Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-10-18
London Insists
Risk BeTaken
Collectively.
PARIS STILL
AVOIDS PLEDGE
England Expects
Promise of Aid
Next Week.

BY the Associated Press.
Great Britain has no intention of
warning on Italy alone.
That statement came from authori-
tative London sources today.
The British view was made known
shortly after reports from Paris said
that France wanted Britain to re-
nounce formally any blockade of Italy
or any thought of individual sanctions
against II Duces government.
Said France, in effect: You must
say to us that you plan no individual
action either at arms or by boycott.
If you give us your promise, then we
will be in better position to give a
yes answer to your request for our
support in carrying out the edicts of
the League of Nations against Italy"
Insist on Collective Risks.
A British spokesman said today that
his country had always insisted that
if risks must be run for peace, they
must be taken collectively.
The British position, as explained
today, is this:
She has never suggested military
sanctions against Italy. has never pro-
posed a blockade and has not sug-
gested closing the Suez Canal to
Italian ships.
The British government is waiting
for reply from France to its ques-
ton: will you back us in case of an
Italian attack upon British ships in
the Mediterranean" A direct yes" or
mo" answer has been asked.
Paris Leaves Issue to British.
tCopyright 1885, by the Associated Press
PARIS, October 18-Authoritative
sources disclosed today that, before
France moves in any direction in the
present international crisis, she must
know:
l. How far Great Britain will go in
naval sanctions against Italy.
2. Just what Premier Mussolini of
Italy demands as a minimum in re-
turn for calling off his war against
Ethiopia.
Until Premier Laval and his cabinet
are definitely informed on these two
points, these authorities declared,
France will not reply to the British
demand for a definite yes" or mo"
answer on the critical question of
whether the French Navy will REIN
force the British warships in the
Mediterranean if Italy attacks those
ships.
Laval Sees ENJOYS.
This attitude was represented as
determined upon by Premier Laval
today in conferences with Sir George
Russell Clerk, the British Ambassador,
and Vittoria Cerruti, the Italian AM
bassador
When the premier had finished talk
ing to the two ENJOYS, he called in
Marshal Philippe Petain, former minis
ter of war. in what observers inter-
preted as a grim gesture of prepared
ness on the part of France.
An authoritative source declared
that the premier consulted the marshal
on the military possibilities for
France" in the unsettled European
situation.
Considers Petain an Expert.
1t was stated that he called in the
marshal because a conference with
the French general staff would have
been too official and. besides, he
considers Petain the outstanding mill
tary expert of the nation.
Ambassador Clerk was told in his
hours talk during the morning that
France considers guarantees of mu-
tual support among members of the
League of Nations under Article XVI
Of the covenant sufficient protection
for Great Britain in any case arising
out of the enforcement of League of
Nations sanctions against Italy or any
other nation.
Why does Great Britain want a
specific guaranteed" Laval was report
ed as asking of the British. Has
she any action in mind which is not
covered by the guarantees of Article
XVI?
France has engaged herself clearly
and formally within the League She
does not see herself able to undertake
an engagement for specific case
Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, who also
(See BRITAIN, Page S.