FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1931, Page 5

FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY

‘ 4 NATIONAL PROTECTION ’ ’

NATION’S HATRED OF WAR

ARMY MERELY DEFENSIVE

ATTITUDE TO WAR DEBTS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyrizht. Rec. 5.5 p!m. Paris, Dec. 20.

Emphasising that the circumstances compelled all Governments to practise national protection while proclaiming the necessity for international co-operation, M. Laval, Prime Minister, speaking at a meeting, said: “It ig not enough to increase tariffs; we must protect the home market by quotas, acting with great caution in order to prevent an over-great lowering of imports, in which the trade balance must be the guide.”

Referring to reparations M. Laval declared that France at the forthcoming conference would adopt the attitude that Germany’s position was estimatable for the period of the economic depression. France would also refuse to agree that reparations should be sacrificed to private debts. He added that in view of the American attitude the Governments which had been dallying with the audacious theory of cancellation of war debts and reparations would doubtless be less eager to uphold it. A listener interjected, “Hold fast!” M. Laval replied amid cheers, “That's my habit. I do not intend to allow the Young Plan to be torn up. M. Laval added that France at the disarmament conference would show that the country hated war and that her army was solely a defensive measure. France would not refuse to consider schemes of mutual assistance but would not compromise her security.