FIRM STAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23346, 15 May 1939, Page 11

FIRM STAND

FRENCH NATION STRONG DEFENCES PACTS FOR PEACE AGGEESSOES WARNEB By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright PARIS, May 12

The French Prime Minister, M. Daladier, in the Chamber of Deputies to-day, submitted evidence of France's quickening rearmament. He said that 6000 factories were employed on national defence projects, compared with between 2500 and 2800 last year. France to-day was a huge workshop in which 1,000,000 men were working ceaselessly for national defence. "Our duty is to think of our country alono and to make those virile decisions which its safety demands," said M. Daladier. Referring to recent pacts, lie said he invited all peaceftd nations to collaborate, pointing out that France on March 20 took the initiative by informing Rumania that if she was attacked France would immediately assist.

France also gave a similar assurance to Greece and, following the guarantee by Britain to Poland, gave the same pledge to Poland.

France not to be Worn Down

M. Daladier continued: "There are those who hope that France, invincible when united, might be demoralised by alternate threats of war and promises of peace. They think they can wear us down by a new form of warfare without battle —a warfare of uncertainty, repeated anxiety and disappointed hopes. If between peace and war anyone hopes to wear us down, I say we shall stand fast as long as need be. Neither force nor cunning shall prevail against France."

The speech was broadcast in the French, English, German, Italian, Serb, Croat, Spanish, Portuguese, Rumanian and Arabic languages. M. Heynaud, Minister of Finance, announced that complete financial stability had been achieved. All the Government Departments were now national defence departments, the chief of which was the Ministry of Finance. Socialist's Allegation Denied

M. Blum, Socialist leader, in the course of the debate, said there had been a change in the foreign policy of France and Britain. Every move capable of persuading the dictators of the democracies' determination was a move for peace, the only chance of which consisted of the totalitarian States understanding the sincerity of the Franco-British determination that new aggression would not be tolerated. M. Daladier denied that the French policy had changed since Munich. France's voice, he said, had been heard. Others had assumed common obligations with France Liberty could not be saved without painful and tenacious effort.

The deputies carried a motion of confidence in M. Daladier by 375 votes to 230. Had the vote been taken solely on foreign affairs it would have been unanimous. The divergence of views occurred over finance and the decree laws.

The Socialists, at a private meeting split 48 against 42 for M. Daladier.