Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1938 A NO-WAR PACT AND SUSPICIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 November 1938, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1938 A NO-WAR PACT AND SUSPICIONS

J I is impossible at present to judge of the possible effects of the reported Franco-German NoWar Pact which is said to be similar to the Anglo-German Pact. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs (M. Bonnet) is said to have announced that the new Pact embraces recognition of present frontiers; consultation instead of war in the event of disputes; no new claims by either country. Are lost colonies included in “no new claims ’ or will they be treated as “old claims” ? It is stated that while Britain officially approves of the Pact in accordance with the policy of removing old FrancoGerman prejudices, there is reason for believing that it is regarded with some suspicion. Has Germany’s delay in implementing the Munich spirit of appeasement been due to her desire to forestall the proposed further talks in that connection by entering into the new Pact? That is one cause for suspicion. Did Herr Hitler desire to help the Daladier Government

overcome its domestic troubles which threaten its existence? Again, reports from Berlin indicate that Germany is still hopeful that France will become virtually Fascist. The German press continues to attack Britain viciously. The significant statement appears in a London cable message that “doubtless Germany would relish a Three-Power Alliance excluding Britain.” Would France abandon her defensive alliance with Britain to link up with Italy and her old enemy Germany whose leaders have advocated everlasting hatred of France? Would France, too, abandon her defensive treaty with Russia? Recently it was reported that Britain was believed to favour abandonment of the Franco-Russo Treaty which, it is well-known, is greatly disliked by both Germany and Italy. It would be easy to speculate and guess at length as to the possibilities likely to result from the new Pact. It may be hoped that the grounds for suspicion which undoubtedly exist will prove to be unfounded and that the latest agreement, which will probably not be the last, will result in the gradual development of that policy of appeasement for which Mr Chamberlain has worked so earnestly. If the issue rested with the people there would be no doubt as to the result.