FRENCH REPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 58, 9 March 1936, Page 7

FRENCH REPLY.

SOLDIERS RECALLED.

Fortifications Being Manned And Strengthened. ANTI-GERMAN SANCTIONS. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The first tendency in France has been to appeal for calmness. Nevertheless, all Army leave has been stopped as a gesture against Germany's move, and officers and men have been recalled by telegram. The move has caused surprise andj regret. A statement from Berlin that the German action was decided in agreement with Italy is causing apprehension. France's fortifications are being manned and strengthened. Detachments of Mobile Guards have been sent to reinforce the frontier police. These precautionary measures to protect the frontier are being taken tranquilly by the population at the frontier, who had been expecting Germans to re-enter the Rhineland all the week owing to German officers arriving in various towns to prepare accommodation. Commentators expect that France at Geneva will ask the League for financial and economic sanctions against Germany undent* the Stresa resolution, which was drafted after Germany's reimposition of conscription, which the League passed. This resolution provided that a committee representing Britain, Canada, China, Spain, France, Hungary, Turkey, Russia and Yugoslavia should propose measures to render the Covenant more effective for collective security. Especially was the committee to define economic and financial measures applicable to a State which endangered peace by unilateral repudiation of international obligations. It is considered that France will receive Britain's support in view of Mr. Eden's recent statement in the House of Commons, also as a counterpart to French support of Britain against Italy. The Soviet and the Little Entente also will support her. Also, it is believed that France intends to'insist'that Germany shall reevacuate the Rhineland, in which she will demand the support of Britain, Italy and Belgium. The Paris newspapers generally condemn Germany's "brutal violation of the treaty" and declare that Germany cannot be trusted. The French have reoccupied their bridgehead-at Kehl, which they evacuated" under the Locarno Treaty. Thus French and German soldiers are again facing each other. The frontier zone, which France has strongly fortified, but is holding with "skeleton" troops, is bein" brought to full strength from the depots, although it has not been decided yet to call up the reserves or the new classes of conscripts. The League of Nations Council has been summoned provisionally for Thursday to consider a French appeal against German repudiation of Locarno. League circles expected the denunciation but are surprised at Herr Hitler's offer..to reenter the League. DENOUNCING LOCARNO. ITALY REFUSES GERMANY. LONDON, March 8. The Rome correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company says it is now revealed that Germany during the week approached Italy with a view to joining 1 in Loc" 1 -" 0 , but Si on or Mussolini ictusecl. t n circles arc shocked at the League joii. I( . . g be] ; eve( j j n German d g . Mussolini some q" al g Hitler to strike while JESSSe occupied with Abyssnna.