RESTS WITH FRANCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 23 April 1936, Page 5

RESTS WITH FRANCE

Chance of Peace in Western Europe MOMENTOUS ELECTION (By Telegraph—Press Assa., Copyright.) (Received 23, 1.25 p.m. LONDON, April 23. “The Times," in a leader, expresses the hope that the French elections will be before the next meeting of the League Council and will give a clear mandate on the cardinal issue, on which Britain will welcome enlightenment, whatever its tenor.

It adds: “British opinion has been dismayed by the discovery that French adherence to the structure of .the law is capable of devastating qualifications. The final word is with the French voter. No country can doubt the strength of Britain’s response to an unexcused act of aggression. Britain, in failing fully io participate in common action to defend the public law, would forfeit her self-respect and face humiliation and ignominy. A better peace system will remain the guiding principle of British opinion and national policy. “The French and German peace plans both demand elucidation. Neither alone contains the whole terms of settlement. Public opinion vigorously desires the earliest and most energetic moves to exploit the largest opportunity of resettlement in Europe since the inconclusive treaties of 1919 failed to appease France and Germany." REFORM OF THE LEAGUE “No Nation Will Trust It As It Is” LONDON, April 22. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent says that a significant article in the “Frankfurther Zeitung”, evidently inspired by the German Foreign Office, declares that reform of the League is inevitable now that it has failed to bring about Italo-Abys-sinian conciliation. “Otherwise, it must cease to exist as au important factor in world policy. Either it must be concluded that the League has no longer any purpose—at least as far as important policies are concerned —or it must finally be recognised that the League must be fundamentally overhauled and reformed. “No nation will further trust the League as it is. New confidence can only be expected when nations see they no longer are faced by the old Versailles Treaty. “Not only must all discrimination be dropped, but also the whole system of sanctions and its gross misuse.”