WAR AID FOR FRANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21967, 26 November 1934, Page 9

WAR AID FOR FRANCE

SOVIET OFFER HINTED SIDING AGAINST GERMANY " UNDERSTANDING EXISTS " DENIAL OF AN ALLIANCE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 25, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 23 The first indication of a FrancoRussian military alliance was given in the Chamber of Deputies when M. Archimbaud, in charge of the Army Estimates, said: "Russia offers us her solid, well-equipped army in the event of a Franco-German war. Russia's air fleet is the world's best, and the French is next." He added that Herr Hitler was not observing the Versailles Treaty and was trying to range Poland and Japan against Russia. Only a Franco-Russian union would stabilise peace. M. Fabry, president of the Army Commission, pleading; for a stronger army, declared that Germany was making gigantic efforts in the construction of war material, notably in 1 the field of aviation, which was a menace directed a gainst London and Paris. French weakness would invite war. Subsequently it was announced that M. Archinbaud's speech was wrongly translated. Hp actually said: " We are bound to observe that Herr Hitler tried to set against Russia her natural enemies, Poland and Japan. Realising that this would endanger European peace, Russia and France wished to safeguard bheir liberty. It is undeniable that an understanding exists between them. I do not use the word alliance or military agreement, noting only that the Soviet Army, ivhich is very strong and perfectly equipped, has been offered to us in tie event of a war with Germany." The new Minister of War, M. Maurin, followed M. Archimbaud with a reassuring address, declaring that France wo ild do everything to prevent a surprise attack. The Chamber passed the Army Estimates. Many French deputies concluded that M. Archimbaud, in. talking of the Soviet Army having been offered to France, referred to Moscow's wellknown dei lire for a French military alliance. However, high French authority declares that the French Government never accepted the Soviet's offer, which was made tentatively and not formally. It in added that absolutely no alliance or military agreement exists. It is further stated that France and Russia aro exploring avenues for ~an Eastern p:ict to include Germany and Poland.

BRITISH COMMENT . SUGGESTIONS DISCOUNTED MILIT/iRY PACT UNLIKELY / - * (Recei'red November 25, 5.5 p.m.) ' LONDON. Nov. 23 British diplomatists discount suggestions of a Franco-Russian military pact, and assert that France has consistently maintained her inability to arrive at such an understanding with Russia outside of the League Covenant and the Locarno Treaty, although it has been suggested that defensive arrangements might be admissible as an 1 extension of Article XVI. of the League Covenant. , A British observer regards M. Archimbaud's speech as completely puzzling, and conjectures that he exaggerated in the heat of his oratory. A Mosodw message states that semiofficial quarters doubt M. Archimbaud's statement that Russian military aid was offered to, France in the event of ti war with Germany. A Geneva message states that M. Litvjnoff declined to comment on M. Archimbaud's statement, which he has not read. MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

KEEPING EUROPEAN PEACE WITHIN LEAGUE FRAMEWORK (Received November- 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 24 The Pa;:is correspondent of the British United Press had a special interview with M. Archimbaud, who t declared his. belief that the Russian air force was the strongest in Europe, and that the French air force was the second. , . " I said a Franco-Russian entente should asuure the peace of Europe. By entente, I meant that if Germany attacks France Russia will be on France's side, with the air force and the army to defend European peace by mutual assistance within the framework of the League."