THE FRENCH PROTEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18661, 22 March 1935, Page 13

THE FRENCH PROTEST

1 mr> NOTE TO GERMANY VIOLATION OP TREATY STATEMENT BY PREMIER (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received March 21, 3 p.m.) PARIS, March 20. The French Note to Germany protests against the. violation of the Versailles Treaty, the Franco-British declaration of February 3, and also the, law <"'f nations. It declares that France would hot consider in the coming negotiations any unilateral decision. M. Flandin, addressing the Senate, said: "The German proclamation corresponds to a conception which, if accepted generally, would destroy the League's peace work. Wo arc appealing lo the League, in the. Interests of the community of Slates. France can defend herself, but a policy of force menaces many small, weak nations. The question must be fought out before the great international tribunal at Geneva. "It is untrue that France, has not fulfilled her disarmament obligations. She has halved her effectives, reduced her fleet from 768.CC0 to 550.0C0 tons, and restricted her air force, and would have, gone further but for the progress of German rearmament. She has also gradually abandoned her reparation claims." The. Senate passed a vote of confidence in the Government by 263 votes to 21. M. Flandin's speech evoked dissatistion in Berlin. Official comment declares that France cannot, apparently reconcile herself to the. necessity of negotiating with an equal Germany.