FRANCE ADAMANT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 7

FRANCE ADAMANT

NO CESSION TO ITALY NOT AN INCH OF TERRITORY WILL STAND BY SPAIN [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 8, 6.35 p.m. PARIS, Feb. 7. The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, speaking in the Senate, declared in even stronger terms than he has done hitherto that France will never agree to handing over an inch of territory to Italy. He said that any attempt to carry out such a transfer would only lead to armed conflict. Nor could Franc; allow any foreign Power to threaten the integrity of Spain. M. Bonnet’s speech .included a conciliatory passage in which he claims that no effort to dissipate the misunderstanding had been neglected “We cannot imagine Italy committing aggression against France,” he added “The tw'o nations are solemn bound by ties of language, culture and blood.” The Senate passed a vote of confidence in the Government by 290 vote to 16. M. Bonnet, obviously referring tc the Italian press, declared that the attempts made to find a divergence o. opinion between Britain and France to which Mr. Chamberlain had replied, had been answered clearly an; effectively. The United States was < faithful friend, but it was necessary to leave Franco-American friendshq to some shade of discretion in ordei to avert exuberance, which might bprejudicial thereto. Mr. Rooseveii had shown the greatest understanding The three democracies were unitec and had nothing to fear from anyone The Premier, M. Daladier, stresse. the serious state of international trade and said: “If a now rhythm of com mercial relations is not establishes there can be not other issue than the bloodiest, most atrocious and mos ruthless war.”