NO SURRENDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23231, 28 December 1938, Page 9

NO SURRENDER

SOCIALIST LEADER CHANGE IN POLICY FRANCE NOW MENACED # URGENCY OF DEFENCE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 27, 11.30 p.m.) PARIS. Dec. 27 The Socialist Leader, M. Blum, formerly French Prime Minister, caused a sensation at the Socialist Congress at Montrouge, in a twohour speech, in which he brushed aside the traditional peace ideals of the Socialists and advocated a national policy in a manner which could be better expected from a member of the Eight Wing.

M. Blum proposed a motion urging no more concessions to the totalitarian States, and committing the Socialist Party fully and without reserve to national defence against any aggression threatening the integrity of its territory, the fullness of its sovereignty or political independence. The motion declared that if the nation had to choose between servitude and war, the Socialist Party would not advise servitude. Faced by Dangerous Euiope M. Paul Faure moved a countermotion favouring the continuance of the Munich policy. M. Blum said he was not influenced by anti-Jewish violence in Germany. The Socialist Party in the past had even denied the idea of national defence. Now everything must bo done to avoid being faced with the alternative of submission or "war. The League of Nations had neither the force nor the authority necessary for imposing peace. "We are faced today by a dangerous Europe," he added. "The only question is the means to avoid war, and "it is impossible to adopt an attitude of indifferent onlookers. France Unable to Stand Alone "Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini have divided the world between them," continued M. Blum. " The Italian dictator is allotted the Mediterranean and North Africa in exchange for abandoning the historical and traditional Italian positions in Central Europe. "Do not forget that Signor Mussolini has received nothing yet. Italy has voiced claims to Tunisia. If I thought that giving her certain satisfactions in that connection would result in disarmament, I would not hesitate. However, what I am prepared to do for peace I am not prepared to do when I am certain that such a policy would only increase a war Power which can turn against us. "France is menaced and can no longer be certain of assuring her defence alone. Collective security as advocated by the League of Nations no longer exists. The only solution left is pacts of mutual assistance." • M. Blum laid stress on the necessity for close collaboration between Britain and France. , The Congress adopted M. Blum's motion with 4322 votes, M. Faure's counter-motion receiving 2837 votes.

WARNED TO STAND BY OFFICERS AND RESERVES ITALY AND GERMANY CANCELLATION OF LEAVE PARIS, Dec. 21 It is understood that Italian reservists have been warned to hold themselves in readiness for the end of January. Similarly, the leave of German officers has been cancelled for January and February. Four hundred aeroplanes have been assembled at Pantellaria, the Italian island in the Mediterranean. Informed quarters in Paris at first thought that the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, when visiting Budapest, might support a common frontier between Poland and Hungary, but it is learned that he is probably working closely with Herr Hitler, and will press Germany's scheme for an independent Ukrainian State. It is pointed out that ho would he unlikely to do this unless Italy's Tunisian aims were supported by Herr Hitler.