FRANCE STANDS FIRM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 January 1932, Page 5

FRANCE STANDS FIRM

(Press Assn.-

will co-operate for peace but cannot sacrifice security REPARATIONS MUST BE PAID

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

. PARIS, Saturday. The Pfime Minister, ... M, -Pierre Laval, in winding up the debate on a motion of confidenee in a crowded Ghamber, said France would not allow any treaties to be prescribed, and wotild only accept a reduction in reparations in proportion to the granted reductions in war debts. The Young Plan provision could not be modified. France had made. many gestures of goodwill to facilitate European union, but could not agree to allpw Germany alone to dictate a solution. The whole Chamber cheered M. Laval's emphatic declaration that morality cannot be.banned from international action. The same rules of honesty applying to relations between men apply to international relatio.ns. He and Mr. Ramsay MacDonald had not yet agreed about the future Reparations Conference, but it was only a question of time. Referring .;to disarmaments M. Laval said that France, while conforming to the League • covenant, could not accept ihiprovisations compromising her security. She had set an example for years in a reduction in man-ppwpy armaments, but could go no further, and- would submit positive -proposals. for political conditions of mutual assi'stance in the reductiop of,; armaments. . .• The Chamber passed a motion of confidenee by 303 votes to 265.