NON-INTERVENTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1939, Page 7

NON-INTERVENTION

STRONGLY OPPOSED VIEWS IN FRANCE

M. BLUM'S DENUNCIATION.

NEUTRALITY INSISTED UPON

BY M. FLANDIN.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. PARIS, January 17.

1 The former Right Wing Premier, M. Flandin, kept the Chamber of Deputies in an uproar by a speech yesterday demanding that France should refrain from intervention in Spain whatever Italy might do. M. Leon Blum, who was Popular Front Premier when the non-inter-vention policy was adopted, interposed, passionately declaring that the decision was made in the hope that the policy would be reciprocal and not degenerate into a miserable and bloody hypocrisy in which France refrained from supporting one side while the other side received all the help it wanted. He demanded that the Government co-operate with Britain in denouncing the agreement or carrying it out in the same way as other Powers. M. Flandin declared that French intervention would only lead to increased intervention from the other side and finally to world war. It was France’s duty to remain neutral and accord belligerent rights to both sides. Then she could approach whatever Spanish Government emerged from the conflict. [

ASPERSIONS ON VALOUR

WILD TALK IN ITALY.

THREATS AGAINST FRANCE.

ROME. January 17.

The Fascist Press this morning warns France to cease offending the valour of Italian soldiers, otherwise war is inevitable.

“Il Popolo di Roma,” referring to a reported statement in French newspapers that servants of the Italian King leave Italy’s shores only in cases of absolute necessity, says:

“All men of good faith must realise that this language of the French Press constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to world peace.” The “Messagero” says that it seems that the “absolute necessity” •is about to occur, for, if provocations continue, other shores will soon be visited by servants of the Italian King. Italians will avenge the insult. Ex-service men are arranging to return French war medals as a protest against the French aspersions against Italian gallantry.

AFRICAN MUSTER.

ITALIAN TROOPS AND NAVAL

CRAFT.

PARIS, January 18.

The Jibuti correspondent of “I’lntransigeant” reports that Italian reinforcements, mostly Askaris and Arabs, have been arriving at Adagala daily for the past fortnight. The correspondent adds thatisix submarines, ten gunboats and the cruiser Bari are moored at Massawa.

FOLLOWI-NG BRITAIN.

FRANCE NOT TO OPEN FRONTIER.

(Received This Day. 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 13.

The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says Cabinet has decided to reject the demand to reopen the Franco-Spanish frontier and will continue its non-intervention co-opera-tion with Britain.

HINTED THREATS.

NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

LONDON, January 18.

The Paris correspondent of- the “Daily Telegraph” says that threatening hints from Germany that Herr Hitler will support any action taken by Signor Mussolini if France intervenes on the side of the Spanish Government are not taken seriously by French official circles since the French Government has no intention of altering its policy of non-intervention in Spain, despite the open military support given to General Franco by the Duce and the less advertised but more important support given by Herr Hitler. It is emphasised that the French Government is closely following British policy.