APPREHENSION IN FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 9

APPREHENSION IN FRANCE

OFFICIAL COMMENT WITHHELD RECALL OF MISSIONS URGED (UNITED PEEBS ASSOCIATION—CO PTB.IGHT *) (Received August 23, 1 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. There is very grave apprehension in Paris, but a general disinclination to discuss the Soviet bombshell. Official circles “froze up.” The Communist newspaper, “L’Humanite” and the Socialist organ, “Populaire,” do not publish the Soviet-German pact decision, but give prominence to the trade agreement between Russia and Germany, claiming it as a victory for Russia. “L’Oeuvre” declares: “All is not lost if the Soviet’s action cures those Frenchmen who had a mania for mixing ideology with foreign ■policy?* The Monarchist journal, “L’Action Francaise,” demands the immediate recall of the military missions. The • “Quai d’Orsay” later announced that the military conversations -jvith the Soviet would continue, in spite of the Russian-German pact.

POLES MAINTAIN CALM LONDON, August 21. “The Times” emphasises the calm with which the Poles are standing to arms in the face of 2,000,000 Germans on the frontier. It adds: “Most of the capitals consider that crucial days are ahead. A major crisis is about to develop, but this can only happen in defiance of the clearest warnings.” The Warsaw correspondent of “The Times” states: “The week of decision has arrived. Each day the German propaganda machine hammers out its claims and makes it harder for Herr Hitler to change his course, but there are glimmers of hope, that Italian diplomacy may render a conflict avoidable, though the possibility of Vatican intervention is fully excluded. “The public considers that war is inevitable. Housewives are quickly accumulating foodstuffs, and citizens are attending first-aid courses. Britons with no special reason to remain have been advised to leave within 48 hours.”

CONFERENCE HELD IN DANZIG EFFORT TO SETTLE CUSTOMS DISPUTE DANZIG, August 21. Officials of the Polish Ministry of Finance conferred with representatives of the Danzig Senate and the chief inspector of customs in an effort to settle the prolonged customs dispute. Two Polish customs officials who were arrested on August 16 on charges of distributing anti-Nazi leaflets have been released.

INDEPENDENCE OF HUNGARY GERMAN AND ITALIAN DEMANDS DENTED BUDAPEST, August 21. The Foreign Minister (Count Csaky) declared that an independent, strong- Hungary was essential for the political, balance of Europe. He emphasised that neither in Germany nor in Italy was anything demanded from her.