RUSSIAN PACT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 9

RUSSIAN PACT

Chamber of Deputies Approves SWEEPING MAJORITY Tumultuous Scenes In Final Stages By Telegraph Press Assn.—Copyright Paris, February 27. The Chamber of Deputies ratified the Soviet, pact by a large majority. The proposal now goes before the Senate. Though the Government had not made the pact a question of confidence, the Chamber ratified it by 353 votes to 164 after a debate which was spread over three weeks.

The final stages were tumultuous and the proceedings were twice suspended. Officials in the Chamber bad tc push back th e Left Wing deputies who began to cross the floor, provoked by the Hight Wing heckling of Socialists. The former Air Minister, M. Cot, defending the pact, claimed that the Soviet air force was the strongest in the world, with 3000 modern first-line machines. He referred to the unprecedented achievement at recent manoeuvres when 97 aeroplanes transported four battalions of infantry with four tanks, four armoured cars, 16 cannon, and four liaison cars.

A Right Wing member, M. Henriot, contended that the pact was ineffective because Poland would not allow the Soviet army to cross her territory toward Germany.

The Franco-Russian Pact, the general lines of which were laid down early last year and the signature of which took place in May, provides for a system of mutual guarantees within the framework of the League of Nations.' The general principles were stated in a preliminary memorandum in which there were clauses defining the undertakings under Articles 10, 16 and 17 of the Covenant, these being stated with precision. The preamble of the Pact states that the French and Soviet Governments “are impelled by the desire to consolidate peace in Europe and ensure its blessings to their respective countries by enforcing more completely the strict application of the provisions of the Covenant of the League of Nations intended to maintain the national security, territorial integrity, and political independence of States, and determined to devote their efforts to the preparation and conclusion of a European agreement for that purpose, and in the meantime.to promote to the extent of their ability the efficient working of the provisions of the League Covenant.” The treaty provides for immediate mutual consultation in the event of either country being threatened with, or in danger of, aggression by. any •Europea’i State. It is also agreed that if, “in spite of the genuinely peaceful intentions of both countries,” either should be subjected to unprovoked aggression, the other shall come to the aid of the attacked nation. Thirdly, it is agreed that in the event of unprovoked aggression, the country which has not been assailed shall immediately aid the other in tl< application of Article 16 of the Covenant of the League. It is stipulated that nothing in the treaty shall conflict jvith the obligations to the League of Nations, and that the treaty shall be ratified, registered with the League of Nations, and come into force at once, continuing for five years. Unless one party gives notice of cancellation one year before its expiration, it shall continue in force indefinitely.