FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

Evening Post, Issue 60, 11 March 1936, Page 11

FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

MAY BE EUSHED

THEOUGH

FRENCH REPLY TO GERMAN

PROVOCATION

LONDON, March 10.

It is understood that an attempt will be made to rush the Franco-Soviet Pact through the Senate or. March 12 without debate. It is stated that many senators who were previously either opposed to it or wished to delay ratification in order to rob Herr Hitler even of 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, the Soviet Ambassador, that the pact would be fully effective before the weekend. The Chamber of Deputies has already given its approval.

The "News-Chronicle's" Paris corres-

pondent says it is beginning to be realised that negotiations with Germany are inevitable, and that the Government's attitude has merely rendered it far more difficult than it need have been.

The "News-Chronicle's" Brussels correspondent says, it is authoritatively stated that the Belgian Government will oppose sanctions against Germany for two main reasons: (1) Because juridically Germany has not perpetrated any aggression against France and Belgium; (2) because it is impossible to ask Italy to join in sanctions against Germany when. Italy herself is subject to sanctions. The Belgian Government is sceptical of Herr Hitler's offer of new treaties, but expresses the opinion that it would blunder brutally If it were to reject the German proposals, as it is felt that nothing will be lost by negotiating with Germany.