French Attitude Stiffens Flandin May Not Return to London

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 71, 25 March 1936, Page 5

French Attitude Stiffens

Flandin May Not Return to London

NO COMPROMISE WITH GERMANY

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 12.30 a.m. LONDON, March SI. The Times’ Paris correspondent says the French Government's view after the London meetings was that the Powers,’ proposals must be accepted or rejected as a whole. M. Flandin deliberately emphasised this in the Chamber of Deputies in his speech on the 20th and has now reaffirmed it. He added that he was going to his constituency to-day and the date of his return would depend on the nature of the German reply. The Government’s stiffening attitude is due to the feeling that the line must be drawn somewhere in the process of concession under pressure, and that French moderation regarding the violation of the Rhineland must now be repaid by an unmistakable token of German goodwill. Complete acceptance of the Powers’ proposals would from the French viewpoint satisfy this test. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says M. Flandin’s statement is interpreted in London as meaning that he does not wish to be identified at present with any further bargaining with Germany. He feels that France has made sufficient concessions. M. Paul-Boncour is reported to have intimated that if M. Flandin does not return to London he will be reluctant to remain as he does not desire to assume the responsibility for entering islx> a discussion on the German counter-proposals which Paris may ultimately reject. The Daily Herald points out that M. Flandin’s attitude is in direct contradiction to the impression prevailing in London that both France and Belgium are ready to consider sympathetically any reasonable German counter-pro-posals. Flandin’s “ Good Humour ”! WHY HE CAN’T GO TO LONDON Received Wednesday, 2 a.m. PARIS, March 24. The French Foreign Office emphatically denies that M. Flandin said anything categorical. He simply replied in good humour to interrogators: “If the question of German counter - proposals arises, I cannot at present go to London as I am going to Yonne for the election campaign.”