FRANCE DECLINES

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 11

FRANCE DECLINES

SUPPORT FOR CZECHS

Russia's Refusal to Fulfil Her

Treaty Followed.

LITVINOFF EXPLAINS,

(Received 10 a.m.) GENEVA, September 21. "Czechoslovakia may decide to-day or to-morrow to take up arms in defence of her independence," declared M. Litvinoff, addressing the Assembly of the League. "The sympathies of all peoples represented at the Assembly go out to the Czechs in their terrible hour of trial."

This sentence was greeted with cheers, mainly from the public galleries.

"We intend to fulfil our obligations under the pact and afford assistance to Czechoslovakia, together with France, by the ways open to us. Our War Department is ready immediately to participate in a conference of representatives of the French and Czech War Departments to discuss measures appropriate to the moment.

"We also consider it is desirable to raise the question of the League if only with the object, firstly, of mobilising public opinion, and, secondly, ascertaining the position of certain other States whose passive aid might be very valuable.

"It Is necessary, however, to exhaust all means of averting armed conflict. We consider that one such method would be immediate consultation of the Great Powers to decide terms of a collective demarche."

M. Litvinoff added: "Two days ago the Soviet assured Czechoslovakia that she would render immediate effective aid if France rendered similar assistance. It is not our fault if no effect was given to our proposals, which I am sure would have produced the desired effect in the interest of Czechoslovakia and general peace.

"Unfortunately other steps were taken leading to capitulation, which is bound, sooner or hiter, to have incalculable and disastrous consequences."