BRITAIN AND FRANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23123, 24 November 1938, Page 13

BRITAIN AND FRANCE

m PARIS TALKS DISAPPROVED BY RUSSIA Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 23. The Riga correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ reports from Moscow that the Soviet Press strongly disapproves _of the British visit to Paris, asserting that Mr Chamberlan’s purpose is pressure on Franco to make important concessions to appease Germany. Mr Chamberlain’s plans, says ‘ Izvestia,’ include the separation of France and Russia and cancellation of the existing Eranco-Russian agreement. WAY OPEN FOR COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING COMMENT BY ‘THE TIMES.’ (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 22. (Received November 24, at 11 a.m.) ‘ The Times,’ commenting on Mr Chamberlain’s Paris visit, says: ‘‘The Munich agreement at least removed one serious obstacle to complete the AngloFrench position. Definite uneasiness in Anglo-French relations was inevitable as long as Franco had commitments in Eastern Europe to which Britain was not, and could not be, a party, but in which at the moment she might reluctantly become involved to her commitments to France. Now that the policy of encirclement against Germany 7 has finally’ broken down it will become much easier for the two countries to pursue a common policy in defence of their common interests.”

After pointing out that in the Mediterranean, the Near Hast, and the Far East the identity of their interests are .almost complete, ‘ The Times ’ refers to tho probable effect on the discussions of tho Anglo-1 tatian and Anglo-Ameri-can agreements, both of them steps towards a better world, to be followed by others in the same direction.- Relations between France and Italy and tho moans for improving them are bound to lie sought, and in this connection the Mediterranean and the Spanish questions will bo touched upon. Both Britain and France “ are concerned to see that the civil war in Spam loaves that country as independent of foreign control or interference as it was before, and that foreign intervention is brought lo an end os speedily and completely as possible.” 1