TALKS SUCCEED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 88, 8 January 1935, Page 9

TALKS SUCCEED

Complete Agreement at Rome FRANCE AND ITALY Initialling of New Pact Expected STATEMENTS TO BE ISSUED By Telegraph-—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 7, 7.30 p.m.) Rome, January 7. M. Laval, French Foreign Minister, and Signor Mussolini have reached a complete agreement. It is expected that the Franeo-Itanan agreement will be initialled to-day. The only document issued immediately will be a statement regarding the identity of view of France and Italy on general policy. Documents on other points will he issued later, possibly with protocols harmonising with the attitude of France and Italy regarding certain problems of foreign policy. COMMENT IN BRITAIN Pact May Be Far-reaching ITALY AND ABYSSINIA (Received January 7, 11.35 p.m.) London, January 7. Though news of the actual ItaloFrench agreement was too late for first editions of the newspapers, several leader writers anticipated a happy issue to the negotiations. The “Daily Telegraph” expressed the opinion that the two leading Latin Powers will henceforth display constant Instead of chequered friendship, and the franker mutual recognition of equality of status In Europe and equality of rights tis colonising powers in Africa should be followed by a naval understanding which will mitigate Mediterranean rivalries. The “Daily Express” says that the French will cede territory to Italy, but are only carrying out promises made when Italy entered the war. Britain long ago fulfilled her pledges to Italy. The French territory ceded will strengthen Italians for the day when she will set up a protectorate in Abyssinia. /

BEFORE AGREEMENT

Sir John Simon’s Message (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, January 5. The Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, has telegraphed to Sir Eric Drummond, British Ambassador in Rome, instructing him to convey to Signor Mussolini and M. Laval his warmest good wishes for the success of the Rome negotiations, adding that “the agreement which we hope may be reached will constitute a happy augury for a more extended European accord in the momenotus year which is thus being so auspiciously begun.”