CARTE BLANCHE TO DALADI ER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 151, 22 March 1939, Page 11

CARTE BLANCHE TO DALADI ER

Power To Put France On War Footing PARIS, March 20. The Council of Ministers today discussed the plenary decrees granted yesterday to the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, with the object of strengthening national defence. It is understood that new decrees give the Government carte blanche to place industry and the army on a war footing. They are being submitted to President Lebrun for ratification. The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, detailed the international situation to the Council, and M. Reynaud, the Finance Minister, emphasized the need for economics through reduction .of civil expenditure, increased production and administrative reorganization. Meanwhile, it is persistently rumoured here that technical engineering experts have been called up and sent to the Maginot Line. A similar measure was taken in the September crisis. The Cabinet is reported to have decided to denounce the recently-signed commercial treaty with Czechoslovakia. on the ground that it would merely facilitate German exports. ' The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, received tlie Ambassador to Moscow, M. Couldondre, and M. Sowitz, the Soviet Ambassador.

The Hungarian Legation here denies a concentration of Hungarian troops on tlie Rumanian frontier, and adds that some men who were called up to reinforce regiments have been sent to occupy Ruthenia.