PLENARY POWER FOR DALADIER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 150, 21 March 1939, Page 9

PLENARY POWER FOR DALADIER

“Backs To The Wall” In France SENATE’S CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT Strong Note Sent To Germany By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. PARIS, March 19. The Senate today passed the Bill granting plenary powers to the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, by 286 votes to 17.

In his speech to the Senate on the subject of the Bill, M. Daladier said he regretted modifying the 40hour week law, but the country’s salvation came before the convenience of citizens.

“I will never admit that I was a sinner in connexion with Munich,”' he said. “I did all that was possible to avoid war. Now we are at the last ditch, and we will hold it to the last man. I will not increase the number of Ministers in the Cabinet because it is not a time for such negotiations. We must show Europe that we have our backs to the wall.” Previously the Finance Committee of the Senate had by 25 votes to 2 approved the granting of full powers to the Government after a speech by M. Daladier in which he declared that the position adopted by England and France gave them today, now that the Munich agreement had been violated, an incomparable moral force. The Cabinet met today at ti.so p.m. and considered draft decrees under the Plenary Powers Bill for ratification tomorrow. A Note which has been sent by the French Government to Germany complains of “flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of the Munich agreement.”