Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-31
Claims Agreement Not to
Make Such Announcement
During Negotiations.
MILITARY COMMITMENTS
ARE REFUSED FRANCE
Showdown at Plenary Session Is
Seen, Which May Mark End of
Five-Power Pact Aspect.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 31.--A sharp reper-
cussion was produced in French head
quarters by the statement issued by q
British official spokesman yesterday. In
which it was declared absolutely inpos-
sible for Great Britain to undertake
any further military commitments in
connection with the proposed French
security pact.
Foreign Minister BRAND himself this
morning indicated disapproval of the is
suance Of this statement on the grounds
that it had been agreed no statement
OF any kind would be made while the
Franco-British negotiations were pro-
ceeding.
The French foreign minister, speak
ing to French newspaper men, said
he hoped ne could believe that the
statement issued last night had no
authorization. He understood it had
been agreed no statement of any kind
would be issued while these converse
tons were continuing, and he felt pub
lication of this particular statement
was scarcely suitable in the circum-
stances.
Accepted as Official.
Observers were inclined to the belief
that Foreign Minister BRAND was
speaking with his tongue in his cheek
when he expressed the hope the state
ment had no official authorization.
British official spokesman are noted for
punctlliouSnesS about having authorize
ton before making statements of this
sort, and the British press this morn
ing accepted the statement as an Of
hclal communicate.
Premier BRAND asserted this morn
ing that during the negotiations
France had never attempted to de-
mand new commitments from Great
Britain. He said France had simply
asked recognition of the engagements
and international agreements already
subscribed to by her as well as a defini-
ton OF the existing covenant of the
League of Nations particularly with
reference to article 10.
Article 10 deals with measures to be
taken by the League of Nations in the
event that any member Of the League
should resort to war in disregard OF
its covenants under the League agree
ment.
Heads of the delegations met at st.
James Palace this forenoon. It had
been expected the meeting might prove
an important one, but it lasted only
Is minutes, during which the agenda
for Fridays plenary session was dis
cussed. There will be another meeting
of the delegation chiefs Wednesday to
resume discussion of the agenda.
There was wide expectation that the
plenary session Friday would bring
showdown which may mark the end
of the flve-power aspect of the con-
ference for most practical purposes.
Five-POwer Pact sim Sought.
Prime Minister Macdonald told the
House of commons today that the
British government was still striving
for q flve-power naval agreement.
Asked whether the government was
still adhering to its determination ito
arrive at an agreement between the
whole five powers taking part in the
conference and not between two or
three of them" the prime minister re-
piled Iaconically:
Eyes, sir"
Replying to another questioner, the
prime minister declined to state whether
proposals had been made at the con-
ference for scrapping four cruisers of
the Hawkins class.
Jacques Dumesnil of the French
baSsador Dawes this morning, but the
nature of their discussion was not di-
vulged. Dumesnil expected to see For
eign Minister Grand of Italy during the
afternoon, this being one Of the rare
meetings between the French and Ital-
ian representatives since the conference
started.
Secretary of State Stimson expected
to see Prime Minister Macdonald dur
ing the day, if the latter is not tied
up with a conference on Egypt which
now is demanding much Of the British
statesman's attention.
Guarantee Is Denied.
The British government cannot in
volve itself in any more political pacts
implying or containing military commit
ments to preserve the peace In
reaching this conclusion Great Britain
has denied France the guarantee of Sc
curity which she asked as the price of
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