M. LAVAL’S CORDIALITY WELCOMED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 247, 16 September 1935, Page 7

M. LAVAL’S CORDIALITY WELCOMED

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

ROME, Sept. 14

After a lengthy Cabinet meeting the following communique was issued:—

“Preparations in East Africa are proceeding with greater intensity in order to safeguard us agaiust the preponderating Abyssinian forces now being' mobilised.

“The Council of Ministers welcomes the cordial words of M. Laval regarding the Eraneo-Italian agreements. Italy intends to develop the friendship. These agreements were created in the interests of the two countries and the whole European co-operation, which cannot be broken by a conflict of a colonial character or the use of sanctions, which were never applied in far greater previous controversies between members of the League.

“In this connection Ministers examined the circumstances under which Italy’s continued membership of the League might become impossible. The Duce demonstrated that Italian forces, military, naval and aerial, are sufficient to meet any threat, from whatever quarter, lie added that in view of the rest' lessness in certain circles in Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya), reinforcements in Libya were now being made.”

NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE. The communique adds:—“Sir Samuel Hoare and M. Laval’s speeches could not be different for evident reasons in view of the Anglo-French position regarding the League Covenant. For this reason they were received with tho greatest calm in responsible quarters and by Italians generally. “Cabinet, noting the forces of antiFascism gathering abroad, feels it its duty to affirm in a most explicit manner that the 11 alo-Abyss ini a n problem does not admit of compromise after Italy’s huge efforts and sacrifices and the irrefutable documentation Italians presented at Geneva.”

Cabinet decided to telegraph its approval and greetings to General Deboiio in East Africa-

Cabinet will again meet on September 18, which suggests that Signor Mussolini is still temporising. Extra police and carabiniers arc guarding the British and French embassies to prevent incidents. M. LITVINOFF’S APPEAL.

When the general discussion at the League Assembly was resumed M. Litvinoff said that if the delegates left that Assembly with the certainty that the States whose representatives had addressed them had formally and solemnly pledged tlieir Governments to use the League as an instrument of peace in all cases of aggression, irrespective of their origins and of their object, the Assembly would become a landmark in the new history of the League. MINISTER CONSULTS PREMIER. Sir Samuel Hoare was in conference this morning with Sir Robert Vansittart (of the Foreign Office) and later visited Chequers, where he discussed with Mr Baldwin the international situation in the light of the proceedings at Geneva.