The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1939. SUPPORTING FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 10

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1939. SUPPORTING FRANCE.

For the enme that lack* atsittatice, For the trrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Les* than two months ago, when asked in thr Home of Commons whether any pact, treaty or general undertaking existed which, in the event of Italy's embarking on warlike operation-; ajrain-t Franco or her possessions would specifically require Britnin to render military aid to France, Mr. Chamberlain replied: "Xo such requirement exists in any treaty or pact with Fiance." That statement, it was reported, pleased Rome and wns regretted in Paris. On Monday Mr. Chamberlain made another statement, which has pleased Paris but is reported to have "shocked" political circles in Koine. lie said that "any threat to the vital interests of France, from whatever quarter it came, must evoke the immediate co-operation of thi» country." The first statement followed the outbreak of the Italian "demonstration" against France, in which demands were made for the handing over of French possessions, principally Tunisia. The second has been made at a time when there is uncertainty and apprehension concerning what iflay follow the termination of the Spanish civil war. As in December, so now, the British Government is making' it plain that it expects Italy to observe its undertaking to respect the " status quo" in the Mediterranean, and to withdraw all her forces from Spain when the civil war ends. But the difference in the tone and text of the two statements indicates, at the least, a change in the British Government's view of the possibilities; it indicates, too, that the change in its view has caused it to see a need to support France much more firmly.

How much does Mr. Chamberlain's latest statement imply! Opinions must differ in accordance with the meanings that may be given to "France's vital interests," "threat" and "immediate co-operation." If, as one ejjjberienced English observer contends, the judge of France's vital interests is to be the French Government, then Mr. Chamberlain has in effect given to France that " prior stiarantee " which he deliberately withheld in the preliminary stage of the Czechoslovakian crisis last year. With the information at our disposal it seems unlikely that- Mr. Chamberlain has finally burned his boats in this manner. If he believes that, particularly on the question of colonies, Italy has an arguable case he would not now *in effect shut out any prospect there may be of negotiation and " appeasement." What seems far more likely is that tlie British Government is making it plain to Italy* and indirectly to Germany, that it will not permit a situation to arise in which " negotiations" will be carried on under threat of force.