FRANCE’S THREAT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12904, 3 July 1936, Page 3

FRANCE’S THREAT

OUTSPOKEN SPEECH AT LEAGUE DID NOT MOBILISE AFTER RHINELAND. INVASION WOULD SEE DIFFERENT REPLY. PREPARED TO HELP RE*FORM LEAGUE. GJ.P.A. by Eleo. Tol. Copyright*. GENEVA, July 1. At the opening of to-day’s sitting of tho League of Nations Assembly, tho president, M. Paul Van Zeeland, deplored tho profoundly regrettable incidents of yesterday and warned the galleries that if there were any disturbances he would instantly have tho offenders removed. M. J jeon Blum, the French Prime Minister, asked to be excused if he spoke frankly. He said lie fully realised that France’s influence in European affairs had waned since ! e had assumed power. Tho recent strikes and. the occupation of tho Rhineland gave the impression that Fiance was declining, but public opinion was wrong. There was novor the slightest possibility of the strikes leading to civil war. Tho occupation of the Rhineland had been wrongly interpreted to mean that France was tolerating anything. On the contrary, France was not mobilised, as she remained loyal to the Locarno Pact and the League, but if the soils of France, or those to which Franco had obligations, were violated, France’s reply would he cli f fereut. The strikes should not Tie taken as a sign of French weakness i'u the face of possible aggression. The atmosphere had never betuio been so heavy, and it was rendered still more oppressive., on account of the mystery about certain eountricn regarding rearmament. War was considered to be a definite possibility for tho first time in 18 years. The most alarming symptoms had been, the growing impression that countries were ignoring pacts and obligations to gain an advantage over thoso who were faithful to their covenants. “Shall we he able to resist the success of those discarding their obligations?” he asked. “Mv Government denies that war i.s a legitimate method of settling international disputes. France wants peace, but will not remain silent belt)re force, or recognise victories gained by force. “The League certainly has experienced a failure and proved powerless to stop aggression, or then to end a war of aggression, but this was not due to the faulty drafting of the covenant, but to the uncertainty and belated application of it. France will not permit a weakening of the League. On the contrary, she is preparup the covenant, and will not spare ed to consider any scheme to tighten any effort to restore international confidence.” M. Blum concluded with an exhortation for general disarmament by means of a progressive reduction. DELEGATES NOT IMPRESSED The speech by M. Blum was disappointing to many, being regarded as over idealistic and as addressed to Germany in a language she does not. com prebend. M. Blum barely mentioned the Abyssinian problem. Senor Solis, the Panama delegate, wound aip the mo'ning sess'on l>y declaring that international law could not progress more rapidly than civilisation. SOUTH AFRICA WANT'S SANCTIONS MAINTAINED On (.he resmnpl'Oii of tho Assembly Mr S. C. T. To Water, the South African ddegate, said that South Afr'ca could not subscribe to n declare 1 on to the world which would shatter for generations, international confidence and all hope of realising world peace. South Africa, lie said, was prepared to maintain the sanctions, winch course a lone could mainta in the League as an instrument of security for its members. The Canadian High Commissioner,. Mr Vincent Massey, said the Canadan Government’s view was that tho continuance of sanctions would ho ineffective. Economic prcssire would not secure the original objective. Mr Anthony Ed on said the Emperor’« appeal must have evoked the sympathy of everyone. The occasion was painful to all. SOVIET’S VEILED ATTACK ON GERMANY M. .f/tvinov, the Soviet Munster, affirmed that the sanctions article if fully -applied, could stop -any aggressor, but at the outset of the Italian aggression there were attempts to limit its scope. Econonv’o .saneldons, he isn'd, must he obligatory on all in cm be s. and should be accompanied by military -sanctions. At. Litvinov, presumably Alluding to Germany, referred -to “the act'on s and statements of one European State, whose aggressive intentions leave no room for don lit and indeed are proclaimed by that State itself”, as indicating an 'accelerated rate of preparation fo • aggress’on in more than one direction. The Assembly was adjourned.