FRENCH POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22974, 28 February 1938, Page 11

FRENCH POLICY

REVISION ADVOCATED CONCESSION TO ITALYRELATIONS WITH BRITAIN By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received February 27, 6.5 p.m.) PARIS, Feb. 26 In the Chamber of Deputies today, M. Flandin, leader of the Left Republican Party, advocated a revised French policy, including recognition of the Italian Empire of Abyssinia. He thanked Mr. Chamberlain for his support of France, but declared that Britain would increase her undertakings to France only when France had shown her

ability to carry out her obligations by increasing the production of armaments and reorganising her finances and morale. M. Flandin also revealed that the Stresa pact included secret military agreements under which Italy guaranteed Franco against the inoccupation of the Rhineland, which had occurred 11 months later. He asked why Franca always entrenched behind Britain when she was an ally of Britain's, not a subordinate. The Chamber carried a vote of confidence in the Government by 439 votes to 2.

EXCITED DEPUTIES SCENE IN THE CHAMBER EPITHETS EXCHANGED PARIS. Feb. 25 For the first time in the history of the French Parliament, a coloured deputy presided in the Chamber of Deputies. He was M. Gratien Candace, a member of the Guadeloupe Council, who was recently elected vice-president. The galleries were packed soon after the doors were opened and excitement was running high; but the critical foreign affairs debate is not expected to reach an interesting stage before tomorrow. Shouts of "traitor, dirty dog, Communist, Cagoulard and coward," were hurled back and forth. M. Herriot, in taking over the chair from M. Candace, vainly urged more dignified conduct, pointing out that the least incident would be noticed abroad.