MORE SANCTIONS?

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 18764, 20 December 1935, Page 7

MORE SANCTIONS?

M. LAVAL SAID TO BE DOOMED. ITALIAN CROWDS ANGRY AND PUZZLED. ETHIOPIA REFUSES THE PEACE PLAN. (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel.*Copyright.) (Received Dec. 20, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. WelLinformed circles in Rome state that Italy will not drop the Hoare-Laval proposals merely because Sir Samuel Hoare has resigned. Italy feels that there is no prospect of an oil embargo. The promotion of Mr R. A. Eden is feared, as he is regarded as a bitter enemy of Italy. The crowds outside Government buildings awaiting news appear to be angry and puzzled. Messages from Paris state that it is becoming increasingly certain that M. Laval is doomed. Even his political friends are advising him to resign before December 27. The franc, one of the most reliable barometers, fell sharply. The general opinion in Paris is that Sir Samuel Hoare s resignation means a return to the British policy of sanctions * and more sanctions, especially if M. Laval is replaced by M. Herriot, who is strongly pro-British, pro-League, and an-ti-Italian.

The Ethiopian Government has notified the British and French Ministers that it refuses the peace plan as destructive of the very basis of the League of Nations. Ethiopia is resolved to defend her land and liberty, and is convinced that neither the Council nor the Assembly will support such a settlement.

CRITICISM BY PREMIER.

A DAY OF FAITH.

• vl BIR SAMUEL HOARE’S DEFENCE. BLUNTLY REALISTIC GROUNDS. MUST RECOGNISE WEAKNESSES. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 19. The political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that Sir Samuel Hoare’s resignation followed a call upon him by Mr Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who conveyed at Mr Baldwin’s request an expression strongly critical of the views voiced by Sir Samuel at yesterday’s meeting of the Cabinet, which examined a statement from the Foreign Secretary and also a rough draft of his speech to toe made in the House of Commons to-day/ It is understood that Sir Samuel I-loare proposed to defend his action on bluntly (realistic grounds, Insisting that the future of the collective security system depends upon frankly recognising its existing weaknesses. He intended to justify the Paris plan by admitting that the League is not in a position at present to apply the requisite further pressure which might compel Signor Mussolini to negotiate on a less favourable basis.

Sir Samuel would also have shown that only Britain has taken precautionary measures to resist retaliation to sanctions, and that had sanctions led to war Britain would have found herself standing alone to meet It. In these circumstances, Sir Samuel Hoare proposed to make ho apology for the Paris plan.

Mr Chamberlain, •it is understood, pointed out to Sir Samuel that if he attempted to justify the proposals a number of Ministers would resign, and it was suggested that Sir Samuel might redraft bis speech differently, but he refused, preferring instead to tender his resignation. Sir R. Vanslttart May Resign. The Morning Post’s political correspondent says Sir Robert Vanslttart’s resignation is also expected. He was with Sir Samuel Hoare in Paris when the latter provisionally assented to the peace plan. The paper adds that the last stages of the crisis were forced by a revolt of the Liberal National Ministers, supported by a number of National Labour and Conservative Ministers. Tlie Liberal Ministers plainly intimated that unless 'the Government repudiated Sir Samuel Hoare and the peace plan in to-day’s debate they would themselves resign.

Signor Mussolini concluded: “As we conquered the Pontine Marshes, so we shall fight our African battle and emerge victorious. It will take time, but time does not matter as much as victory.”

FOREIGN SECRETARY’S SUCCESSOR

PROBABLY SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN-

POLITICAL CRISIS PREDICTED

United Press Assn. —Klee. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 19-

Royal Gifts

It Is thought that either Sir Austen Chamberlain or Mr Anthony Eden will succeed Sir Samuel Iloare. Lord Halifax is also mentioned as a possible successor. The Times says it is generally believed that Sir Austen Chamberlain will be chosen. The Manchester Guardian says that Sir Samuel Hoare’s resignation had become unavoidable and lie had lo go. A till I’d of the members of Hie Cabinet were threatening lo resign if the peace plan were not repudiated. The Daily Mail, in a leader, regards the resignation as precipitating a political crisis of the first magnitude. It adds: “'Sir Samuel Hoare’s departure will lie widely regretted. If his resignation means that the peace proposals were rejected owing to pressure on Ministers to throw him over, utter confusion will result. if Mr Baldwin abandons the peace plan the nation will be back in the trap, which only I he wildest fanatics can desire."

ITALIANS’ GIFTS OF GOLD. 50,000 WEDDING RINGS GIVEN. MARSH AREAS REDEEMED. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. ROME, Dec. 18. On the Day of Faith (the words for ” faith ’’ and “ wedding ring ” arc identical in Italian) Signor Mussolini inaugurated the commune of Pontlnia, the third' commune to be redeemed from the Pontine Marshes. It will be followed by Aprilla In 1936 and Pomezia in 1937. Signor Mussolini said It was the day on which Italy’s mothers would bring their wedding rings to the country’s altar, and the day of the people’s unfailing faith in Italy’s destiny. II Duce’s parallel was illustrated by the presence of a crucible for melting the wedding rings and ear-rings of the Pontine women. It was surrounded toy stfeel helmets.

Signor Mussolini embraced many of the donors of rings, and kissed a mother who deposited the medals of

her three sons who were killed in the war. Others brought helmets Ailed with gold, which Signor Mussolini poured into the crucible. The aggregate was 3086 ounces of gold, 7716 ounces of silver and 13331 b. of scrap iron, jqst compensating for the reduction in the Bank of Italy’s gold deposits since October 20.

Similar gifts were made in the chief cities of Italy. In Naples the collection included a ring, though not a wedding token, which the Emperor of Abyssinia, Halli Selassie, gave to a woman attendant at Die baths where he underwent a cure in 1927.

Queen Helena presided at the ceremony at Rome, which took place at the altar of Ihe Unknown Warrior.

The Queen, after depositing her own and King Emanuel's rings, broadcast a speech wishing victory and a happy Christmas to the Italian troops, after which mothers and widows exchanged their wedding rings and trophies for steel rings blessed by the priests. Among the 50,000 rings were those of Signor Mussolini and his wife.

A PROVOCATIVE SPEECH. SIGNUR MUSSOLINI’S OUTBURST. OPINION IN FRANCE. United Press Assn.-Elec. Tel. copyright. Received Lice. 20, I 1.0 a.m.) PARIS. Dec. 19. Pcrtinax, in the Lehu do Paris, considers the importance of Signor Mussolini's provocative speech at Ponliuia as a factor in the present crisis that cannot be overrated.