A SETBACK

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 7

A SETBACK

FRENCH GOVERNMENT A DELAYED DISCLOSURE FIRM REPLY TO ITALY (United Assn.— Else Tel. Copyright) (Received December 31, 21 a.m.) PARIS, Dec. 30 It is believed the Government has received a setback as the result of the debate in the Chamber on Deputies on Decemoer 18. M. Bonnet did not disclose thaut he had received the Italian denunciation of the Laval Pact on December 17. Critics declared that the nonmention of the denunciation Implied to Italy that bargaining waa possible. M. Bonnet explained that he was not aware of the Note on Marcfcf 19 and could not in any way have mentioned it before it was considered by the Cabinet, which later firmly replied to Italy.

FRANCE AND ITALY

TROOPS AT THE FRONTIER DISPUTE OVER SOMALILAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlrbt) LONDON. Dee. 30 Italian and French detachments are moving near the undelbnited frontier between Abyssinia and French Somaliland. says the Jibouti correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Contested points were occupied, however, without friction. The Italian troop movements ai*e stated to be concerned only with small hands ot N Nevertheless, French troops are specially patrolling the slopes of Mount Mussa All, which, by a treaty with Abyssinia, is considered part of Somaliland.

MISOIVINOS IN FMNM MR CHAMBERLAIN’S VISIT THE AIMS OF MUSSOLINI

(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlrht) PARIS, Dec. 30 French newspapers express misgivings about Mr Chamberlain's coming visit to Rome. “Mr Chamberlain Is not paying a simple courtesy call: he is going to negotiate, ’’ writes “Pertinax” in L’Ordre. “Through definite offers he flatters himself he will le;sd Mussolini back to the paths of peace. But what can he give him? “According to our information, Mr Chamberlain is inclined to cede British Somaliland to Italy, He estimates that France will be obliged to follow Jhe British example and throw into tlw balance French Somaliland.” The capital and port of French Somaliland is .Jibouti, terminus of the railway running to Addis Ababa, capital of Italy's Abyssinia. "If Mr Chamberlain puts that Idea Into practice he will add another mistake to his long llet of errors,” « Pertinax” proceeds. “After acquiring this Mussolini will pursue hie territorial policy fortified by a new strategic advantage. “He will attempt more eagerly than ever to proceed to the larger territorial conquests to which lie aspires. He will demand more and demand it more boldly. The most deplorable aspect of such a deal would be that the Western Powers again made concessions to armed blackmail.” British official circles deny that there is’ any truth in the report that British Somaliland v\iii be offered to Italy. DENUNCIATION OF PACT FRANCE'S REPLY TO ITALY (United Press Asm. — Eire. Tel. Copyright! LONDON*. Dec. 29 The French Charge d Affaires In London, M. Cam bon, culled at the Foreign Office !«• communicate a copy of France's reply to Italy’s denunciation of the 1933 French-Italian agreement.