MUTUAL HELP

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1935, Page 7

MUTUAL HELP

NEXT STEP AT GENEVA INQUIRY MADE IN EUROPE MEASURE OF ASSISTANCE SMALLER POWERS ACTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE LEAGUE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. ■ Geneva, Dec. 21. The League Council’s next step may be to consider the practical application of mutual assistance. It is expected to put 'on record , any replies Britain receives from the Mediterranean Powers with respect to the forces they are prepared to place at the League’s disposal in the levent of an attack on a League member. . . The past two days have seen a rising 'tide of opinion among the smaller Powers in favour of backing the League, to the limit, as a joint meeting of the Little Entente and the Balkan Entente, Affirming loyalty to the Covenant, indicircles consider that a special meeting of the Council in January, affirming the determination to support the Covenant, if necessary by material-force, (would have a greater moral effect than' the imposition of further sanctions. ■ The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says it is reported that Sir Samuel Hoare’s inquiry whether Turkey, Yugoslavia, Greece and Rumania would support the British navy in the event Of an Italian attack wag made before Sir Samuel met M. Laval at Faris on December 7. It is understood that within 24 hours all four Governments affirmatively answered the British request and pledged their support. It is stated that the necessary arrangements will shortly be negotiated by the general staffs concerned. A similar request was also made tt> Spain but the result is not yet known. TURKEY’S CONDITION. Most important among the European reactions to Britain’s inquiry concerning the extent of support to be expected m the Mediterranean is a message from Constantinople that if Turkey should fall into line it could only be if it were empowered to fortify the Dardanelles, which otherwise would lay the country open to attack. Official quarters at London disclaim knowledge of a movement for a special meeting of the League Council to discus mutual defence. . ■ ' A sharp reaction has developed in France to Sir Samuel Hoare’s implied reproach that nobody but Britain had moved a ship, aeroplane or man, says a Paris message. It is felt that Sir Samuel's remarks can be read only as meaning that France has done nothing to ensure that her pledge would be effective, whereas since October 21 the French and British admiralties have been in the closest contact and their plans have been known to each other to the last detail. Moreover, there have been consultations between the military and air staffs. Accordingly it is felt that it is not necessary to include France in the requests Britain is reported to be making to the Mediterranean States whether they have taken any naval or military precautions in view of possible difficulties arising from sanctions and whether they are prepared to fulfil their undertaking of mutual assistance if the British fleet were attacked. It is also claimed that if France had not moved ship, machine or man, Britain approved her attitude owing to it necessitating partial mobilisation and calling up military reservists, which would have had a disastrous effect in increasing international internal tension.

MATERIAL FROM STATES BRITISH TRADE CONTINUES SHIPMENTS FROM STATES Rec. 7 p.m. . Washington, Dec. 21. Trade figures tor ,November reveal continued brisk business in war essentials tor Italy, despite the State Department’s efforts to > discourage such exports. i The month's trade with Italy was valued at £1,812,800, which is less than £200,000 above that tor the corresponding month of 1934. However, the sale of non-war materials suffered while the amounts of petroleum products, copper, scrap iron, automobiles and tractors increased , greatly. , PEACE TERMS OPPOSED LEAGUE UNION’S OPINION TELEGRAM TO MR. SAVAGE By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, Dec. 21. The following resolution has been sent to the Government by the Dominion Council of the League of Nations Union of New Zealand: — “The Dominion Council of the League of Nations Union of New Zealand respectfully urges upon the Government that in the interests of world peace and collective security it should immediately intimate to the British Government that it cannot support the Franco-British peace plan for ‘ settlement of the ItaloEthidpian dispute, as in its opinion the proposed terms violate the spirit and letter of the Covenant of the League of Nations, upon which the hopes of the world for enduring peace and security are based.”