Evening star., 1938-04-18
PARIS TAKESSTEP
+. FOR ITALIAN PACT
Plan Due to Be Presented
to- French Cabinet
Wednesday.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the AsSoc1ateo Press.
PARIS, April ia foreign ofice
spokesman announced today that the
French Embassy in Rome had taken
steps toward opening Franco italian
negotiations for an agreement similar
to that between Britain and Italy,
signed Saturday in Rome.
The spokesman said Jules Blondel,
French Charge dAffaires. called on
Italian Foreign Minister Count
Galeazzo Ciano Saturday to propose
conversations that would permit ap-
pointment of a French Ambassador to
Italy early in May
France has not had an Ambassador
in Rome for more than, two years, be-
cause she refused to accredit an envoy
to the Italian King as Emperor Of
Ethiopia. which would have meant
recognition Of Italy's East African con-
quests. France is believed ready now
to follow Britain in such recognition.
Cabinet Meets Wednesday.
The foreign ONCE hoped Premier
Mussolini's answer would arrive before
Wednesdays meeting Of the French
cabinet, at which Premier Edouard
Daladier and Foreign Minister Georges
Bonnet are expected to present their
plan for q Franco-Italian accord.
Hopes were expressed here that q pact
could be signed before Germanys
Reichsfuehrer Hitler visits Rome early
in May.
Britain has in mind eventually get.
ting Germany into friendship pact
50 there would in effect be q four.
power agreement for peace.
Frances quarrel with Italy began
when she, with other members of the
League Of Nations, boycotted the Ital.
ian campaign in Ethiopia. 1t grew
with the Spanish civil war and Italy.
increasing aspirations in North Africs
and the Mediterranean.
Some Points to Be Covered.
The main points to be covered wer,
considered to be roughly the same a!
those Of the Anglo-ItalfAn agreement
signed on Saturday in Rome to com
plete the first phase Of British Premie
Chamberlain's policy Of dickering Will
Europe's dictators to keep world peace
Under the 1talo- British agreement
Italy reassured Britain she had n,
territorial or political aims in Spain
adhered to the 1886 London naya
treaty. and agreed not to seek influenc,
in Arabian territories bordering tn
Red Sea; Britain agreed to worl
through the League for recognition O
the Ethiopian conquest.
Both agreed to maintain the Medi.
terranean status quo. and the pact be.
comes effective when Italy withdraw.
forces from insurgent Spain. which
she agreed would be at latest at thu
end Of the civil war.
Lines Of French Agreement.
Acknowledgment Of mutual interest!
IN the Mediterranean; agreement t
respect existing colonial spheres II
North Africa; exchange Of military
information; mutual promises to lei
Spain work out her own destiny aftel
the civil war ends; French promise!
to seek legalization Of the Ethiopian
conquest and italian recognition O,
French interests in East Africa.
! With such q parallel agreement ir
his pocket, Premier Daladier coulc
go to London, as is expected, Apri
% and stand good chance of getting
the increased diplomatic backing
France wants from England.
French observers say that II Mus
solini failed to live up to the agree.
ment the two countries, Britain and
France. would be in the same position
and cooperation would be necessary
II he does live up to 1t, their alliance
would be strengthened and a close,
working arrangement would be logical