FRANCE A HUGE WORKSHOP

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 7

FRANCE A HUGE WORKSHOP

Ceaseless Defence Preparations

“WARFARE BUT NO BATTLE”

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 13, 6.30 pan.) PARIS, May 12.

Describing France as a huge workshop in which 1,000,000 men were working ceaselessly for national defence, the French Prime Minister (M. Edouard Daladier) in the Chamber of Deputies said: “Our duty is to think of our country alone and to take those virile decisions which its safety demands.” M. Daladier said that 6000 factories were employed on national defence projects, compared with between 2500 and 2800 last year. Referring to recent pacts, M. Daladier said he invited all peaceful nations to collaborate, pointing out that France took the initiative in informing Rumania that if she was attacked France would immediately assist, that she similarly assured Greece, and that after the Anglo-Polish guarantee, she gave the same pledge to Poland. “There are those who hope that France, invincible when united, might be demoralized by alternate threats of war and promises of peace,” said M. Daladier. “They think they can wear us down by a new form of warfare without battle—warfare of uncertainty, repeated anxiety, and disappointed hopes. If, between peace and war, anyone hopes to wear us down, I say we will stand fast as long as need be. Neither force nor cunning shall prevail against France.”

The speech was broadcast in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Rumanian and Arabic. The Chamber passed a vote of confidence in M. Daladier by 375 to 230. Had the vote been solely on foreign affairs it would have been unanimous. A divergence of views occurred over the finance decree laws.

The Socialists at a private meeting split 48 against 42 for M. Daladier. The Socialist leader (M, Leon Blum) during the debate made reference to the change in French and British foreign policy. “Every move capable of persuading the dictators of the democracies’ determination is a move of peace,” said _M. Blum. “The only chang of this consists in the totalitarian States understanding the sincerity of the French and British determination that new aggression will not be tolerated.”

M. Daladier denied that French policy had changed since Munich. France’s voice had been heard, he said, and others had assumed common obligations with France. Liberty could not be saved without a painful and tenacious effort.

The Minister of Finance (Dr Paul Reynaud) 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.