HESITATION OVER POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22243, 18 October 1935, Page 11

HESITATION OVER POLICY

FRANCE BETWEEN TWO STOOLS OBLIGATIONS TO LEAGUE AND ITALY " LONDON, Oct. 1C The Sun-Herald news service says that of even more significance than the immediate activities at .Geneva are the revelations that France's policy toward Britain and Italy has reached an unexpected crisis after the exchanges of opinion among the three countries. Britain's toleration toward M. Laval s manoeuvres is becoming exhausted. The policy in official quarters has been reaffirmed as that of solidarity between France and Britain, in spite of repeated charges'from correspondents at Geneva that M. Laval is inclined to betray the Covenant. However, it is now disclosed by the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent that the French Prime Minister has received an official intimation from Britain, on similar lines to Sir Austen Chamberlain's statement to Le Soir, that the moment for a choice cannot be delayed any longer. The French Government a few days earlier received a profoundly disturbing inquiry from the Italian Government, which, contrary to earlier assurances given by Signor Mussolini, notified Paris of its misgivings regarding Italy s ability to defend the Brenner Pass in the event of German aggression across the frontier. Italy sought assurances of French assistance m such an eventuality and also a specific statement as to what forces Prance would be prepared to send to the spot immediately. The Daily Telegraph correspondent comments: 1 have the best reasons for stating that the inquiry shocked the French Government. It is felt that the military accord between France and Italy, whereby France completely demilitarized the FrancoItalian frontier, is valueless, particularly because the agreement was never completed by its logical counterpart, namely, a mi 1tary understanding between Italy and Yugoslavia.