PEACE PLAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 11 December 1935, Page 10

PEACE PLAN

3.15 P.M. EDITION

FORCED ON BRITAIN? AIURAIURINGS IN COMMONS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received December 11, 12.50 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 11. The Sun-Herald is informed that the French virtually forced Britain to accept the peace plan. Sir Samuel Hoare realised upon his arrival that unless he compromised with' M. Laval’s plan the French would completely withdraw from sanctions. For that reason he was forced to negotiate the best possible agreement. In other words, the plan M. LavaL produced was virtually the price he paid for the Fascist League’s support, by which he secured a vote of confidence in the Chamber of Deputies last week.

Alurmurings in the lobbies last night, such as “The French sold us and forced us to double-cross the League, and will drive us more to Germany for friendship,” represent a large section of the feeling in the House of Commons.

TALK OF RESIGNATION. The possibility of Air R. A. Eden’s resignation is being discussed. Air Baldwin is placed in an unenviable position. He virtually had to decide between an agreement with AI. Laval or Britain “carrying the baby,” because France's withdrawal from sanctions meant Britain carrying on against Italy practically single-hand-ed possibly leading to war for the sake of Abyssinia, which the country would never support. Another aspect 'is whether the small Powers, shocked by the proposals, will interpret them as smashing the League, leading them to ask why they should run the risk of supporting the League. BRITAIN NOT PLEDGED.

Authoritative quarters insist that Sir Samuel Hoare has not committed himself or the Government to the proposals and that Sir Samuel, having concluded the discussions with AI. Laval, forwarded them to Cabinet to take or leave, and that consequently Britain, so far, is not in any way pledged. Unhappily, this view does not allay the disquiet, because Sir Samuel Hoare, as Foreign Secretary, jointly signed Sunday’s communique that complete Anglo-French accord had been reached. BASIS FOR DISCUSSION. ' ' EXTENT OF PROPOSALS. APPROVAL NECESSARY. (British Official Wireless.) Received December 11, 12.25 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 11. Both Major Attlee and Sir Archibald Sinclair, as well as other members, continued to ask supplementary questions in the House of Commons, in the course of his replies to which the Prime Alinister emphasised that the peace proposals were merely a basis for discussion, and it was a necessary condition, as the Government had always said, that they should be approved by the three parties, the League and the two States concerned.