Unexpected Crisis

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 246, 18 October 1935, Page 7

Unexpected Crisis

France to lake Her Choice

RECEIVES DISTURBING INQUIRY FROM ITALY

LONDON, October 16

The Suu-Herald says that of even more significance than tlic immediate activities at Geneva are the revelations that the French policy towards Britain and Italy has reached an unexpected crisis, following exchanges of opinion among these countries. Britain s toleration towards M. Laval’s manoeuvre is becoming exhausted. The policy in official quarters has been to roafllrm Anglo-French solidarity, despite repeated charges from correspondents at Geneva that M. Laval was inclined to betray his Covenant, but it is now disclosed by tlie Daily Tolegraph's diplomatic correspondent that the French Promier has received official intimation from Britain on simlar lines to Mr Austen Chamberlain’s statement to the “Paris Soir” pointing out that the moment for choice cannot longer be delayed. The French Government a few days earlier received a profoundly disturbing inquiry from tlie Italian Government, which was contrary to an earlier assurance given by Mussolini and notified Paris of its misgivings regarding Italy’s ablity to defend the Brenner Pass in the event of German aggression across the frontier. Italy sought assurances for French assistance in such an eventuality and sought a specific statement of v/liat force France would be prepared immediately to send to the spot.

Shock to French Government LONDON, October 16. The “Telegraph” comments that it has the best reasons for stating that the inquiry shocked the French Government. It is felt, that the Franco-Italian military accord by which France completely clemiUtariscd on the Franco-Italian frontier is valueless, particularly because the agreemont was never completed by its logic counterpart, namely an Italian-Jugoslav-ian military understanding.