ASTONISHING BLUNDER

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19759, 14 December 1935, Page 7

ASTONISHING BLUNDER

SIR S. HOARE’S WEAKNESS. FEARS FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN. AIR BOMBS ON MALTA? United Press Assn.—Elec. TeL Copyright. (Received Dec, 14, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. The political correspondent of the Manchester Guardian expresses the opinion that Sir Samuel Hoare was terribly weak in not forcing M. Laval tp go to Geneva and declare before the world that France was unwilling to proceed further with sanctions. It was an astonishing blunder that he allowed - himself to be persuaded to acoept the proposals of a France that was virtually favouring Italy against Britain. , The diplomatic correspondent oi the Manchester Guardian says the disclosures of M. Laval’s warning to Sh Samuel I-loare that France’s aid in the Mediterranean must necessarily be tardy throws into prominence the conjecture in the lobbies of the House of Commons that

In desperation over oil Signor Mussolini would probably risk a gambler’s throw and rain air bombs on Malta, where the manufacture of gas masks to supply the whole population has long since been ordered. THE PLAN DEAD. ' bound to fail. WIDESPREAD PUBLIC CRITICISM. M. LAVAL THE CHIEF MOURNER.' United Press Assn. —Eire copyria^t LONDON, Dec. 13. The News Chronicle says that Government circles regard the Hoare-Laval peace proposals as dead, and they will be interred when the League Council meets on December 18. It adds that Mr Eden’s speech at Geneva was tantamount to an invitation to the League to condemn the plan. M. Laval ' will be the chief mourner. The Times, in a leading article, admitting that the details of the proposals are not yet known, hut emphasising the general opposition, including that of the Dominions, to them, points out that the basis for discussion sketched out falls to satisfy two 'of Britain’s essential points—namely, their acceptability to Abyssinia and to the League. The Times continues; “Neither good sense nor good faith requires that the British Government shall stand upon the terms, which should never have been put forward and are now bound to fail, but both demand that they shall accept the League’s decision and with it the plain verdict of British public opinion. The Government’s duty, now as before, is to help to the utmost in proving that aggression does not pay, and to maintain the League’s full rights and means of action to that end. “The present proposals cannot possibly he reconciled with the obligations of the Covenant. They were hound to fail, and have, in fact, failed

already. Any fresh peace effort will have to be guided by tills week’s experience, especially by the determined rnaifestation of public feeling, which will long make it memorable.” The Romo correspondent of the Times says that according to a spokesman, Signor Mussolini and his coadjutors arc studying the proposals with “the requisite benevolence,” but may ask for explanations. In any case, exaggerated optimism would be misplaced. ULTIMATUM BY FRANCE. AGAINST OIL SANCTIONS. DRIVE ITALY TO DESPERATION. PLAN TO PLACATE MUSSOLINI. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copy-nm LONDON, Dec. 13. The Manchester Guardian’s political correspondent says M. Laval virtually gave Sir Samuel Hoare an ultimatum to the effect that France would have nothing to do with oil sanctions, which lie was convinced would drive Signor Mussolini to desperation and might even provoke an Italian attack on the British Fleet. M. Laval did not withdraw his promise of French support in the event of such an attack, but he emphasised the technical ditlicultics preventing swift French aid. Therefore Sir Samuel Hoare collaborated in producing settlement proposals satisfying, not to the League, hut to Signor Mussolini.