‘VICTORY FOR FAIR PLAY’

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1931, Page 7

‘VICTORY FOR FAIR PLAY’

ITALO-FRENCH AGREEMENT

ITALIAN MINISTER PLEASED

SOLVING PEACE PROBLEMS

REQUIRED SPIRIT CREATED

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rome, jfarch 15.

“The naval agreement leaves no vic- . tors and no vanquished; it is a victory of fair play and coinnionsense,” declared Signor Grandi when addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Cham- \ ber. The practical effect, he added, was to give a relative advantage to Italy in modern ships and to France in average ships. The agreement safeguarded the Italian viewpoint while allowing for a one-third reduction in Italo-French building, creating the atmosphere required for the solution of other problems in tile peace of Europe and the world, and pointing the way to a reduction in land and air armaments. NO WIDE ECHO IN PARIS. CAUTIOUS COMMENT BY PRESS. Rec. 7.15 p.m. Parbs, Mar. 16. Signor D. Grandi’s speech has found no wide echo here. Newspapers commeut cautiously and express surprise that Signor Grandi made no • mention of the Franco-ltaliaii negotiations to settle the differences which the Ambassador opened with the Italian Foreign Office. The Press is also suspicious of" the conciliatory tone regarding disarmament; Signor Grandi’s pacifism is regarded as a rather rapid conversion from Siguor Mussolini’s militarism. Nevertheless Franco-Italian negotiations are proceeding cordially. It is stated the French are offering considerable concessions to Italy respecting North African frontiers and expect the Italians to reciprocate by not fosterin' a separate Italian State at Tunis. ■ S -I -