FULL CO-OPERATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 7

FULL CO-OPERATION

BRITAIN AND FRANCE GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES WOULD NOT FIGHT WITH ONE HAND TIED [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Received Jan. 15, 7.25 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 15. The Paris correspondent of the Times, pointing out that reports are current that only limited. French support would be available in the case of an Italian attack on Britain, emphasises that on the contrary the French Government has given the British assurances of the fullest cooperation. The idea that the French fleet would be incapable of immediate intervention arises from a misunderstanding of the position. It is true that mobilisation would be necessary for manning the coastal and anti-aircraft and other essential defences, but the ships themselves would not stand idly by. Every pos sible preparation for emergency has been completed and the British Admiralty is fully aware what the French dispositions in such an emergency would be. The military conversations, admittedly, have made less progress, but already the French Army’s mobilisation plans are known to the British general staff. Apart from questions of detail, therefore, it can be said, firstly, that a pledge has been given; A condly, that there is no reason to doubt its fulfilment; and finally, once committed to such measures, neither France nor any other country is likely to fight with one hand tied behind its back. “A POLITICAL TRICK” LAVAL’S MANOEUVRES A NEWSPAPER DIVERSION LONDON, Jan. 14. Tho Daily Herald’s Paris correspondent says that M. Laval’s •whispering campaign in favour of leaving Italy “to be defeated by the Abyssinians and the rain” is being followed up by a shouting campaign to the ef- - feet that a watch on the Rhine is worth two on the Alp> ! , trying to create a suitable atmosphere for new ItaloAbyssinian conciliation proposals. M. Laval is using the favourite French political trick of creating a diversion to mask his manoeuvres. Newspapers under M. Laval’s influence are fully exploiting the theme of German rearmament and possible reoccupation c the Rhineland. NO RAPID SOLUTION FRENCH PRESS VIEW PREOCCUPATION WITH GERMANY PARIS, Jan. 14. The French Tress ta sceptical of the possibility of a rapid solution of the Italo-Abyssinian conflict. Official circles do not attach great importance to M. Laval’s conversations with Signor Cerutti, who is reported to have declared that Italy will not attack Bril' ain and will not leave the League even if sanctions are voted. France is more preoccupied with the German situation in view of recent Nazi attacks on the Locarno Treaty. Madame Tabouis, writing in L’Oeuvre, declares that news from the demilitarised zone in the Rhineland is very grave, and Cabinet realises that it may shortly be faced with an insolent manifesto concerning this zone from Germany. Britain has already intimated that if Germany insists on repudiating the demilitarisation clauses in the treaty she is not prepared to do anything, Le Petit Parisien warns Germany of the serious repercussions which breaking of the treaty would involve, GERMAN APPREHENSIONS ANGLO-FRENCH TALKS f A “DANGEROUS SIMILARITY" Received Jan. 15, 11.32 p.m. BERLIN, Jan. 15. German commentators continue to pre-claim that the scope of fbe agreement between England and France relating to co-operation in the Mediterranean, lias greatly diminished Locarno’s value for Germany, alleging that in return for French help in the event of a war with Italy, Britain has given France definite promises regarding the protection of her north-eastern frontier against Germany. Declaring that this has thrown Locarno out of gear, the Berliner Tageblatt refuses to accept the British assurances that the arrangements between France and England only concern a Mediterranean conflict and therefore there is no foundation for the German fears. The Tageb.att says: “Should further Anglo-French moves appear to confirm the German apprehensions, Herr Hitler might denounce Locarno, thus enabling Ger many to disregard the Vereaillce Treaty provisions for a neutral Rhineland zone which Locarno binds her to observe.” The Tageblatt remains convinced that there is a dangerous similarity between the present Lendo---Paris conversations and thcue that oc curred before the war between the English and French military authorities. “Have the Loudon and Pans negotiators really not discussed the provision of aerodromes for the British Air Force in northern France and Belgium—that is to say, on the German frontier? This is only one example of Germany's grounds for doubt,” says the Tageblatt.