VITAL DECISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 11

VITAL DECISION

SUPREME WAR COUNCIL

FIGHT FOR SECURITY NO SEPARATE PEACE MOVE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March (5.1 p.m.) British "Wireless LONDON, March 2S A meeting of the Allies' Supreme War Council was held in London to-day. The British representatives •'were: —The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, the First Lord of the Admiralty, ,Mr. Winston Churchill, the Minister of War, Mr. Oliver Stanley, and the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood.

They were accompanied by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, Sir Alexander Cadogan, Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound, and the commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force, Sir Kdmund Ironside. ' ■

France was represented by M. Reynaud (Prime Minister"). M. Campinclii, Minister of the Navy, and M. Laurent Eynac, Minister of Air, Svho were accompanied by M. Corbin and M. Alexis Leger. Marshal Gamelin. Admiral Darlan. General Vuillemin and General Koeltz.

Armistice by Agreement Only The Council passed in review developments in the strategic situation since last meeting. ;in<l decided 011 ilie future line of action. In the light of the results achieved bv the agreement of December Inst, signed by Sir John Simon and M. Reynatid. and desiring to extend the scope of that agreement io all spheres affecting the interests of the two nations, the two Governments agreed to the following solemn declaration: "The Government of the French Republic and the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland mutually undertake that during the present war they will neither negotiate nor conclude an armistice or treaty of peace except by mutual agreement. Reconstruction After the War "They undertake not to discuss peace terms before reaching complete agreement on the conditions necessary to ensure to each of them an effective and lasting guarantee of their security.

"Finally, they undertake to maintain. after the conclusion of peace, community of action in all spheres for so long as may'be necessary to safeguard their security, and to effect a reconstruction, with the assistance of other nations, of international order which will ensure liberty of peoples, respect for law and maintenance of peace in Europe."

Close Co-operation Assured The declaration closely accords with the feeling which is practically unanimous in Britain, in particular the undertaking to maintain after the conclusion of peace the closest co-operation with France which is assured of general and emphatic approval in Britain. It has been increasingly appreciated that, as a nucleus of international authority is essential to ensuring such a settlement as the Allies have in view at present, the Franco-British alliance must be kept in being and strengthened. It will be recalled that Mr. Chamberlain in his speech at Birmingham on February 24 laid special emphasis on the pride and pleasure which every Frenchman with whom he had talked felt regarding the prospect of maintaining on a more permanent basis this close co-operation. Freedom Must be Ensured There could be no more hopeful assurance of their -common victory and no more fruitful basis of lasting peace than that this intimate understanding which had grown up between Britain and Frifnce must not be allowed to come to an end when the war was over. Mr. Gli amherlain concluded -his Birmingham speech with the memorable words: "Until we are satisfied that freedom is safe we shall continue to fight to the utmost of our soul and of our strength." It is clear from to-day's communique that Mr. Chamberlain spoke for France as well as for Britain. The President of the Board of Trade, Sir Andrew Duncan, flew to Paris to-day to confer with the French Minister of Commerce.