BRITISH PLEDGE TO FRANCE

Southland Times, Issue 23737, 8 February 1939, Page 5

BRITISH PLEDGE TO FRANCE

Defence Of Common Interests

DELIBERATE WARNING TO ITALY

(United Tress Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, February 6.

A declaration that any threat to the vital interests of France must evoke British co-operation with France was made by the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in the House of Commons today, says a British Official Wireless message. Mr Chamberlain was answering Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) on the recent statement by the French Foreign Minister (M. Georges Bonnet) that in case of a war in which the two countries were involved all the forces of Great Britain would be at the disposal of France, just as all the forces of France would be at the disposal of Britain. Mr Chamberlain said: "This is in complete accordance with the views of Britain.”

“It is impossible to examine in detail the hypothetical cases which may arise,” added the Prime Minister, “but I feel bound to make it plain that the solidarity of interests by which France and this country are united is such that any threat to the vital interests of France, from whatever quarter it came, must evoke the immediate co-operation of this country.”

The diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that Mr Chamberlain’s statement was made deliberi ately as a warning, in the hope that it I would be a deterrent to the rash campaign against France which is still [developing in Italy, and that it would thus be a counsel of prudence to the Italian and German leaders in their next public pronouncement on Mediterranean problems. The words ‘‘any threat to France’s vital interests” can be interpreted only as meaning a threat to the interests that France herself considers vital. Mr Vernon Bartlett, M.P., writing in the News Chronicle, says: “One of the reasons for the statement was the confidence with which the Italian newspapers have been suggesting that Britain has been won to fascism against France.” FRANCE PLEASED Official circles in Paris attach the greatest importance to Mr Chamberlain’s statement. It is felt that it constitutes an unequivocal reply to the Italian insinuations that Britain will not support France, and it is regarded as the most categorical pledge of automatic military assistance that any British Government has ever given to France. It is believed to be the direct outcome of the consultations among the French Prime Minister (M. Edouard Daladier), M. Bonnet and the British Ambassador to Paris (Sir Eric Phipps). There have been frequent exchanges and pledges through diplomatic _ channels, but it was considered wise to make the situation very clear in the interests of peace. Mr Chamberlain’s statement has shocked political circles in Rome. It is suggested that it is tantamount that the military alliance is as binding as that between Italy and Germany. Official circles do not comment, except to say that Italy’s “natural aspirations” threaten the vital interests of no country. Nevertheless, in a message dated from London but apparently semiofficially inspired, the newspaper Giomale d’ltalia says: “Britain knows that Italy means to pursue her aspirations until they are justly realized.” A spokesman of the German Foreign Office said: “It is not felt that a new situation has been created.” He pointed out that Mr Chamberlain had issued a statement similarly phrased before the Czech crisis. “It is regrettable if the words are to be interpreted as an encouragement to France in her attitude of intransigeance,” the spokesman added.