RUSSIAN PACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 141, 17 June 1939, Page 8

RUSSIAN PACT.

FRANCO-BRITISH PLAN.

(By PERTIN'AX.) PARIS, May 30. The Franco-British proposals for a pact of mutual assistance, more or less in conformity with the Russian scheme of April 15, have been well received in Moscow. They embody a system of security more complete and farreaching than could be expected when Lord Halifax came here and closeted himself with MM. Daladier and Bonnet.

Obviously there was a change for the better in Geneva as the outcome of the lengthy talk the British Secretary of State had with M. Maisky, Soviet Ambassador to London, on May 21. In their present form the FrancoBritish proposals can be summarised as follows: Britain, France and Russia will assist. each other, first, whenever the territory of one of them is attacked; secondly, whenever one of them is engaged in war as a. consequence of the guarantee given to certain States in Western or Eastern Europe; thirdly, whenever help has to be given to a State determined to uphold its neutrality.

In all eases assistance would be immediate and automatic. Consultations would be instituted whenevei the threat of aggression arises. It is declared in a preamble that all through the three signatory powers intend to act in the spirit of the Covenant of the League of Xations. Difficult Problems.

The Russian rulers are sure to ask for the elucidation of certain points. For instance, what woukl have to he done if certain States did not seriously intend to uphold their neutrality and were bullied by the Hitlerian Reich to such an extent as to surrender a position of strategic importance whereby.the whole new system of security would be impaired and the capacity of the three main Powers to resist the German onslaught would be lessened? It ought not to be overlooked that Germany has approached the Baltic States with the offer of a pact of non-aggression for the purpose of making it more difficult for them to seek Soviet Russia's guarantee. It is quite open to Russia now to extend her guarantee to the Baltic States, as she knows that if she had to enforce it Franco-British support would not fail her. But it is doubtful whether Russia can convince Estonia and Latvia to take the risk inherent in any mode of association with her. In an emergency would it be possible for Moscow to overrule the hesitation and delaying methods of those little countries without running the risk of estranging from her the French and British Cabinets ?

Other points likely to be discussed concern the reference to the spirit of the League Covenant, a loose expression which will have to lie carefully defined, and the method* of diplomatic consultations to be resorted to so as to deal adequately with the German menace. It is not believed that that exchange of views will give rise to any serious difficulties. It is taken for granted that the Treaty will be signed soon, and that, if necessary, France. Britain and Russia will issue meanwhile a joint declaration to let it be known that they mean to fulfil the requirement* of mutual assistance even before the text has been drafted and approved by them in every detail.

Dictators' Quandary. At the name time, it is admitted by many that signature of a tripartite treaty will start a fresh European crisis. Herr Hitler and Sifrnor Mussolini have now to realise, as a consequence of the impending Anglo-French-Russian pact, that they cannot really expect to win in a .short war. the only hope left to them' of finding the way out of the tragic blind alley where they have led their peoples. They may be tempted to become active before the new system of security has had time to be consolidated fully, ami before all measure*, of diplomatic and military co-ordination have been carried out. The hardening of Herman public opinion about the Danzig problem (hate of everything Polish has always been potent in promoting the fighting spirit in Germany 1 may give the Fuehrer the requisite opportunity. Once more military loaders in France and Britain are on the alert, but few people really think that the worst will come to the worst in the near future.— (X.A.X.A.) [The Franco-British proposals set out above were rejected by the Soviet Government. M. Molotoff said the 'Soviet insisted that the guarantee must cover all countries without exception on the western borders of the Soviet Union, and there must be a concrete agreement for assistance in the event of future attacks.—Ed.]