LEAGUE SPLIT ON PEACE PLAN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 December 1935, Page 7

LEAGUE SPLIT ON PEACE PLAN.

Would Buy Off Mussolini At Any Price T.AVAT.’R DETERMINATION FRENCH CRITICS TURN ON BRITAIN Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Thursday, 7.25 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 12. The Paris correspondent of the Times says though French attention is now centred on Rome and Geneva, there is still an anxious watch on London. The strengtn .of the British Parliamentary feeling against the proposals especially opened French eyes, tempering the general optimism. French critics declare that they never doubted M. Laval’s determination to buy off Mussolini at any price, and that other members of the League could be induced to accept. Is is therefore against Britain that they direct their bitterest reproaches for agreeing to the “monstrous” terms. Britain, it is now assumed, had at last become convinced that Mussolini would not hesitate to take the most drastic action against an oil embargo and M. Laval, it is understood, told Sir Samuel Hoare that very little French support could be expected in such an event. He was prepared, however, to give an assurance of full support for the oil embargo and its consecjuences provided the basis of negotiation for a settlement on the terms now accepted were first submitted to and rejected by Mussolini. Italian acceptance, he contended, would not only make an oil embargo unnecessary but would . justify the immediate abandonment of sanctions altogether. The Rome correspondent of the Times says it is felt that Italy will do nothing regarding the proposals until she sees what happens at Geneva.

Government Alarmed at Condemnation -HOPES GENEVA WILL REJECT IT. Received Thursday, 7, p.m. LONDON, Dec. 12. Pour back bench Conservatives and two Liberals have sponsored a motion ' in the Commons not to assent to a .peace settlement granting the aggressor .greater concessions than could have been obtained by peaceful negotiation. The News-Chronicle declares that the Government is alarmed at the condemnation of the plan and is trusting to the Powers at Geneva to reject it. Well-informed Rome correspondents predict that Mussolini will accept the Franco-British proposals. The Times’ Paris correspondent says Signor Cerutti sent a message to M. Laval to the effect that Mussolini had already indicated that his reply will be favourable. The Times’ Romo correspondent says the Fascist Press gives prominence to the Commons debate. Mr Anthony Eden is credited with having done his , best to wreck the Anglo-French proposals. Some correspondents go so far as to say he withdrew threats of his resignation only after being summoned to Buckingham Palace, where he received -counsels of moderation from the King.

“Plan as Good as Dead” UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION LONDON, Dec. 11. Severe criticism is coming from all sections of British opinion of the basis for peace negotiations reachc! at Paris between Sir Samuel Iloare unci M. Laval. The Times says that the anxiety of the House of Commons is reflected by -anxiety which is widespread not only in Britain but further afield, and adds that the jumper moment to cal: a hail m League action will only come when Italy halts her military operations, which are being conducted in ■flagrant violation of the Covennnl and the Kellogg Pact. An essential condition for a settlement is that, Italy must not be given moie than she could have obtained by peaceful negotiation, and must not constitute a premium on armed aggression to serve ;as encouragement to a future lawbreaker. The Times gives prominence to a Washington dispatch directing attention to widespread American criticisms that the proposal's are a shameful betrayal of the League and a reward for the aggressor, and must increase American isolationist sentiment. A Geneva message says that the -smaller States are very indignant at the proposals, and that at least live members of the Council, Russia, Poland, Rumania, Turkey and Denmark, are expected strongly to protest, as Good As Dead. The Sun-Herald agency says that the peace plan is as good as dead, and everybody is asking what will happen next. Cabinet reassembled facing a situation which daily grows more puzzling. Britain dislikes the plan, dislikes oil sanctions, and dislikes the position in the Mediterranean. Probably Cabinet’s only consolation is that Haile Selassie is already reported to have rejected the plan, while outbursts in Scandinavian and Balkan

States have completely scuppered it. However, Britain, in the person of Air Anthony Eden, will have to face unpleasant music at Geneva to-morrow, when the Committee of Eighteen meets, because it is reported in London to-night that the bovict and Rumania are likely to press for oil sanctions and will attack England and France instead of deferring to their viewpoints as hitherto. ETHIOPIA WILL NOT YIELD AN INCH. BETRAYAL BY LEAGUE Received Thursday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 12. The Times’ Addis Ababa correspondent says British and French Ministers received telegrams detailing the peace proposals. It is unlikely the Ethiopian answer will be received before the week-end. It is considered the Emperor will not yield an inch of Tigre except by force. In view of the course of the Italian campaign thus far in the Moussa Ali and Ogaden regions, the Abyssinians see little reason to give up, these territories, and far less the ancient Amharic Tigre territory. Abyssinia would always welcome League economic or other assistance, but as for Italian commercial penetration as an immediate condition of peace, it is impossible to think of anything less capable of application or more calculated to madden Abyssinian opinion Responsible officials describe the proposals as a betrayal of Abyssinian reliance on the League and if forced on her a negation of the Covenant by offering a.reward to the declared aggressor

May Split League SMALL POWERS’ CONFIDENCE UNDERMINED. CAUSTIC RUSSIAN COMMENT. Received Friday, 12.30 a.m. GENEVA, Dec. 12. The Committee of Eighteen was to have met this morning, but the meeting was postponed until this afternoon ki enable preliminary discussions between M. Laval, Mr. Eden and the delegates of the smaller Powers regarding the procedure. LONDON, Dec. 12. The Manchester Guardian’s Geneva correspondent predicts a definite split among the members of • the League in the next few days. He adds: “Confidence among the smaller Powers is completely undermined. There is even talk among some of their representatives of abandoning the sanctions policy.’’ MOSCOW, Dec. 32. The newspaper Pravda severely criticises the Anglo-French proposals, declaring that Abyssinia is to bo sacrificed to the interests of the great Powers and virtually destroyed as an independent sovereign State. The Pravda gloomily views the outlook for the existence of the League, saying that if the League instead of guarding peace transforms itself into a bureau for awarding premiums to aggressors, this means the death of the League.

TEST AT GENEVA. LEAGUE MEMBERS DISTRUST PROPOSALS, LONDON, Dec. 11. The Times Geneva correspondent states that to-morrow’s meeting of the Committee of Eighteen will provide Mr. Eden and M. Laval with their first opportunity of judging the depth of feeling aroused against the settlement plan among League members generally. While there are some who prefer to reserve their opinion, the majority still display profound distrust of the proposals. In regard to oil sanctions, it is felt that a practicable procedure would be to fix a 'late in January for the application of an embargo, in the event or no agreement with Italy, and further, that the Committee should ask all Member States and oil-producing countries to agree not to increase exports of oil beyond the normal until further notice. Must Establish Lines of Communication REASON FOR ITALIAN INACTIVITY. Received Thursday, 9.50 p.m. ADTGRAT, Dec. 12. Marshall Badoglio received war correspondent. He said candidly that the lull in operations was due to the necessity of establishing lines of communication before the next more forward.