LAVAL AT ROME

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1935, Page 7

LAVAL AT ROME

ITALIAN INVITATION FIRST IN TEN YEARS HOPE FOR AN AGREEMENT SIGNIFICANT MOVE MADE FRENCH OPINION HOPEFUL

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Rec. 10 p.m. London, Jan. 2. M. Pierre Laval, the French Foreign Minister, will go to Rome to-day at the Italian Government’s invitation, states a Paris communique. M. Laval has to take part in important discussions regarding the general Franco-Italian policy, thus concluding the conversations which have been proceeding for some time through diplomatic channels.

Editorials in the newspapers emphasise that M. Laval’s visit to Rome is even more significant and more important than the contents of the agreement which will possibly be reached. It is the first visit by a French Foreign Minister for 10 years. Paris newspapers also rejoice over M. Laval’s visit to Rome. The Petit Parisien says: “We cannot congratulate ourselves too "heartily on the result which,, while keeping our alliances intact, opens such a favourable prospect for new friendships.” , The Matin sees in the visit vast hope for peace in Central Europe. It is admitted, however, that difficulties may he ahead. . , “Long rivalries and suspicions cannot be effaced in a few days,” says the journal. ■ “The understanding which is developing is only the beginning. Nevertheless the paper is most optimistic of a successful outcome. A British Official Wireless message says that negotiations between France and Italy for sponsoring the multilateral pact guaranteeing the integrity of Austria have been actively continuThe news of M. Laval’s projected visit to Rome has been received at London with special satisfaction, as it is taken as indicating the probability of a successful outcome of the Franco-Italian negotiations, in which the British Government has been taking an active interest. The European questions under discussion between Paris and Rome were the subject of a conversation between Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary, and the French Premier, M. Flandin, and M. Laval during Sir John Simon’s brief stay at Paris on his way from London to the Riviera, where he is at present oa holiday. The British Foreign Secretary has since kept in close touch with the French and Italian Governments.