IN CASE OF WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23682, 14 December 1938, Page 13

IN CASE OF WAR

i ITALIAN ATTACKS ON FRANCE BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE ■ j NO OBLIGATION TO ASSIST 'Brlttis() Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By EleCtrtLc Telegraph -Copyright) • RUGBY, Dec. 12. Mr Chaimjjerlain was asked in the House of Commons whether any pact, treaty, or agreed undertaking existed which, in the event of Italy embarking : on warlike operations against France or her possessions, would specifically require Great Britain to jrender military aid to France. > He repliitsd: "No such requirement exists in any treaty or pact with France." FORMi OF DECLARATION REGRET IN FRANCE I LONDON, Dec. 13. (Received Dec. 14, at 0.45 a.m.) The Dajly Telegraph's Paris corresponded says political quarters regret the form of the declaration made by *Mr Chamberlain in the House of Commons that Britain was not pledfied to assist France if she was attached by Italy. It is recognised that Britain is not formally committed, but it is felt that the declaration is bound to aid Italy's anti-Frenph campaign. CONFLICTS OUTSIDE EUROPE "EACH |WOULD STAND ALONE" LONDON, Dec. 12. (Received Dec. 13, at 10 p.m.) The Daily Teler raph's correspondent saysi: that Mr Chamberlain's reply in I|he House of Commons has given thie greatest satisfaction, as it agrees \yith Italy's calculations that whereasi France and Britain are closely allied in defence of their Europesfcn frontiers, each would stand a:|pne in the event of conflicts outside the Continent. The n»ewspapers claim that British public opinion supports the Tunis claims. , ITAILIAN FORCES IN LIBYA TWO ARMY CORPS i Official Wireless) ; RUGBY, Dec. 12. The Under-secretary for Foreign Affairi Mr R. A. Butler, stated in the IHouse of Commons that the Italian forces in Libya consisted in Marcfa, and still consist, of two army corps each of two divisions, and of an equivalent of a division of native troopffi. There was good reason to 'belie\pe, however, that, following the signature of the Anglo-Italian agreement on Aoril 16, there had been a marked reduction in the number of effectives. • ,i THE ITALIAN LEADER AN IMPORTANT SPEECH i j LONDON, Dec. 13. CBteceived Dec. 14, at 1 a.m.) Tree Daily Telegraph's Rome correspondent says Sign or Mussolini is expetcted to make an important speebh on the international situation wheja he visits the Island of Sardinia on December 18 to inaugurate the mining township of Carbonia, whijih has been built around the newly organised lignite mines. Some quarters believe he will outline Italy's claims against France.