“In the Event of War all British Forces Will Fight for France”

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 5

“In the Event of War all British Forces Will Fight for France”

—M. BONNET (Received 11 a.m.) PARIS, January 26. iJpilE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, M. BONNET, SPEAKING IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, SAID ENGLAND AND FRANCE ASKED NOTHING FROM ANYONE, BUT INTENDED TO PRESERVE TIfEIB PATRIMONIES. I “The entente was never so close. It is directed towards peace, but in, the event of war all the forces of Fdance will be placesd at the disposal of Britain and similarly all the forces of Britain will be placed at the disposal of France.” ' ■ He reiterated the Government’s policy of non intervention in Spain .was unchanged. , France is calling up a proportion of the next contingent of conscripts who were babies at the time of the Armistice, in November, 1918, six months in advance. General Gamelin, chief of the general staff, and Vice Admiral Darlan, chief of the naval staff, who cancelled their projected inspection qt the North Africa defences, with the air force chief, General Vuillemm, are holding conferences with the Prime Minister, M. Daladier. MUSSOLINI FAVOURS PACT? ' It is understood, says a Rome con* espondent, that Signor Mussolini favours a Four Power Conference after the fall of Barcelona, the aims of which wouldbe: , *jp iv Firstly, the sparing of further bloodshed fn Spain. Secondly, the establishment of the position of the Spanish people as masters of their own destiny with the consent of Germany and Italy. And lastly, an agreement between Britain, France, Germany and Italy to prevent the re-establishment of an y Communistic or Popular Front Government in Catalonia or Madrid. <

General Franco’s success is hailed a? a great Italian victory by the Italian newspapers. Signor Mussolini announced die fall of Barcelona from, the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia: “General Franco’s magnificent troops, and our own magnificent legionnaires, have beaten not merely the Negrin Government, but others of our enemies who, at ~ this moment, bite the dust, British Cabinet View . The British Cabinet considered the international question for three hours, including the implications of. the dismissal of Dr. Schacht from the Reichbank, and of Captain Weideniann, Herr Hitler’s personal aid, says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” It is understood the. Cabinet concluded that Germany has launched another gigantic armament’s expenditure, irrespective •of the economic consequences.

The available information suggests that Herr Hitler is undecided about future policy. ; The “Daily Herald”, says heavy concentrations of German troops dn various parts of Austria are causing alanh. Frontier farms have been evacuated and patrols have taken up.’ strategic positions, March bn Prague? It is reported from Vienna that all Germans of military age have been forbidden to leave the country. It is felt in some quarters this may be a prelude to a march on Prague, in order to impress the Czechs with the urgency of closer co-operation with the German political system.

Mr Chamberlain will make an important speech at Birmingham on • Saturday, before which .the French Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, will have spoken in the Chamber of Deputies. f The Cabinet decided to change the normal business of the House of Commons upon its reopening on Tuesday * to allow a full dress debate, in which Mr Chamberlain will indicate the British policy.

France Places Biggest Warplane Order With U.S. (Received 10 a.m.) NE . WYORK, January 26. The Washington correspondent of -the New York “Daily News” says ft is confirmed that France is negotiating for the largest order of fighting .aeroplanes ever placed in the U.S. by a foreign power, estimated at between 400 and 600 machines. It is understood the American Government is especially facilitating the order, which is being arranged by a French air mission, one member of which, incidentally, was seriously injured when an ultra modern light Douglas bomber in which he was observer during an experimental flight, crashed at Los Angeles, killing the American pilot.