FRENCH DEMAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1936, Page 11

FRENCH DEMAND

REPORTED DECISION

APPLICATION OF POWERS* AGREEMENT

PARIS, April 5,

It is understood that after the Premier, M. Sarraut, the Foreign Minister, M. Flandin, and M. PaulBoncour had conferred with experts, it was decided, in view of the unsatisfactory German reply, that M. Flandin should demand when the Locarno Powers meet at Geneva, probably on April 9, the immediate application of all the provisions of the agreement of March 19 regarding both precautionary measures, measures by the Locarno Powers, and League action.

The proposals of the Locarno Powers other than Germany, which were th« result of a conference in London, invited Germany to suspend; the dispatch of troops and war materials to the demilitarised zone, and not to proceed with fortifications and the construction of landing grounds. Franca and Belgium undertook to suspend during the period of negotiation the dispatch of troops to the adjoining zones. It was proposed to create an international force, including English and Italian detachments, which would occupy a zone extending for 12 miles east of the French and Belgian frontiers, and to constitute an international commission to supervise the carrying out of the obligations of the Powers sponsoring the force, and also the French, Belgian, and German obligations in respect to the frontier. If Germany accepted these conditions the Powers agreed to participate in negotiations based, (1) on an examination of proposals 2 and 5 of Herr Hitler's memorandum' of March 7; (2) on revision of the Rhineland status; and (3) on mutual assistance pacts open to all the Locarno -signatories, intended, to reinforce security. The Powers agreed to press provisions to prohibit or limit fortifications in the specified zone. The Powers" were willing to support the League Council in calling for an international conference to examine agreements and organise collective security on a precise and effective basis, assure limitations of armaments, extend economic . relations and the reorganisation of commerce, and discuss proposals 6 and 7 in Herr Hitler's memorandum and subsequent suggestions in regard to Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Proposals 2 and 5 in Herr Hitler's memorandum referred to her offer to conclutfe non-aggression pacts with France and Belgium, and a Western air pact. Proposal 6 was the offer of non-aggression pacts with countries along her eastern frontier lines, and proposal 7 dealt with the question ol Germany's willingness to return to the