COMMON FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1939, Page 5

COMMON FRONT

APPROVAL IN FRANCE PRAISE FOR MR CHAMBERLAIN. VIOLENT ATTACKS IN NAZI PRESS (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, March 21. The French Press unanimously praises the plan for a common front against the aggressor Powers. M. Blum, leader of the Socialist party, writing . in the “Populaire,” praises Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax whom he says are now applying themselves to effacing the bitter memories which events of last September left in the minds of the leaders of Soviet Russia.

“An Anglo-Soviet rapprochement,” he says, “will be followed by an ‘ldeological bloc’ of peace.” . The Berlin Press continues to vituperate against the democracies in general and Britain in particular. The “Boersen Zeitung” says the fact that . the British “clutch at the Soviet straw” is not evidence of statesmanship but of hate, impotence and bottomless hypocrisy. “The league which England is organising against us will not frighten us,” says the paper. General Franco has sent a. telegram to Herr Hitler congratulating him on the Czechoslovak coup, but the fact that Signor Mussolini has not yet sent his congratulations has not escaped the notice of Nazi leaders who are believed to understand it as a sign that the Duce is impatient of the German successes while he continues to mark time. It is reported that Field-Marshal Goering, when he goes to Italy, will take a sop to Signor Mussolini in the shape of Herr Hitler’s assurances of a large measure of support for the Italian claims in the Mediterranean.

KEEPING TOUCH BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS. STATEMENT BY GENERAL , HERTZOG. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, March 21. General Hertzog, in the Assembly, stated that Britain was keeping the Dominions informed but the Union Government had not been consulted as to whether it supports the attitude of the British Government. SOVIET HELP NOT ASKED FOR BY POLAND AND RUMANIA. OFFICIAL MOSCOW DENIAL. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) ’ MOSCOW, March 21. It is officially denied that Poland and Rumania asked for the Soviet’s help. COLLECTIVE SECURITY. NATIONAL LABOUR COUNCIL ADHERES TO POLICY. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON. March 21. The National Council of Labour is drafting a statement adhering to its policy of collective security.