The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 8

8 THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1935 THE COURSE OF THE WAR News from Abroad FRENCH RADICAL CONGRESS Little Satisfaction with M. Laval's Anti-Fascist Decrees AMERICAN SALES TO ITALY Possible Check on Raw Materials for Munitions QUESTION ON LEAGUE SANCTIONS From our own Correspondent PROPOSALS jJE. AnJlrJ wvl7 SOMA ll LAND "A Roads iiL CJ Italian Forces '4) BBB Abyssinian txss reulo Burti KENYA (I is now illegal and recognise that there is little likelihood of Congress authorising it in view of the overwhelmingly isolationist position of American public opinion. THE APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS Manv States Delay From our Correspondent Geneva, October 25.

Twenty-eight States have now notified the League of Nations that Sanctions Proposal No. 1 the arms embargo against Italy has been put into effect. On the other sanctions there is greater delay. Only nino States have so far applied the financial sanctions, and only three have notified M. Avenol that they are prepared to put the embargo on Italian exports and the prohibition of key exports to Italy into force.

Two have stated that they are prepared to apply the fifth proposal, relating to mutual support by States taking part in sanctions. Liberia is one of the two States that have accepted the five proposals, the other being the Union of South Africa. The failure of the British Government to apply anything but the arms embargo has given rise to considerable comment in League quarters. Tho financial sanctions were to be put into force as soon as possible and at the latest on October 31, and. although tho British Delegation adopted a strong attitude on this question, nothing appears to have been done about it.

France, too, has applied only tho arms embargo. ALTERNATIVE From our own Paeis, Ocxobee 25. The Radical Congress is. dominated by the of the Fascist leagues more even than by those of the economy decrees of the Laval Government and the foreign policy of France. The probabilities are that the Laval Government will come intact through its present ordeal (a- Radical congress is always something of an ordeal for a Coalition Government), but there is no doubt that a large part of the Radicals are not satisfied with the sop they received from M.

Laval on the eve of their Congress in the shape of his three "anti-Fascist" decrees. These decrees are too obviously a sop, and M. Daladier and M. Guernut and other Left-wing members have loudly voiced their opinion that they will not do and that M. Laval was hopinji to getoff too easily.

fa Nor were they sufficiently reassured by the democratic rhetoric of He--not speech yesterday afternoon. 'J he first skirmish between tho two Kdouards, Herriot and Daladier, 1 10k place last night on the General Policy 'w v.wm nc: ui WHICH iVl. Jierriot left the room and slammed the door, exclaiming (according to reliable reports) that this was a conspiraev against him and the Government. Later M. Chautemps succeeded in soothing the ruffled tempers, and M.

Herriot consented to return to the committee. M. Daladier and his followers that the Laval decrees against the leagues- are meaningless, and in the discussion that continued on the committee this morning they proposed that the Laval Government should be given time of grace" in which to prove that they are actually of some practb.il value. It was suggested that the rHe that notice must be given to the authorities of any meetings held public places should also be extended to certain private gatherings (it is well known' that most of the recent giant Tallies" of the Croix de Feu have taken place on some private estate, and may thus be classed as private Further, it was suggested that the time-limit should be fixed at October 31, and that if by that time nothing was done the Radical party should refuse to support the Government in-future. This drastic proposal was naturally opposed by the more moderate elements of tho Radical party.

FASCIST BAIT At this morning's deliberations, at which M. Chautemps again acted as mediator brl veen the Daladier group and M. Herriot's followers, the Left wing produced in support of their arguments a pro-Fascist article by II. Henri de Kerillis in this morning's Echo de Paris." The purpose of this article was obviously to provide a strong argument for M. Herriot's opponents in the Radical party and thus to cause serious friction at the congress, and 51.

Dala-dier's supporters indeed availed themselves of the weapon the Fascist writer had offered them so generously. Correspondent In his article M. de Kerillis began by saying that if he had wished to please M. Laval be would have simulated great indignation over the anti-Fascist decrees, and bo have facilitated the task of M. Herriot at the Radical Congress.

He instead preferred to declare that the anti-Fascist decrees were practically meaningless. The rule that notice must be given of any meetings held in a public place could nut cause much inconvenience to the organisers of such meetings unless the rule waa extended to private meetings. yet how could anybody be prevented from receiving a thousand or ten thousand or a hundred thousand guests if he felt like it, except through an act of supreme interference with alL the laws of private property The other decree prohibiting any associations whose purpose it is to conspire against the Republican form of government was, in M. de Kerillis's opinion, equally meaningless. The Action Francaise," which openly advocated the restoration of the monarchy in France, would have to be dissolved, but what would prevent it from reorganising itself under another name! M.

de Kerillis admitted that the Communist party, being a party, could not be dissolved, but said that the decrees should have providedwhich they have not done for the dissolution of the Communist party in so far as it was an organisation in the pay of a foreign Government." As for the Croix de Feu, he declared that the decree could not apply to it, as this organisation was law-abiding and perfectly liepublican. The perfect Republicanism of the Croix de Fen is hardly confirmed by the frequent if veiled threats of a Putsch uttered by its various leaders, but M. de Kerillis's edifying article has none the less strengthened the imnres- sion among many of the Radicals that the emcacy of the anti-t ascist decrees still remains to be proved. A "STIFF" RESOLUTION At another stormy meeting that the committee held this evening the Left wing members succeeded in obtaining its consent to a new proposed resolu tion which, as one of the leading Radicals told me to-night, was "extremely stiff." Without fixing a time-limit lor the Government, this resolution. I understand.

would have the decrees extend the rule of giving advance notice to the authorities to semi-military meetings neiu even on private premises and. in a private capacity." It further demands that the Laval Government should enforce the decrees by new legislation and that the matter should come up for discussion before the Chamber before the beginning of the Budget which should normally begin almost as soon as the Chamber reassembles next month. This "very stiff1' motion will be submitted for'M. Herriot's approval probably to-morrow morninc, and as he is not likely to accept it without changes for if he did it place the Laval Government in a very awkward position a serious clash between the Government Radicals and the anti-Government Radicals may yet ne store Detore the end of the Congress. However, judginir from the reluctance of even many of the Left-winders to overthrow the Laval Government which they admit will not be easy to replace, a major crisis will in all probability be averted.

The danger of a Fascist Putsch is not perhaps as real as the nervousness displayed by the Radicals suggests, though they are no doubt right in wishing to take the greatest possible precautions. Correspondent the Soviet Union, which had become a loyal member of the League of Nations. As for England, she stood for an international conscience, for the indivisibility of peace, and for collective security. Was it for France, who had proposed the Jenea Protocol which proided sanctions to say no now After a slow evolution of ten years Enpland had at last accepted the League policy advocated for years by France. Justice must be strong, and strength must be just." he had proclaimed at Geneva in 192.

The British had then thought that arbitration would be enough. Thev had at last come round to the French point of i iew. Was this the time for France to sav that she had changed her mind? 'The League Covenant is our Ideal and it also coincides with the vital interests of France. Those of who wish to discourage the men who have understood the need of sanctions are taking a terrible responsibility. Abyssinia is iio doubt far away, but what if a war were to break out nearer at hand? Let us serve both the inteie-its of our country and the interests of world peace now and in future." Xearly the whole audience rose to its feet and cheered.

ENGLAND DEEPLY WOUNDED Earlier on the afternoon M. Jacques Kayser, representing the Left wing of the party, spoke on the same subject. He said The present state of Anglo-French relations was very serious. He had just returned from England, and he had realised there how deeply England had been wounded by France's attitude. It was true that England's behaviour had often disappointed France in the past the last occasion was the sudden conclusion of the naval pact with Germanv (loud cheers) yet to-day England was demanding the total application of the League Covenant.

Was this the time for France to turn her back on the League Tiiere were some French Fascists who believed that only an agreement with Germany could solve France's troubles. Such an agreement could be the best thing or the worst thing in the world. It wculd be the best if" it meant the incorporation of Germany in the peace system. It would be the worst if it meant giving Germany a free hand in the east. It would mean a new Sadowa, which would be followed by a new Sedan.

Yet that precisely was the policy that the enemies of the League of Nations were advocating. Similar conclusions were drawn by M. Bastid, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber, in the report on foreign policy he has presented to the Congress. Neither in this report nor in any of the speeches hitherto made has anybody gone so far as to advocate military sanctions if necessary. The question is being carefully evaded.

REPORTED FRENCH TALKS WITH HITLER According to reliable information a representative of M. Laval was day or" two ago in Berlin, where he saw Kerr Hitler in the hope of preparing the ground for informal talks between the two Governments. Herr Hitler, who seems to have put his money on the British horse, is understood to have given M. Laval's emissary a rather cool reception. New York, October 25.

Mr. Roosevelt hinted to-day that the United States might in future take action co curb the excessive increase of American shipments to Italy of raw materials useful for war purposes Asked whether the present arms embargo will be broadened to cover such raw materials, he replied that the question would be considered when it arises. Reminded that American exporters are now selling oil to Italy, the President replied that he understood that this was no more than a continuation of normal business. If action is taken to prevent the abnormal trade in raw materials it would be against the advice of the State Department, which has ruled that the intent of Congress was to prevent the shipment of actual arms and ammunition only. The President has indicated that the United States would be likely to reply promptly to an inquiry from the League of Nations regarding possible American participation in sanctions.

He is reported to consider that the neutrality law permits a little discretion. It would not make riossible a formal participation in sanctions, although, as repeatedly pointed out in these dispatches, American policy parallels the League's actions in several particulars. The American reply to the League probably would not come from the President but from the State Department. Mr. Henry Stimson, former Secretary of State, to-day conferred with Mr.

CordelJ Hull, Secretary of State, regarding the international situation. Stimson, in a recent wireless address, advocated American participation in Leasrue sanctions to the fullest extent While the character of his talk with Mr. Hull is not revealed, it is known that both Mr. Hull and Mr. Roosevelt consider that such a course ITALIANS TAKE TWO POSTS A Move in Ogaden Adois Ababa.

October 25 A few survivors, worn and exhausted, have brought the news to Gorahai of how two Abyssinian garrisons fought against an overwhelming Italian attack, suP' norted bv heavv bombinp from th hit The two posts were those of Shelaho and laferekatama, both Ogaden. Thev were surrounded By strong Italian forces supported by ten bombing planes. The Italian and native infantry opened a heavy rifle and machine-gun tire on me two posts, wniie tne pianes dropped bombs near the Abyssinian trenches. The comparatively small garrisons held nut. OS lrtnnr oc Onill-! utiH thnca remained alive escaped "under cover of points of the Abyssinian position in the south, and from there the news was sent by wireless to Addis Ababa, where the fall of the posts was officially announced this evening.

The Abyssinian garrison in Gorahai, the meeting-place of many caravan routes in the Ogaden area, is awaiting the luiuaxi miacK, wnicn is nouriy expected. The ItahanB now hold the approaches to Gorahai, and are preparing for the final assault. It is helieved that they are concentrating tanks and armoured cars at a point about 25 miles due south of Gorahai. Press Association War Special. INDISCRIMINATE MACHINE-GUNNING Aodis Ababa, Octobeb 25.

An Abyssinian communique to-day refers to further indiscriminate machine-gunning of Abyssinian women and children in the north" from aeroplanes. Exchange Telegram. AIR-RAID PRACTICE IN ABYSSINIA Army Hides Effectively Haeae, October 25. By the special permission of Ra3 Desta, Commander-in-Chief in the south, I rode out to-day to visit the main body of the Abyssinian southern armies, which is encamped between Harar and Jijiga, and to watch them practising the antiaircraft exercises which are bo vital to them. There are two Belgian officers with the troops, who are a remarkably fine body of men ehflfint? with imna(iAna frr a fight.

Their armaments are mixed rang ing from up-to-date rifles to guns which were old even in the days of the Emperor iVfonalilr nut thnii and moral appear to be first-rate. Their training in taking cover irom aircraft ha3 been brought to a high pitch. ai one moment tne plain in which the troops were drawn up wa3 alive with men. The signal was given that Italian 'Dhmes were nnnrn nrfnn er anrl t'nn man uicm seemed to melt- into the ground, taking cover in small vrnnno nnrl ot traaa A ditches. They appear to blend into the luuuscape in a way wnicn manes it easy to understand why the Italian 'planes lTl fhp.

nArtfl Am at. fnaa tn diannra. Ua iu LUC whereabouts of Ras Seyoum and his men, nwj big icpwiea move at mgnt. At tllA ffATTIA fima flia Un 7 imi Lane detachments quickly unlimbered their went reaay lor action in a moment. Platoons of specially chosen marksmen hidden in adjoining trenches were ready to support the quick fire of tne guns.

Freas Association War FRENCH CANCEL ITALIAN AEROPLANE ORDER Pasts. CWwvre 9 It. is stated here thin order for 100 Gnome 14 engines was received from Italy before the opening of iiaio-Aoyasinian hostilities but that following Hie embargo the remainder of the order still outstanding has been A Tennion of ex-servicemen in the Manchester district who are members of the Scottish Units Association will be held Hotel, Manchester, after the Armistice way paraae. xne Scottish Units will be represented the Armistice Day parade in the morning. M.

HERRIOT'S SUPPORT FOR BRITISH POLICY The latest news states that the Itali in force is still pushing slowly up the river. The Italian delay has to a certain extent hampered the Abyssinians as well, for guerrilla tactics are useless against a stationary enemy in a strong position. The troops of Ras Seyoum in Tigre are still waiting in the hills before Makale and are even said to have caught the infection of consolidation." Ras Kassa has at last arrived from Gondar a tremendous journey of over 200 miles, and has taken up his position on the left of Ras Seyoum to menace the Italians' right flank should they, The Abssinian strategy in Tigre was clearly to withdraw in the centre while throwing out a force on each side like the curved horns of a bull. This has been spoilt partly by the Italian stolidity and partly by the fact that the right flanking movement was originally entrusted to Dedjaz-match Gugsa from Makale, who promptly deserted to the Italians. It is said that a new movement on this side has been given (rather confusingly) to Dedjazmatch Kassa, a different person and of inferior rank to Ras Kassa on the western wing.

In the meantime more troops are hurrying north from Addis Ababa on the road to Dessye. Last Monday Ras Moulou-gheta, the Minister of War, left to take supreme command in the north, accompanied by part' of the Imperial Guard. The Emperor himself is expected to follow as soon as the last troops fiom the south-west provinces have been collected and reviewed at Addis Ababa before being redistributed to their various fronts. In the south the position of the Abyssinian armies is more obscure. Ras Nasibou is in command at Harar with the assistance of the Turkish breneral JNesib as Chief of Staff.

The actual commander of the Southern front, however, ia Ran Dpatn wlin io believed to be moving down towards tne bhibeli area from the Bale Province in the west. The final command in Ogaden may be given to Tecle Hawanat, the Abyssinian delegate at vieneva, wno is now on fiis wnv- hanL- from Europe. ITALIAN "KINDNESS" TO ABYSSINIANS Pictures for Egyptians Alexandria, October 25. A young English aristocrat" standing on his hands endeavouring to drink water from a cup on the floor of an English police station is among the illustrations of an Italian publication done in colours which is prominently displaved here among a series of bright propaganda efforts. A police sergeant is shown seated at his desk, and two constables watch with bated breath the young man's antics to prove his sobriety.

Another picture shows Italians at the front smilingly distributing food to the Abyssinians while shells burst in the distance. Italian aeroplanes decorated with the skull and crossbones are seen flying low raking the retreating Abyssinians with machine-gun fire. In another an Abyssinian prisoner stops work on the roads in order to kiss the Italian flag, which is held by an Italian officer. The publication is hung up in a prominent position outside a bookseller's on the main street here. Press Association War Special.

TRIBESMEN BUYING RIFLES WITH GOLD Asms Ababa, October 25. The Emperor Haile Selassie;" to-rtav reviewed 70,000 tribesmen from the uau uwwcu IAJ capital to answer the call to mobilisation. There were extraordinary scenes. The tribesmen arrived carrying thousands of Ynniti3r a n.1 vuuo gum in viuiQuy iorms. irum ore to auss, nuggets, ana ingots.

In hp Kflnnro Armenian rfMlam were to be seen with tables piled high with the gold which the warriors exchanged for clothing, rifles, mules, and 1 1 1 1 1 1 u.oii. Huge MOTORIST FINED 20 ON DRINK CHARGE James Frederick Scott, Birch Trees, Upton; was' fined 20 and costs and had his driving licence suspended' for six months at Macclesfield Borongh -Police Court yesterday lor being under the influence of ftnnfc when in ehartTA ot a motor-ear. The proceedines were the seanel an accident in Jordangate, Macclesfield, late last Friday night, when Scott's car ran into the rear of a stationary vehicle. In evidence Scott admitted having had three whiskies and sodas shortly before The Italian campaign shows signs of developing that "military phthisis" once so fatally criticised by Crispi. In Tigre there is little change in the position of the invading army, and consolidation seems to have become a mental and material fixation.

It is true that 112 miles of road have been constructed between the River Mareb and the front line through country of great difficulty, that telephone lines have been erected to communicate between Adowa and Asmara, and that over a hundred wells have been sunk; it is true, also, that sound preparation is the first essential for any advance; but even so a pause of twenty days at the ery beginning of an invasion is unusual. It seems more and more probable that no deep penetration is planned from the north and that the objective is to secure the province of Tigre rather than to reach Dessye or Addis Ababa. This would explain the multiplication of roads and services as well as of men, for an army of 100,000 would not be too large to "spread out over the countryside but makes an unwieldy mass with which to advance far into a mountainous and barren country. The plan may have been to leave the decisive action to General Graziani in the south as soon as the northern force was hrmly established on the Tipire plateau and the fall of Adowa had satisfied the Ministry of Propaganda. If so, there has been an unfortunate miscalculation.

In Ogaden the rains have not conformed with tho ideas of the Italian General Staff. Storms are still a daily occurrence and the ground is too sodden for the mechanised lorries, tanks, and tractors on which the southern army is relying. There was a fairly trustworthy renort thot, several tanks had been abandoned, nopeiessiy Doggea," near the frontier of British Somaliland. Frnm a military point of view this delay cannot seriously matter except bv niMiisr wie ADyssimans rime ro prepare their defence, but the Italian nresa is already showing the strain of trying to make bricks without straw and victories without battles. It was THE A.A.A.

TO BE CONTINUED Roosevelt's Plan From oar own Correspondent New York, October 25. President Roosevelt to-day indicated his intention of continuing the Agricul tural Adjustment Administration be yond the period of emergency which called it into being. He suggested that it could preserve prosperity among the farmers, largely by eliminating gluts and shortages. His remarks are read here with nar- ticular interest because the United States Supreme Court is exuected to declare that the Act is unconstitutional in the near future, and the policy of subsidising farmers is likely to play an important part in next year's Presidential campaign. EXCHANGE OF SPIES A Franco-German Accommodation Steasbotjbo, October '25.

There will be an interesting ceremony this afternoon at the Kehl bridge over the Rhine, which forms the frontier between France and Germany. Two Germans convicted of espionage will be exchanged for three Frenchmen who have been imprisoned for the same oSence. The arrangements for the exchange have been made by Fidac (the Allied ex-servicemen's organisation), who were moved by the nlizht of two war veterans among the prisoners the blind Prussian ex-army captain Herr Johannes Kathke, and the French engineer M. Emile Schneider, whose health become very precarious. Renter.

AMMUNITION EXPLOSION IN CHINA Shasqhax, Octobsb 25. Hundreds of soldiers and civilians" were killed when an ammunition damp exploded at Lanchow, Kansu Province, an Monday last, according to a report just received here from Chinese sources in. Sian. The explosion set fire to adjoining buildiriKS, and hundreds of houses are stated to have been destroyed. Renter, therefore with particular pleasure that they announced the one small success (and the only action) since the occupation of Aksum.

On October 18 (the news did not reach Italy for several days) Italian native troops pushed up the River tit l. r.1 -i i we one onioen ana captured an Abyssinian post at Dagnerei after a brisk engagement. At the same time another small post a few miles to the north-east was taken and a district round the river made secure. Accord ing to the official communique, this move was a counter to a threat by the Abyssinians, but the threat must have been more potential than actual, for there is no eidence that a large bodj of Abyssinians was engaged or even within striking distance. The move, however, has considerable strategic importance.

The fcihibeli valley is fertile ana well watered, providing an excellent station for troops as well as an easy way up to the high plateau. Moreover, by advancing so far up the river, the Italians have secured the important junction where the road from Gorahai joins the river. This road (built by Italian engineers) was the only connection between the Abyssinian forces on the Fafan and the Shibeli. Not only can the Italians now use it to advance towards Gorahai, converging with the main attack from Gerlogubi and -Wardair, -but they have secured their left flank from attack should they advance farther up the Fafan towards Harar. Undoubtedly one of the Abyssinian plans was to send a force down the Shibeli to threaten the Italian flank and rear indeed, it was said that an army had alreadv started, and in this sense the Italian move was truly a.

counter to a threat. It is worth noting that Dacnprpj ia more than forty miles higher up the river than Talaobad, their advance post at the start of the war, and it suggests that the move was not accomplished in one bound. Elsewhere in Ocraden there has been a. nhnrt advance for instance, from Damot to Bohotleh and "Wardair to Gerlogubi. and there may have been a dry period before the rains returned so "heavilv.

ELECTIONS IN SWITZERLAND Recovery Plans From our Correspondent Geneva, October 25. Switzerland's Parliamentary elec tions, held once every four years, will take place during the week-end The National Council, the Lower Chamber, consists of 187 members, each one representing every 22.000 inhabitants. The Council of" States, the Upper Chamber, consists of two representatives of each of the 22 cantons, but each canton decides when and how it elects its deputies. The elections this week-end are for the whole ot the National Council, but for only a small proportion of the Council of States. At the Federal Assembly these two houses combined select the seven mem bers of the Federal CounciL But changes in the National Council rarely result in changes in the Cabinet, and in the past members of the Federal Council nave been Known to retain office for nearly thirty years.

M. Motta, the present Swiss Foreign Minister, has been in office since 1920. The present position of the Swiss Parliament is as follows Radical-Democrats, 52; Socialists. 49; Catholic Conservatives, 44; Peasants, Artisans, and Bourgeois party, 30; Liberal-Democrats, without party, 6. In choosing their new Parliament the electors will have to choose between the various plans designed to bring about financial and economic recovery, chief among which is the Socialist plan recently defeated in a national referendum.

It is expected that the Socialist and Fascist parties will improve their position. ESCAPES FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND Poai of Spain iTbxshus). Octobsb 25. on XT who had escaped from Devil's Island, the French penal settlement in Cayenne, landed in Trinidad near the Dragons' Mouths (the straits between the Island and Venezuela). Originally six men escaped, bat one of them, Antonio Altar, died from exhaustion on the way.

Before they got to Trinidad the fugitives put in, danger- hnslv U-PnV- at. Jn Mmr rzram given food and shelter, but were sent to sea again. Reutec ESCAPES FROM ITALY Men Unwilling to Serve ALLOWED TO STAY IN AUSTRIA From our own Correspondent Vien-xa, October 25. There have been reports that many Italian deserters, mostly South Tyrol Germans, have crossed the Austrian frontier. Some of these reports spoke of several thousand, others of hundred, deserters.

I understand from well-informed quarters that some South Tyrol Germans, cenerallv verv vountr. confirm. to wimp ncrnsa the frntiti but their number cannot be very largo ior several reasons, one of them being that the border is carefully guarded On f.hA Tffl.llnn cirlo HPU tj.uw J- ltJ IIUUIUC1 averages, according to this informa- nuu, uiny auuui, jour per aay, nut one Tfimpmhui. rtf -f- 4-nn4. i vs.

wuiiic, LI leakacre has bften rrnincr rn nnm weeks. Those who want, to oro to Germany can do so, but the authorities make stay Austrian Tyrol. Ihe number crossing into Yugoslavia is much higher, nrobablv be- cause the Slav inhabitants of the frontier Hisfrita greater risks than the Germans. FOREIGN BROADCASTS IS ALLOWED According to a renorfc from Inns. bruck the German South Tyrol municipalities have been ordered by the Bolzano prefect to inform the owners of wireless sets in publio places such as inns that their guests must jLniiaii oroaacasts.

xu5uiiLiuii, tne largest German organisation in Tyrol and Bavaria that exists on behalf of the oppressed South Tyrol Germans, announced recently that their chairman. Professor Kold, once a well-known Christian Social deputy of tho Vienna Parliament, had resigned his post because of the difficulties which now stand in the way of the aims of the society. E. AFRICAN UNION Mr. MacDonald Refuses to Consider It Nairobi, October 25.

Mr. Malcolm SlacDonald. tho Secretary. declared in fL tianatAl-. received here to-day that no purpose could be served in reopening the question of closer union amongst the East -African territories.

His dispatch 13 a reply to a proposal maae Dy an unofficial conference at Arusha last March that Kenya and Tanganyika be united. It also replies to' a memorandum from the Indian" chambers of commerce opposing constitutional change. The Association of East African Chambers of Commerce, however, has decided to press the matter further in memorandum which will take up the points made by MacDonald. The Colonial Secretary stated, that Jomt Select Committee decided against a closer union, were still unchanged. He emphasised that considerable opposition 7, vytivtLiuuiy tu xemr to tlw riiruinif.Af.l,A A that this closer onion should be aceom- jwiuea oy increased unofficial control of wutiiuuiuauum.

uu lit Id DOint -tie OPOlAVJIrl hia contemplate, any which would uatiuu principle-mat the imperial Government's control remain unimpaired in East African affairs. Keuter. Tha nut nt liMnA.i--trAM- i contracting- tnr hm X'LJ'S. ct Mmmfmi 1 1 VTt mH Qa9L "utuuiu U9UUIU yany in its Stat. policy for tha municipal elections.

From our own Paris, October 23. At tho afternoon meeting of the Congress M. Herriot made a remarkable speech in defence of the League of Nations and in favour of restoring more cordial relations botween France and Great Britain. He spoke with his usual warmth and sincerity, and, coming from leading French statesman of tho Left, his words should have some effect on M. Laval.

M. Herriot began by saying that the Radicals were the Hrst, at their Congress at Toulouse in 1952, to stretch out a friendly hand to Itsly in suite of her unsympathetic regime. Fiance and Italy, lie said, were both the heirs of Latin civilisation, and the two Latin countries were united by many historical bonds. Italy was a strong nation in need of expansion, and that was a question which deserved to be closelv studied. When France recently asked "Italy at Geneva to state hor claims it wns in a s-pirit of brotheily comprehension.

Yet. was it possible for France to remain silent when a small nation, a member of the League, waa being attacked (Loud cheers.) M. Herriot then went on to deal with Britain. If France, hp said, expected to find the closest spiritual affinity with Britain she was likely to bo disappointed. There were many differences between the French and the British characters.

France had conquered her liberty at one foil swoon. Britain had conquered hers gradually, with ifagna Charts as a starting-point. The French were more iolent in their methods than the English. Yet the faet remained that to-day France and Britain were the only two major nations in Europe which stood for democratic and constitutional liberty. In some ways Britain was a freer country than France, for the individual w.is better protected by the laws and the State had a dignity which it lacked in France.

(Loud cheers and cries of In paying homage to Itaiv France must not forget how many thousands of Britons died between 1914 and 191S fighting by France side. We are slow, but we are sure. We come now." M. Herriot uttered the woids in English. They were what General French wrote in August, 1914.

he said, and later in the war England introduced conscription against all her traditions. The English were now greatly disturbed by certain campaigns directed in France against England and the League. "The Englishman does not like his word to be doubted, and it is an extremely serious matter when, instead of -telling a British Minister that we believed his word, we proceeded to cast aspersions upon his lovalty." But the question was not whether France was pro-British or anti-British. Ihe question was whether France was for or against the League of Nations. (Cheers.) It was not neceBsary to convince Radicals of the usefulness of the League, but it waa important to convince the French public which had been demoralised by unscrupulous press campaigns.

The League bad proved its usefulness more than once it had prevented a war after the Marseilles assassinations and at the time of the Saar plebiscite. A. campaign was also beinj; conducted agjinit th Franco-Russian Pact and against.