FRENCH ALLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 9

FRENCH ALLY

AID FOR_BRITAIN EVENT OF ATTACK [FULLEST CO-OPERATION REPORTED PLEDGE 'RUMOURS DISCOUNTED ißy Telecraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 15, 5.5 p.m.) lliir.es Cable LONDON, Jan. 15 The Paris correspondent of the 'Times refers to the reports which : are current that only limited French i support would be available in case •of an Italian attack on Britain. He .emphasises, on the contrary, that the French Government has given i Britain assurances of the fullest possible co-operation.

The idea that the French Fleet •would be incapable of immediate intervention arises from a misunderstanding of the position. It is true that mobilisation would be necessary for manning the coastal, the anti-aircraft and other essential defences, but the ships themselves would not stand idly by. Eve,ry possible preparation for emergency has been completed, says the cor j respondent, and the British Admiralty is fully aware of what the French dispositions in such an emergency would be.

The military conversations, admittedly, have made less progress, but already the French Army's mobilisation plans are known to the British General :Staff, ppart from questions of detail. 'Therefore, it can be said: (1) That a pledge has been given. (2) That there is no reason to doubt :'its fulfilment. (3) That, once committed to such •measures, neither France nor any other .country is likely to fight with one hand ■tied behind its back.

M. Laval, during a conversation with ;Signor Cerruti, the Italian Ambassador, in Paris early in December, made, it quite clear that', in any Italian attack on British forces because of action resulting from a decision of the League, France would instantly range herself on the side of Britain. M. Laval's gesture ■was the consequence of preceding discussions ' with the British and Italian Ambassadors. Signor Cerruti had called on M. Laval a -week before and warned him that an embargo on the export of oil to Italy would have very serious re;iults. GERMAN SUSPICIONS GOOD FAITH DOUBTED ILOCARNO RENDERED VALUELESS (Received January 15, 10.35 p.m.) BERLIN, Jan. 15 German commentators continue to proclaim that the scope of the AngloFrench agreement relating to co-opera-tion in the Mediterranean has greatly diminished Locarno's value for Germany. They allege that in return for French help in the event of war with Italy, Britain has given France definite promises regarding the protection of her north-eastern frontier against Germany. The commentators declare that this has thrown Locarno out of gear. The Berliner Tageblatt refuses to accept the British assurances that the FrancoBritish arrangements are only concerned with a Mediterranean conflict, and that, therefore, there is no foundation for German fears.

The Tageblatt says: "Should further Anglo-French moves appear to confirm German apprehensions, Herr Hitler might denounce Locarno, thus enabling Germany to disregard the provisions of the \ ersailles Treaty for a neutral Rhineland zone which Locarno binds her to observe." The paper says it remains convinced that there is a dangerous similarity between the present London-Paris conversations and those which occurred between British and French military authorities before the war.

" Have the London-Paris negotiators really not discussed the provision of aerodromes for the British Air Force in Northern France and Belgium —that is to say on the German frontier?" asks the paper. " This is only one example .of Germany's grounds for doubt." FRANCE PERTURBED NAZIS AND RHINELAND DEMILITARISATION CRISIS PARIS. Jan. 14 The French press is sceptical as to the possibility of a rapid solution of the war between Italy and Abyssinia. Official circles do not attach any great importance to M. Laval's conversations with the Italian Ambassador, Signor Cerutti, who is reported to have stated that Ital3' would not attack Britain or leave the League even if further sanctions were voted.

France is more preoccupied with the German situation in view of recent Nazi attacks on the Locarno Treaty.

Mile. Tabouis, the usually wellinformed diplomatic correspondent of L'Oeuvre, states that news from the demilitarised zone in tlie Khineland is very grave. The French Cabinet realises that shortly* it may be faced with an insolent manifesto concerning this zone from Germany. Britain has already intimated that if Germany insists upon repudiating tlie demilitarisation clauses of the Peace Treaty, Britain is not prepared to do ®nything. Le Petit Parisien warns Germany of the serious repercussions that the breaking of the treaty would involve. BOMBED RED CROSS SWEDEN'S STRONG NOTE STOCKHOLM. Jan--1 lie Swedish Government has transmitted to Home a vigorous Note of protost in,connection with the bombing of the ambulance near l)olo, urging speedy investigation and the punishment of the culprits, and reserving the right to claim compensation.