FRANCE AND GERMANY REACH AGREEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1938, Page 11

FRANCE AND GERMANY REACH AGREEMENT.

BETTER RELATIONS? Consultation Instead of War To Settle Disputes. RECOGNISE FRONTIERS. L'nlted Press Association.—Copyright. (Ueceiveij , K >on.) LOXDOX, Xovetnber 23. The British United Press correspondent at Paris states that M | .onnet av.ll announce the conclusion I 't an agreement, between France and Oeimany this evening, embracing: fro Ml,*™"*"'""" "» P™»»' (2) Consultation instead of war in the event of disputes. country!*' o dai '" B ly either Anil 1 . 8 ' ll l , '° , ' ,i, tic Correspondent of the Austialian Associated Press savs the BHt«7n ill" 11 PfUt was a PP'oved by Fruit '1 e waa referred bv r ranee before completion of the draft J.ermany also advised Britain of her intention. Herr vonl Ribbentrop, Nazi Foreign - nister, will visit Paris shortly for the tornia 1 signing. (iermanv was very anxious to have the announcement of the pact last week but. backed bv stron-* pressure from Britain. France" secured a postponement until the dav the British Cabinet Ministers left for Paris. It was feared an earlier announcement would possibly have affected the Paris talks. Britain Officially Approves. Although Britain officially approves the pact. in accordance ' with the policy <,f removing old prejudices between (ranee and (Jertnany. there is reason for believing that it is regarded with some suspicion. ft is suggested, that Mr. Chamberlain is concerned by • icrmany s delay in implementing the liinich spirit of appeasement and hoped to remind ilerr Hitler of that by announcing tjie new wide-embracing talks with France. If this is so the pact can be regarded as a (ierman effort to reply by forestalling the talks. This is not the only ground for suspicion. The pact does not suggest revision of '"Mein Kampf." There is no mention of Franco-Russian alliances and control of the French Press, 011 which Germany has previously expressed most decided views.

Reports from Berlin state that Germany is still hopeful that France will become virtually Fascist, possibly pinning her hopes on M. Flawlin and Colonel de la Rocque, leader of the Fiery Cross, but they are now of no consequence. Doubtless Germany would relish a threePower alliance, excluding Britain. It is remembered that Cermanv has still to explain the continued, vicious Press campaign Britain, also why Britain is blamed for the murder which o:curred in France.