CALL TO THE COLOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 47, 24 August 1939, Page 13

CALL TO THE COLOURS

FRENCH EMERGENCY

OPINIONS OF PACT

ATTACK ON RUSSIAN "DUPLICITY"

(Received August 24, 1.10 p.m.) j PARIS, August 23. ! The Premier stated in a communique issued after an emergency meeting of the National Defence Council that France is calling a supplementary contingent of reservists to the colours to complete the measures already taken. It is understood that this is a prelude to a partial mobilisation. The Government is anxiously awaiting M. Naggiar's report from Moscow, as on this will depend a decision on whether to break off the staff talks. It is stated that the three-Power negotiations in Moscow are not being broken off, though the military conversations might be suspended for a few days. The Premier, M. Daladier, met the chiefs of the armed forces. The Press, ■while acknowledging a tremendous setback, states the opinion that the real import of the proposed Soviet-German pact remains to be seen. Whatever is the outcome, it is re-emphasised that Britain and France will stand firm. Many of the papers violently attack Russia's "duplicity," which, they declare, has made German aggression a matter of days, not weeks. They foresee that Russia is attempting to create a new European alignment, enabling her to exert her own guidance in the future balance of power. The French and Polish Governments have been advised that the Russian public are entirely ignorant of the ,boiling-up of the European cauldron. The Press has not mentioned Herr yon Ribbentrop's "isit, the recall of the British Parliament, or the general fears of war.