FRENCH SECURITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19891, 20 March 1939, Page 5

FRENCH SECURITY

SPECIAL POWERS GRANTED LARGER ARMED FORCES NO YIELDING TO THREATS DALADIER’S APPEAL (Reed. March 20, 9 a.m.) PARIS, March 19. By 334 votes to 258, the French Chamber of Deputies yesterday approved of the Plenary Powers Bill granting the Premier, M. Daladier, special powers until November 30. The measure is being debated at a special session of the Senate to-day. The Cabinet previously approved M. Daladier’s plans'for strengthening the armed forces. All Ministers must at present remain in Paris. The operative clause in the special powers measure states: “The Government, authorised by decree, has given approval to the Council of Ministers to take all the necessary measures 10 consolidate and increase the strength of France.” During the debate in the Chamber of Deputies disorder compelled the Speaker, M. Herriot, twice to suspend deputies. M. Daladier said that if the Government were granted plenary powers, the Cabinet could revise the foreign policy, try to wean Signor Mussolini from Herr Hitler, and extend the working week beyond 40 hours. M. Daladier said: “My firm determination is that France shall become an immense workshop. That is the only way to safeguard peace. We shall not yield to threats of force—«6t a single one of our rights and not an acre of territory. “It is because we are pacific that we have decided to subordinate everything to the service of the country. I wish to increase the French forces and will be able to take useful measures with the maximum speed. In the face of danger, democracy must cease to be a regime of contradictions. The Government demands special powers enabling us still to assure the country’s safety.” The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet,

told the Chamber of Deputies that France was informed on March 11 of the first concentrations of German troops and immediately discussed the situation with Britain.