PEACE FORMULA

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19762, 18 December 1935, Page 7

PEACE FORMULA

M. LAVAL’S STATEMENT. ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ONLY. VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Dec. 18, 11.45 a.m.) PARIS, Dec, 17. M, Laval, amid violent demonstrations In the Chamber of Deputies, defended the Abyssinian peace proposals. His statement Indicates the lines on which the British Government Is likely to defend the proposals In the House of Commons. M. Laval declared that he came to an agreement with Britain to do everything to avoid an extension of the conflict to Europe. He added: “As Article XVI. might have landed us in war, we agreed with Britain to adopt only economic sanctions, npt military sanctions or a naval blockade. 1 expressed a wish that the new sanctions should be considered only after the failure of a fresh attempt at conciliation. “ I rallied to Britain because I was convinced that her collaboration was essential to the security of France, and It would bo painful to end the ties of friendship with Italy. “ So we tried to find a basis of negotiation in order to avoid rigid economic sanctions, like oil, iron and coal. “ With Britain, I drafted a formula representing the limit of our efforts. It is now iup to Geneva Lp do what it thinks fit." M. Laval’s Challenge. Tlie temperature of the Chamber rose rapidly as" M. Laval spoke. “ What would you have done in my place?” M. Laval challenged the Left. “They would have started a war!” shouted one of M. Laval’s supporters, causing an uproar,- culminating in the most violent demonstration the Chamber has witnessed for months. M. Laval’s statement was not followed by a debate, which M. Laval suggested should be held on December 27, making the issue a matter of a vote of confidence.

REPLY OF BELLIGERENTS. NOT YET RECEIVED. FASCIST COUNCIL TO MEET. (Official Wireless.) , (Received Dec. 18, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Deo. 17. The replies from Italy and Abyssinia to the Paris peace proposals have not yet been made. No reply is expected from Rome until after a meeting of Hie Grand Fascist Council to-morrow night. A semi-official statement in Rome indicates that this meeting will be followed by a request for explanations of certain points, and probably a discussion of the objections, to other proposals contained in the Paris plan. MINISTER’S RETURN. MEETINGS WITH COLLEAGUES. INTEREST IN THURSDAY’S DEBATE. (6mcla! Wireless.* (Received Dec. 18, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 17. Shortly after his return home yesterday, Sir Samuel Iloare, the Foreign Minister, was visited by Mr R. A. Eden who gave the Foreign Secretary an account of the reception in Geneva of the Paris plan. Later the Prime Minister called, and had a conversation with Sir Samuel. • These talks followed a series ot ministerial conversations at No. 10 Downing Street during the day, at which the newspapers state a general outline of the statement the Prime Minister will make in the House of Commons was disoussed. The Paris plan continues to be the subject of anxious discussion in the Parliamentary lobbies, where growing interest is displayed in Thursday's debate. ■ . Major Attlee will move the Labour motion in the House of Commons on Thursday, and Mr Dalton will wind up the debate for the Opposition. The Prime Minister will speak for the Government. Lord Davies who had a motion down for debate in the House of Lords to-morrow lias agreed to postpone the discussion till Thursday, so that tho subject will be debated simultaneously in both Houses. While M. Laval was facing an angry Chamber, the British Cabinet spent the morning deliberating how best to meet the House of Commons. Sir Samuel Iloare was not present, as the doctors advised him not to leave his home before tlie week-end. Consequently It is not likcfly that he or Mr Eden will participate in the debate, although it immediately concerns them.

FRENCH TRADE WITH ITALY. LARGE OIL EXPORTS. ALSO OF WAR MATERIALS. United Press As«n. —Elec. Tel. Copvrlg-tH (Received Dec. IS, 1,15 p.m.) PARIS, Dec. 1.7. How greatly French interests are bound up in I lie non-extension sanctions is revealed in the ofllcial trade figures for November, showing Unit France exported 500,000 gallons more petrol In Italy in November Ilian in the whole of the preceding ten months. Seventy per cent, of the French exports of lubricating oil went to Italy, and her scrap iron exports were a record. Italy also took the hulk of the French exports of glycerine, turpentine, manganese and other war materials.