FRENCH FORMULA FOR PACT

Southland Times, Issue 23838, 8 June 1939, Page 5

FRENCH FORMULA FOR PACT

SECURITY OF BALTIC STATES SUGGESTED GUARANTEE OF STATUS QUO (Independent Cable Service) PARIS, June 7. The formula of a pact which the Quai D’Orsay (the French Foreign Office) believes offers a solution of Britain’s difficulty with Russia over the Baltic States is being submitted to Britain. The formula will not formally , guarantee the security of the Baltic States, but provides an undertaking by the three Powers to guarantee the status quo in Eastern Europe. It is believed that this will be acceptable to Moscow while not increasing French and British commitments in Europe. The Foreign Minister of Finance (M. Erkko); told the Finnish Parliament that Finland had emphatically refused and pact guaranteeing her neutrality without her consent, says a message from Helsingfors. She had added that she would consider unsolicited foreign help an act of hostility. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) announced in the House of Commons that the Soviet reply to the British and French proposals for a three-Power pact had been received on Saturday, and he would make a statement about it when consideration of the Note was completed. Replying to a question, Mr Chamberlain said he did not think a useful purpose would be served at present by a personal visit to Moscow. The Foreign Secretary (Viscount , Halifax) had a conversation with Mr Chamberlain this morning and in the evening the foreign affairs sub-com-mittee of the Cabinet met. It is assumed that the Russian reply to the British and French proposals was under discussion at both meetings. It cannot be said that the Soviet Note, so far as its examination has gone, is regarded in London as making much advance in the task which confronts London and Moscow of reconciling their differences in outlook, but it is felt to have made a real contribution to eventual agreement. The Note is said to confirm the complete harmony which exists in the two governments’ views about the needs of the present European situation and the general principles upon which a tripartite accord in restraint of aggression should be established. Leading French commentators do not expect the negotiations between Britain and the Soviet to be concluded for at least three weeks, says a message from Paris.