INDISCREET SPEECH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 9

INDISCREET SPEECH

REPORT FROM PARIS FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER INDEBTEDNESS TO ITALY Independent Cable Service (Received January 80, 0.30 p.m.) PAKIS, Jan. 30 The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, is reported to have angered M. Dnlndier and ereated a political sensation during an appeal to the French press for moderation and restraint when referring to Italy, by stating that although France was bound to resist forcible Italian demands, it must not ho forgotten that she was indebted to Italy for remaining neutral in 1914 and then entering the war on France's side. M. Bonnet is said to have added that M. Laval's concessions to Italy in 1935 were inadequate. RIGHTS IN AFRICA DEMANDS OF ITALIANS FRANCO-BRITISH ATTITUDE GENEVA, Jan. 19 The British and French delegations attending the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations deny a report that the British and French Governments have agreed to extend to Italy free port rights at Jibouti, French Somaliland, and Zeila, British Somaliland.

According to well-informed commentators the French attitude toward Italy is hardening perceptibly, with the full support of Britain. Mr. Chamberlain is reported not only to have declined to discuss the Italian claims against France, but to have warned Sicnor Mussolini that France might bo in the temper to intervene in Spain.