PACT WITH SOVIET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 9

PACT WITH SOVIET

RATIFIED BY FRANCE REPLY TO HERR HITLER OVERWHELMING VOTE [By Telegraph—Pre»s Association—Copyright! PARIS, March 12. The Senate replied to Herr Hitler’s condemnation of the Franco-Soviet Pact by ratifying it by 231 votes to 52. “No nation has a right to say she is menaced by any stipulation in this treaty, or that she is a victim of encirclement,” said M. Paul-Boncour. 44 1 t is not the fault of France if Germany and Poland refuse to join in a tieaty which is open to all parties.” M Millerand declared that orginally he had opposed the pact, but “Herr Hitler’s gesture” had changed his view. “A majority of us now approve th* pact.” he said, “because we consider all France at present should be behind the Government.” The Communist leader, Marcel Cachin, said that he voted in .favour of the pact because it was a pact fir peace. The Premier. M. Sarraut, confined himself to putting the question of confidence. It is learned that the Soviet will ratify the pact immediately. EUROPEAN PACIFICATION GERMANY HAS DONE HER SHARE OPINION IN BERLIN IBy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyiighc| Received March 13, 11.14 p.m. BERLIN, March 13. Germany has done her share for the pacification of Europe. She now expects others to do theirs, epitomises the comment in the Berlin morning papers, in which the German official statement is given prominence, especially the Government’s determination “rather to choose honourable isolation than continue to live as a nation discriminated against in the community of peoples. ’ ’ The Berliner Tageblatt says the Government's statement is “the last appeal to the conscience of the politicians* assembled in London.” It adds: 4 4 Germany has shown that she is readv to make sacrifices for the ideals of European co-operation, and in this serious hour assures the world that she wi 1 honestly observe honest agreements.” The Kreutz Zeitung strongly appeals to Britain, saying: 4 ‘lt is hardly imaginable that the British people could support Ihe French, especially after Mr. Eden’s statement in the House of Commons that there is no reason for the assumption that the German action contained a hostile threat.” The London correspondent of the Boersen Zeitung says: “Britain must now decide whether she favours a system of European States with equal rights.” General Goering, in a speech at Koenigsberg. said: “Come what may, Germanv will stand together like- one man to"the last breath. We have offered the world peace but peace must come from both sides.” UTMOST SECRECY THE LOCARNO MEETING DELEGATES ELUDE CAMERA AND PRESS. LONDON, March 12. The meeting of the Locarno representatives is surrounded by the utmost secrecy. Most of them arrived at the Foreign Office unobserved, through side entrances, eluding the photographers as well as the crowd. A Brussels message states that M. Zeeland, addressing the Belgian Parliament, expressed confidence in the future ’provided the Locarno signatories were firmly nrule.l.