SETBACK RECEIVED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 December 1938, Page 9

SETBACK RECEIVED

FRENCH GOVERNMENT ITALIAN DENUNCIATION OF LAVAL TACT M. BONNET S REPLY TO CRITICS 'll PA (Received 31st December, 9.45 a.m.) PARIS, 30th December. It is believed that the Government has received a setback as the result of the Chamber debate on 19th December. M. Bonnet did not disclose that he had received the Italian denunciation of the Laval Pact on 17th December. Critics declared that non-mention of the denunciation implied to Italy that bargaining was possible. M. Bonnet explained that he was not aware of the Note on 19th December, and could not in any way have mentioned it before it was considered by Cabinet, which later firmly replied to Italy. FRENCH REPLY TO ITALY |British . Wirelessl RUGBY, 29th December. The French Charge d’Affaires in London, M. Gambon, called at the Foreign Oifice to-day to communicate a copy of France’s reply to Italy’s denunciation of the 1935 Franco-Italian agreement.

UNDELIMITED FRONTIER

ITALIAN AND FRENCH TROOP MOVEMENTS r; P A.-Bv Ele-ir,;. Telegraph-Copyrigbtl LONDON, 30th December. The Jibuti correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Italian and French detachments are moving near the undelimited AbyssinianSomaliland frontier. Contested points have been occupied without friction and the Italian troop movements are stated to be concerned only with small bands of rebels. Nevertheless the French are specially patrolling the slopes of Mussa Ali which by treaty with Abyssinia is considered part of Somaliland.