BRITAIN AND SOVIET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 115, 18 May 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN AND SOVIET

ALTERNATIVE PLAN FRENCH SCHEME OF MUTUAL AID REMODELLING OF ALLIANCE AUTOMATIC APPLICATION LONDON, May 16. There will be no delay in sending the British reply to the Russian communication on the eastern European security question. Lord Halifax leaves on Saturday for Geneva and will have conversations en route with M. Daladier and M. Bonnet in Paris. The Anglo-Russian negotiations will naturally be the subject of reference* in Friday’s House of Commons Foreign Affairs debate. The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says that if England and the Soviet fail to reach an agreement on the British plan it is hoped that French proposals will meet the case. These are understood to envisage a remodelling of the original Franco-Soviet alliance into an agreement for mutual aid in the event of either being involved in war arising out of the anti-aggression scheme. Britain would then be involved through the Franco-British alliance, since if France became involved in war by helping Russia against an act of aggression. Britain would automatically come to the assistance of France. It is understood that Russia did not favour this suggestion when it was first made, but it is expected that discussions with M. Bonnet on May 20 will produce a better impression. CHANGE IN LEAGUE DELEGATE M. MAISKY TO ATTEND. GENEVA, May 16. M. Maisky is attending the League Council instead of M. Potemkin. It is understood that the change is due to developments in the Anglo-Russian negotiations.