FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 11

FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

RATIFICATION MAY BE HASTENED "GERMAN PROVOCATION" (rnrrrra press Aisocuiioir— coptwght.) (Received March 11, 12.31 a.m.) PARIS, March 10. It is understood that an attempt will be made to rush the FrancoSoviet pact through the Senate on March 12 without a debate. It is stated that many Senators who previously either opposed or wished to delay ratification of the pact to rob Herr Hitler of even this excuse for treaty breaking, are now prepared to support it as a reply to "German provocation." M. Flandin is reported to have assured M. Potemkin (Soviet Ambassador in Paris) that the pact will be fully effective before the week-end. MANNING OF FRENCH FORTIFICATIONS EXTREME YOUTH OF GERMAN FORCES

PARIS, March 9

It isjnow revealed that the plans for the reoccupation of the Rhineland area were carried out' with typical German thoroughness, but observers were struck by the extreme youth of the soldiers, whose average age is 20. Many were almost schoolboys. ' A Paris message states that specially trained French troops are taking up positions on the formidable Maginot line of fortifications. The War Ministry, however, emphasises that they do not represent war strength. No troops were brought to the Rhine from other parts of France. The regiments from garrisons at Metz and Thionville moved up from their garrisons to complete the manning of the fortifications. All the other troops near the Rhineland were still confined to barracks. NEW YORK MARKETS SHAKEN EFFECT OF GERMAN STEP SENATOR BLAMES DEBTORS TO U.S. . (Received March 10, 11.36 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 10. The financial editor of the "New York Times" states that anxiety about the warlike course of events in Europe shook financial markets, to-day, foreign currencies fluctuated violently, first, falling and then recovering. Stocks, after moving uneasily ior most of the day, fell in the last hour under a sharp burst of selling, that sent representative issues as.much as four points downward. There was, however, no disposition to look for a wholesale withdrawal of foreign money from the market.

The opinion of most bankers was that the first ejfects of the increased "war talk" would more likely be to send additional foreign money to New York; yet Germany's action has been sudden and disturbing. Comment from Washington continues to be meagre. Senator Lewis, however, made a curious statement. He declared, in the Senate to-day that Herr Hitler would never have dared to move his troops into the Rhineland had not Britain and France alienated the goodwill of the United States by refusing to pay their war debts. The default of war debtors, he said, had made the American people no longer concerned with the enforcement of the Versailles Treaty. "It is now the duty of this Government to keep its hands off and to refuse all advances to the signatories of the treaty if they should seek'military or monetary aid." COOL RECEPTION OF MR EDEN'S SPEECH GENEVA HOPED FOR MORE FIRMNESS (Received March 11, 12.32 a.m.) LONDON, March 10. The Geneva correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that Mr Eden's speech was coolly received. It was generally hoped that he would adopt a firmer attitude. It is pointed out that Germany, having attained her immediate aim, in reoccupying the Rhineland and tearing up the Locarno Treaty, has no interest in attacking either France or Belgium at present. Mr Eden's statement that Britain will support France or Belgium in the event of such an attack is therefore regarded as outside the realm of practical politics. LONDON BUSINESS CALM (Received March 10, 9.51 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. The "Daily Telegraph" says that the City is notably calm in the face of European developments. All sections of the stock markets were marked down as a precaution, but selling nressure did not develoc