FORMAL CLAIMS AWAITED

Southland Times, Issue 23781, 31 March 1939, Page 7

FORMAL CLAIMS AWAITED

French Attitude To Italy DALADIER REPLIES TO' MUSSOLINI (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received March 30, 7.10 p.m.) t’ARIS, March 29. , “France awaits the Italian proposals,” was the gist of a broadcast today by the Prime Minister (M. Edouard Daladier) as a reply to Signor Mussolini’s speech last Sunday. M. Daladier recalled the Note from the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Galeazzo Ciano) on December 17 last, stating that Italy did not consider the 1935 agreement valid, and the speech by Signor Mussolini on Sunday, in which II Duce said that the note of December 17 set out clearly the Italian problems as Tunisia, Jibuti and Suez. “I affirm that the Note of December 17 did not contain any precise points,” said M. Daladier “Its essentual argument was that the conquest of Ethiopia and the formation of an Italian Empire created new rights in favour of Italy. I need not say that we cannot accept this argument, as it would mean that each new conquest would create new claims without limit.” M. Daladier announced his intention of publishing the Note, together vith the French reply, which was given several days after receipt. He declared that France had remained faithful to her engagements. “France does not,” he declared, “refuse to examine proposals which may be made to her.” “STREET CRIES” Reiterating that Italy’s claims remained unspecified, M. Daladier said that no one could argue that they had been presented by newspaper articles or street cries. M. Daladier said that France wanted peace, but if war were imposed or became the alternative between freedom and dishonour the whole nation would arise and defend its liberty. He had sought full power because it was necessary to take rapidly and silently exceptional measures for the defence of the country France had listened calmly to noisy claims because she knew that negotiations could only reveal that she was right. France’s position had been made clear. “We will not cede an inch of territory nor a single one of our rights,” said M. Daladier. He described ihe charges of ill-treatment of Italians in Tunisia as inventions, and referred to the’ 900,000 Italians living in France who had not complained of her hostility. Referring to Munich, M. Daladier said that France had not ceased to give evidence of goodwill towards Germany but the consequent events in Czechoslovakia had dealt the most severe blow to her persistent efforts. None, he said, could deny that war would be a catastrophe for all nations. “In the name of France I invite the collaboration of all Powers who like ourselves are ready to collaborate for the maintenance of peace but who would rise against aggression with one bound,” said M. Daladier. “I know that these words will find a brotherly echo in the hearts of friendly nations in Europe, across the Channel and even across the Atlantic.” TEXT OF NOTES The text of the Italian Note which was handed by Count Ciano to the French Ambassador to Rome on December 17, shows that the French Government on December 2 desired to know whether Italy considered the agreements of 1935 still in force and still practicable as a basis of FrancoItalian relations. The agreements comprised a treaty for the settlement of reciprocal interests in Africa and a series of related instruments. “No exchange of ratification followed, and negotiations were never even begun for a special convention about the Italians in Tunisia, so the treaty was never completed,” said the Italian Note. , “France s attitude during the Abyssinian campaign was certainly not in conformity with the intention of the agreements, which were never put into force and, were thus made null and void. Moreover, they have been overreached by history.” <( The Note described sanctions as “altering the general political situation,” also the constitution of an Empire, “creating new rights and interests.”

“In these conditions the agreements could not be a basis of Franco-Italian relations, which must be examined again if an improvement is desired,” said the Note.

The French Government replied on December 25, pointing out that application of the agreements had been started, Italy being ceded 2500 shares in the Addis Ababa Railway Company, and in various negotiations until as late as April 22 last year the agreements were taken as valid.

The French Note referred to France’s moderating influence at Geneva about the Italian action in Abyssinia, of which Signor Mussolini on several occasions expressed appreciation. The French Cabinet unanimously approved the text of M. Daladier’s broadcast.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies was unanimous that the Italian Note did not formulate precise demands.

FRANCE’S COLONIAL ARMY DOUBLED INDO-CHINA GIVEN EXTRA AEROPLANES PARIS, March 30. The Minister foi- the Colonies (M. Georges Mandel) announced that the strength of the colonial army had been doubled last year. The Government’s policy, he said, was to make the colonies self-protecting. Indo-China, which had been given extra aeroplanes, was constructing a factory to manufacture 150 aeroplanes and 400 engines a year, said M. Mandel.