FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21707, 14 February 1936, Page 13

FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

Denial of German Claims

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR TREATY VIOLATION

(UNITED PJUtSS ASSOCIATION—COPTJUOHT.) (Received February 13, 11.50 p.m.) PARIS, February 13. M, Flandin (French Foreign Minister), defending the Franco-Soviet pact before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber? emphasised that it contained nothing contrary to the Locarno . Pact, and came entirely within the framework of the league covenant. Nothing in the pact could authorise Germany to ' consider that because of it she was free to fortify the demilitarised Rhineland zone. If Germany did take any step in this direction, and violated the Versailles Treaty, France would immediately consult the Locarno guarantor powers to decide what action to take. M. Flandin added that both the British and Italian Governments agreed with the French that the pact was in no way contrary to the provision made at Locarno.

THE RHINELAND ZONE

BRITAIN TOi FULFIL HER OBLIGATIONS

(Received February 13, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 12. In the House of Commons this afternoon Mr R. A. Eden (Foreign Secretary) was asked if he would give an assurance that the provisions of the Locarno Treaty requiring that Great Britain should immediately come to the help of France or Germany if there should be a flagrant breach by either nation of article 42 or 43 of the Treaty of Versailles (on the demilitarised Rhineland zone), would be rigidly adhered to as long as the treaty remained in operation and had not been abrogated by general consent of the parties. Mr Eden replied: “The obligations of his Majesty’s Government are specified in the Treaty of Locarno itself. His Majesty’s Government stands by those obligations and, as has been previously stated in this House, it intends, should the need arise, faithfully to fulfil them,”