BRITAIN & RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1939, Page 5

BRITAIN & RUSSIA

NEGOTIATIONS TAKE NEW TURN FRENCH PROPOSALS AS BASIS. LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED BY SOVIET. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PARIS, May 22. Tt is understood Hint. Russia is now prepared to negotiate on Hie basis of Hie French proposals for a security agreement with Britain. The main feature of the proposals is an Anglo-French guarantee of help to Russia, if an attack on the Powers guaranteed by Britain and France drew her into war. It is believed that the guarantees would not be entirely automatic but would call for instant consultation if a situation arose likely to demand their active fulfilment. The French plan is also believed to provide for staff talks to make technical preparations. A message published last week stated: The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says that, if Britain and the Soviet fail to reach an agreement on the British plan for a security agreement, it is hoped that the French proposals will meet the case. These, it is understood, envisage a remodelling of the original FrancoSoviet alliance into an agreement for mutual aid in the event of either being involved in a war arising out of the anti-aggression scheme. Britain would then be involved through the Franco-British Alliance since, if France became involved in war by helping Russia against an act of aggression, Britain would automatically come to the assistance of France. It is understood that Russia did not favour this suggestion when it was first made, but it is expected that the discussions with M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, on May 20 will produce a better impression.