FRANCE STANDS BY COVENANT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 September 1935, Page 7

FRANCE STANDS BY COVENANT.

Warm Support For British Attitude.

Important Declaration by M. Laval.

Received Saturday, 1.45 a.m. GENEVA, Sept. 13

In a tense atmosphere at the League Council meeting, M. Laval, in a, ten-minute speech, revealed France’s view o± the

crisis. ‘ ‘ Everybody has to take responsibility for the present grave situation, and Idoso on behalf of h ranee, he said. V e declare our faith in the Covenant. We cannot fail m outobligations, and we have confidence that the people will realise their hope of peace. There have been moments of deception, but we shall carry on. , “The doctrine of collective security has been Frances doctrine and it will remain so. How can we let it die? All reason and justice would be ag’ainst it. “All agreements we have with our allies and friends— Locarno, the Rome accord, the Franco-Soviet agreement and the treaties with the Little Entente —are based on Geneva and any damage to Geneva will damage our security. “Sir Samuel Hoare showed the British determination to stand by the League, and no Power regarded these words more warmly than Prance and none better knows their value. We rejoice at the close collaboration with British defence of peace and safeguarding Europe. “I belong to a country which hates war, despite its high military qualities. France is animated by a firm will for peace for all by collaboration. “We signed an agreement in Rome with Signor Mussolini that definitely set aside all that might divide us. AVe are now faced with the present dispute again. At Strcsa, with Britain, we met Italy in the same desire to serve the cause of peace, and we are ready to persevere with that collaboration in an atmosphere of solidarity for realisation not only of international but also European peace. “lam determined in the supreme effort the Council is now making to find a solution to fulfil my duty as a member of the League, As a friend of Italy, everything will be done to satisfy the legitimate requirements of Italy which can be done having regard to the rights of League members “No disaccord exists between Britain and France in the search for a peaceful settlement. We succeeded in the Saar and also in the Yugoslav-Hungarian dispute and will try to achieve the same success now. Our obligations are in the Covenant, and France will not withdraw from them, but will make the League’s moral authority stronger.” M. Laval loft the rostrum amid applause, Sir Samuel Hoare warmly shaking hands. , Sir Samuel Hoare embarked on an aeroplane at 11.30 a.m., homeward bound.

Extremely Grave View Held By Britain M. LAVAL, HOWEVER, THINKS SITUATION NOT HOPELESS Received .Friday, 11.40 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 13. The Times’ Geneva correspondent says that the British view of the situation remains extremely grave. There is little hope that any form of conciliation will be successful. However, against this must be stated, the persistent belief that some form of settlement, going far beyond the Paris proposals, but acceptable to the Emperor, is in the air. There is a general feeling that, even if Italy relinquished all her claims, some form of collective League intervention would be necessary for the reorganisation and development of Abyssinia The Times’ Romo correspondent says that some of the newspapers describe Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech as a monument of hypocrisy and theoretical false blackmailing. One writer says: “We are not going to Abyssinia solely tor raw materials and markets; it is for us a revolutionary goal.” The Daily Telegraph’s Geneva correspondent says that M. Laval, after an interview with Baron Aloisi, indicated that the situation was not hopeless and a last attempt was being made to persuade Mussolini.

“ Destroy Mussolini ”

“IRRESPONSIBLE FANATIC”

LONDON, Sept. 12

The Daily Mail’.* Geneva correspondent says that France is sitting on the fence regarding sanctions. She will do her utmost to prptract the discussions and prevent a decision being reached. M. Laval said yesterday: “If we opened recruiting stations in France to recruit troops to fight Italy on behalf of Abyssinia, there would not be a single volunteer.’’ In view of the international situation, three battalions of British infantry at present at Catterick are being despatched to Malta, bringing the garrison to the authorised establishment, which was depleted in 1929, when ,-troops were sent to Palestine.

The Times’ Athens correspondent says that Italy has notified the Government that a torpedo boat was obliged to anchor at Asida on account of bad weather. The Government protested against a new infringement of international courtesy.

The Scotsman, commenting on the Italian warship’s visits to Greece, expresses the opinion that Italy, in view of the League considering sanctions, desires to intimidate Greece and possibly the Balkan Powers; also to seize Greek merchantmen for use if a blockade is established, and secure Greek islands for bases for naval raids, thereby raising a counter-blockade. An Addis Ababa message says that the Crown jewels, including Emperor Theodore’s gold crown, which the British captured at Magdala and later restored, also a gold necklace reputed to have been worn by the Queen of Sheba, have been placed in a secret bombproof shelter. The Daily Telegraph’s French correspondent at Geneva says that M. Laval will insist that conciliatory methods

can still be explored, but is ready with a policy in the event of hostilities, aiming nt limiting sanctions to financial and economic ones. Report Asked For "geneva, Sept. 12. The Conciliation Committee of the League Council, after lengthy discussion, has instructed its Sub-committee of Five to draft a report containing preliminary proposals Tor submission to Italy and Abyssinia in certain circumstances as a basis of settlement. Fake Alleged ITALIAN PHOTOGRAPHS GENEVA, Sept. 12. The Abyssinian delegate at Geneva (M. Tecla Hawariat) has sent a Note to the League Secretariat declaring that the alleged Ethiopian atrocities mentioned by the Italian delegate in his speech to the League Council are a fake. He cites a Belgian photographer’s statement that Italy has misrepresented some of his pictures.

Declaring that Sir Samuel Iloare’s speech commanded overwhelming support in Britain, including the Labour electorate, Mr W. S. Morrison. K.C., in a speech at Fulham, claimed that pressure by Labour progressive opinion had finally compelled the Government to aifirm its loyalty to the Covenant.

Signor Mussolini now knows that: the world is against him,” he declared. “I appeal to the Italians, with whom we have no quarrel, to realise that they are being led into wicked and disastrous action by an irresponsible fanatic with bloodthirsty tendencies. Signor Mussolini, pointing scornfully to Abbysinia’s alleged inhumanities and incompetence, is surely the joke of the century, who is guilty ol political assassination and castor-oil exploits, who is still torturing political prisoners, and who denies Italians the right to speak freely in public affairs. It is the same Alussoiini who is posing as a saint as compared with Selassie. I beg the Italians, if war comes, to rise and destroy him and the brutal Fascist regime.’' Surprise by France ? M. LAVAL’S SPEECH AWAITED WITH INTEREST LONDON, Sept. 12.

The special representative of the Associated Press Agency at Geneva states that M. Laval’s speech in the Assembly at 10.30 a.m. on Friday is awaited with as much interest as was Sir Samuel Hoarc's yesterday. There is much speculation as to whether he will spring a surprise. Sir Samuel Hoare is keeping a

Words of a Friend

SIR S. HOARE TO ITALY

GENEVA, Sept. 11l

U.S. Asks for Observance of Pact of Paris

Received Friday, S p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 12

special aeroplane in readiness, deferring his departure for London until he has heard M. Laval.

AL Litvinoft' will also speak. Ills views, which were unmistakably expressed at the meeting of the Council last month, should not impair the substantial unity of Britain, France, Russia, and the smaller powers. Air. Stanley Bruce (Australia) was again in contact with the British delegation to-day. Canada, more than Australia, is remaining in the background, and the delegates are reluctant to speak on the Ethiopian question, pending instructions from Ottawa, in view of the forthcoming election. The delegations to-niglit are wondering what extent of individual mediation AL Laval has offered to Signor Alussolini through Baron Aloisi.

British circles, in view of the failure of the Pans negotiations, discourage anv extraneous negotiation.

In a broadcast address, Sir Samuel Hoare expressed the opinion that altnough things were not better, they were not worse. He added that the most vivid recent impression was the respect with which Britain and the Empire was held all over the world.

“I have felt repeatedly,” he said, “the weight of my responsibility in representing a Government to winch so many countries are looking for advice, and I have done my best to express the typical British viewpoint, especially the desire to Jive and let live. I hope that while doing justice to Abyssinia we will remain friends with Italy, a country in which I personally served during the Great War. I have great admiration for the Italians and theiJ progress in recent years. Whatever bitter words have been said, they weri the words of a friend.”

He added, referring to his allusion in the Assembly to raw materials, that the British Empire must remember its responsibility to, its groat possessions and must not be tempted to use its advantage churlishly and selfishly.

MORAL SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN PEACE

Mr Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) in .a public, statement said: "The United States asks those countries which appear to be contemplating armed hostilities to weigh most solicitously the declaration and pledge given in the Pact of Paris.”

Officials emphasised that it was not a formal invocation of the Kellogg Treaty. Invocation of the pact they said would have involved asking the other nations to join in an appeal. Observers contended that, for the United States, Mr Hull's appeal had the same force as participation in formal invocation and could secure added emphasis only by the simultaneous expression of similar views by the other signatories. Mr Hull told newspapermen that ho had not discussed the question with the envoys of other Governments. Earlier in’ the day he told newspapermen informally that he considered Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech a very interesting, able and timely appeal for peace. His statement, emphasising the peaceful ideas of the American people, is interpreted by observers as placing the entire moral support of the United States behind the world’s collective efforts to maintain peace.