FRENCH STAND

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 100, 22 January 1935, Page 9

FRENCH STAND

Condition to German Rearmament MUST JOIN PACTS Attitude at London Talks Predicted OTHER NATIONS CONCUR By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 22, 12.10 a.m.) London, January 21. The “Daily Telegraph's” diplomatic correspondent at Geneva says that when DJ. Flandin, Pretnier of France, and SI. Laval, Foreign Minister, visit London next week, tliey will insist that legislation for German rearmament must be conditional on Germany’s adherence to both the Rome agreements and the Eastern Security Pact. In this attitude M. Laval is supported by the Little Entente, Turkey, Greece, Russia, and Italy. If Germany persists in declining to become a partner in central European security, France will proceed with other plans, including a separate agreement with Russia and Czechoslovakia, though this will remain open to German and Polish adhesion. Both Germany and Poland mistrust a multi-lateral engagement. The diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” gathers that Poland is not too pleased by the turn of events, but the Balkan Entente, headed by M. Titulescu (Rumania) is jubilant. The pact signed by France and Italy at Rome earlier in the month consisted of three main agreements? with additional protocols. These agreements and protocols were regarded as the greatest move for general European peace since the World War. They include a Franco-Italian agreement on colonial affairs; a general pact for the Danubian ■basin with a guarantee of Austria’s independence, and, thirdly, a general consultative policy in the interests of European peace. • The clause regarding ’he Danubian agreement states that it must be signed by Italy, Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Austria. A London cable stated that the "Daily Mail’s” Rome correspondent said the two Governments agreed to regard German rearmament as illegal until a special agreement is reached on the matter between Germany and the Powers. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” pointed out that this was likely to render more problematical Germany's acceptance of'the Danubian Pact. POLAND AND PACT Reported Withdrawal of Oppositipn Geneva, January 20. M. Litvinoff, Soviet Foreign Minis- < ter,, made a statement at the League Council, implying that the Polish Foreign Minister (M. Beck) had withdrawn his opposition to the Eastern Pact, and only the consent of Germany was now required to it. M. Beck is abed with bronchitis. French official quarters state that M. Beck has not yet replied categorically to-M. Laval's representations.