WIDE OBJECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1935, Page 5

WIDE OBJECTION

TO PEACE PLANS

HUNDREDS OF LETTERS TO M.P.'S

Press Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright).

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 13. Political observers declare no issue for years has so stirred the country as the Government’s peace plan.

Government supporters are receiving thousands of letters from constituents. One Conservative reports he received four hundred letters in a single mail, almost all insisting that th e proposals violated the support of the League, on which the election was fought.

The “Times” Parliamentary correspondent records the case of a member of the Cabinet whose post bag contained the intimation that life-long Conservatives would not have supported the Government at the election if they dreamt they had put their names to the Paris proposals. Opposition to Sir Samuel Hoare's and M. Laval’s terms for Italy

continues to spread. Lord Davis will

move in the House of Lords on Decem- / ber 18 a motion analogous to that sponsored by four Conservatives and two Liberals in the House of Commons, which seven more members of the House of Commons are now supporting. Sir Herbert Samuel strongly criticised the Government’s treatment of the position. Several leading papers oppose Britain’s adherence to the proposals.

OPPOSITION IN FRANCE

•PARIS, Deember 12. Opposition to the peace proposaJS is developing in the Chamber of Deuties, where M. Cot (ex-Minister) tabled an interpellation as to the Government’s policy, which condemns giving Italy what she would be incapable of obtaining by conquest, also for offering Abyssinia, a harbour p, which would damage the trade of the , French port Djibouti and French economic interests. M. Bium and two Socialists presented an interpellation contending M. Laval was aiming at paralysing Sanctitfns and, moreover’ at substituting for them territorial benefits for an aggressor. M. Heriot is reported to be disgusted with the pro■,^nh. The “Times” Parliamentary correspondents says: The House of Commons will discuss the peace proposals probably, on December 19. Although a decision wiil not he taken Juntil there is some indication given ' of Geneva’s reception of the terms, it is expected that in view of the Opposition’s present temper, the debate will be on a vote of censure, which, however, will rally all the | members of the Government to its side, despite their own anxieties and resentment. The Liberals have tabled a motion condemning the settlement as violating Abyssinia’s territorial integrity, political and '■economic independence in favour of a declared aggressor | describing such settlement as “a be- | trayal of the League and an act of | national dishonour.” I

Meanwhile, the Government’s supporters are hoping that the debate jl will dissipate the fog surrounding the conversations, as members are receiving numerous protests from constituents concerning them. GENEVA, December 12. When the League’s Committee of Eighteen met at Geneva this afternoon, statements regarding the situation arising from Paris conversations, were made by M. Laval and Mr Eden. M. Laval said the proposals drawn up in Paris would be communicated to the League Council, and the task of the French and British Governments would then be done. It would be for the League itself to decide the next move. He hoped the Committee would recognise the loyalty of effort

which his Government, with the BriGovernment had made. \ Mr Eden said: lb seems to me that the bes£ procedure to follow at the present time is to eail together the Council at the earliest practicable moment, in order that a full statement ol the proposals should be made to it. It will be for that body to determine as and when it sees fit, what course it would wish to pursue in the light of the situation thus created, and in advance I emphasise that so far as His Majesty’s Government is concerned, we will not only readily . accept the judgment of our colleagues, but will continue to use our best efforts to further the two objectives which have jjbeen constantly before us in this tlis- ■ j,ute, t'lit) restoration of peace and the maintenance of the authority of the League.” The Polish delegate then declared that the Paris proposals had created ■m entirely new situation. He urged that the Committee should abstain from any measures of a, political character, until the Council met and pronounced upon the situation. The Committee appeared to agree with the Polish view and adjourned till Saturday, when it will consider the report of experts on the working of sanctions.