op- « position was almost alone in Euorpe in denouncing the agreement. He added that the pledges and as- v surances given by the Italians in the ' course of negotiations had been fully ” implemented. There had been ho material alteration in the situation in Spain, according to Government information,- due to Italian reinforce-. ments.

Sir J. Simon added that the Government claimed that it acted in accordance with the rules of collective action, regarding Abyssinia. Twenty States had recognised Italian sovereignty before Lord Halifax went to Geneva. “We consequently had the right, according to League duties, to decide whether to recognise or otherwise. It is incorrect to’say we have clone so. On the contrary, we had raid a settlement in Spain was an essential part of the general settlement in Europe, and must accompany the recognition of the Italian conquest. It had never been any part of the bargain, or-' in our contemplation, that Italian action should be unilateral, in resnect to Spain, regardless of v.-’m' ethers might dO'.

j. The Government motion for adjournment was carried by-180 to 95.

DISCUSSION IN LORDS. LONDON. May 19. The debate on foreign affairs was l-c-'rn in the House of Lords by the O’ c."sition Leader, Lord .Snell, who mi; cd: “That in the opinion of the House the foreign policy of the Government, which includes acceptance of the sacrifice of Abyssinian independence and is detrimental to the democratic Government of Spain, offersno certainty of any compensating gain to the principles of-peace and democracy.” Later Lord Brocket .moved an amendment approving the Government’s foreign policy, including the British-Italian agreement and nonintervention in Spain. A suggestion jthat Signor Mussolini might be induced to. offer Haile Selassie a limited area of Abyssinia in which .the Emperor would, be granted internal , autonomy under thesuzerainty of Italy, was, strongly pressed! by the Archbishop of Canterbury. A condition of the offer would be that Haile Selassie would forego the title of Emperor and undertake to do his utmost to restrain, the Abyssinian chiefs from fighting. The Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) said he fully understood the feeling aroused by anything resembling' recognition of. the Italian conquest, but it-was necessary to reconcile sentiment with wliat' was practically possible. “When the choice is between peace and war I feel that duty impels me in the direction of peace,” he said.' “His Majesty’s Government has never condoned the Italian action and never will." The. House rejected Lord Snell, s motion and! accepted Lord Brocket s amendment.