POLITICAL SENSATION

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19763, 19 December 1935, Page 10

POLITICAL SENSATION

SIR S. HOARE’S ACTION.' 'WILL IYI. LAVAL FOLLOW SUIT? EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PLAN. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. uopyrlgtn (Received Dec. 10, 3.40 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. Sir Samuel Hoare’s resignation flashed throughout the world and comment reached London In cn Incredibly short time. It Is regarded at Geneva as a sequel to the day’s proceedings, and It Is expected that M. Laval will follow suit, as he was equally responsible for the plan. ■ Rome received the news with bewilderment, for it was thought that Mr Stanley Baldwin, by adopting the plan, was equally responsible. It was therefore argued that the Government should also resign. The official French spokesman said he never expected this, especially while negotiations were going on. Berlin affected 'complete detachment, though keen interest is manifested in to-morrow's debate. The Sun-Herald says Sir Samuel Hoare’s dramatically sudden resignation caught the House- of Commons unprepared, but the lobbies filled at 9.30 p.m., when a member of the Cabinet, left the Chamber and spread the news. A Turn for the Better. The situation immediately took a turn for the better as far as the Government Is concerned, because Sir •Samuel's resignation would enable many hesitant Conservatives and Simonites now to support the Government. Undoubtedly Sir Bamue| Hoare saorlfloed himself to save the Government. The real irony is that Sir Samuel knows Signor Mussolini personally, and served in Italy during the war. He is courageous and indefatigable, and his work of piloting the India Bill through the -House of Commons earned him a great reputation. He was afterwards expected to accept a a peerage, and retire, but Mr Baldwin persuaded him to remain and succeed Sir John Simon at the Foreign Office, where after his famous speech at Geneva he was expected to rank among the greatest British Foreign Secretaries. Dramatlo Announcement Intended. Before Sir Samuel Hoare announced his resignation gossip writers said that he intended to make to-morrow’s debate the occasion of a dramatic resignation. The floor of the House and others .said that if the House appeared reluctant to accept his defence he would then resign before the division.