PEACE PACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 9

PEACE PACT

TERMS ANNOUNCED FRANCO-ITALIAN ACCORD MUTUAL CONCESSIONS DISARMAMENT CLAUSE IMPORTANT FEATURE By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyricht (Received January 0, 7.5 p.m.) ROME. Jan. 8 It is officially stated that the settlement with France gives Italy -13,000 square miles of territory in Libya, also a tract on the coast along Babelrnandeb, while France recognises Italy's sovereignty over the island" of Doumeirah. Italy will also have a block of shares in the railway from Jibouti to Addis Ababa, which provides for Abyssinia a trade outlet to the Bed Sea.

The protocol regarding Tunis" will be extended in order that Italians born in Tunisia up to 1965 will retain their Italian nationality. Italian schools will also be maintained until 1955. The pact dees not interfere with the Panubian Basin, but follows the lines Foreshadowed, the Italian and French Governments agreeing to consult with r.ich other and Austria if Austria's independence is threatened. The clause regarding the Dannbian agreement states that it must he Figned by Italy, Germany, Hungary, Czecho-Slovakia, Yugoslavia and Austria.

Finally, it is announced that the Halian and French Governments have signed a general agreement affirming tlieir intention to develop the traditional friendships uniting the countries, and the Governments agree to consult each other on all questions demanding* consultation. The disarmament clause in the agreement reads as follows: —"The Italian and French Governments have agreed that no country should modify by unihiteral act its obligations as regards armaments, and in case of such an eventuality should consult each other." GERMANY'S POSITION REARMAMENT QUESTION SPECIAL AGREEMENT NEEDED (Received January 9. 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 9 The Home correspondent of the Daily Mail says the French and Italian Governments have agreed to regard Germany's rearmament as illegal until a special agreement has been reached on the subject between Germany and the Powers. The Rome correspondent of the Times points out that this is likely to render more problematical Germany s acceptance of a Central European pact. EUROPEAN STABILITY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION MR. EDEN'S OPINION LONDON. Jan. 8 The Lord Privy Seal, Mr. Anthony Eden, speaking at Edinburgh, described the Franco-Italian pact as " an important contribution to European stability." Britain's foreign policy was no longer based on the balance of power but on the League of Nations and the maintenance of the collective peace system, involving the abolition of force in favour of rule by law. CORDIAL FAREWELL M. LAVAL. LEAVES ROME SATISFACTION OVER PACT ROME. Jan. 8 The Prime Minister of Italy, Signor Mussolini, and high officials bade farewell to tie French Foreign Minister, M. Laval, to-day amid an atmosphere of general satisfaction at the conclusion of the pqct between Italy and 1' ranee. Italian newspapers emphasise the value of the establishment of FrancoItalian unity, and reiterate the hope that Germany will agree to join in armament discussions. It is officially confirmed in Rome that %he agr6ement contains a disarmament clause. YUGOSLAV CRITICISM INTERESTS OF MINORITY PRAGUE. Jan.' 8 Rumanian newspapers welcome the Franco-Italian agreement, but the Yugoslav press criticises it, declaring that Yugoslavia should lie allowed to take care of its minority population in Italian' territory.