Evening star., 1933-12-02
PAR|S-BER[lNP PACT |
SOUGHT IN SECRET
Leak Reveals Negotiations
Between Nations, With Re-
suit in Grave Doubt.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

By Radio to The Star.
PARIS. France, December 2.-Fran-
co-German conversations through
channels are now in prog
ress. They are likely to continue for
some weeks. They are secret. All that
is known about them is a result of
leaks or indiscretions IN Berlin or Paris.
On the French side, 1t Is not expected
that anything will result from the talks.
This experiment, nevertheless, will be
continued, though the quick succession
of unstable French governments makes
its conduct difficult. ;
The conversations seem to concern:
/. The Saar.
2. Disarmament.
8. The respective positions OF France
and Germany in Europe.
In a general way, Reich Chancellor
Adolf Hitler insists that Germany Is
intent only on peace and order and has
in particular no quarrel with France,
provided France recognizes Germanys
rights as great power and keeps its
hands of German affairs in Central
and Eastern Europe.
Hitler Demands Saar.
Regarding the Saar Basin. Hitler
seems to want it to be returned uncon-
ditionaIy to Germany without ple-
biscite.
Regarding disarmament. he seems to
want the strength Of the Reichswehr to
be raised to 100000 men, with full,
equal equipment and, in return, he Is
Art 1f sy1Nn
tional supervision.
Regarding Central and Eastern Eu-
rope. he seems to want France to leave
Germany with q free hand In Austria.
There Is, furthermore, no indication
that the ideas Of Hitler's aide, DR.. AL
fred Rosenberg, for joint partition or
the Ukraine between Poland and Ger
many at the expense of Soviet Russia
in exchange for recession of the Polish
corridor by Poland to Germany, has
ever been abandoned by the NazlS.
Populaire, French newspaper, empha-
sized this on Wednesday.
Acceptance Is Difficult.
It Is difficult for France TO accept any
OF these theses. In the first place, the
Saar is not Frances to give. Its status
was fixed under a multilateral treaty
with supervision by the League Of Ma
tions. Moreover, it would be exceed
ingly difficult for France to surrender
such Socialists, Paciflsts. International
lists, Communists and Jews as happen
to live IN the Saar to the tender mercies
Of the NaZiS.
Even if Germany promises not to mo-
lest them, it would be difdcult, because
every one in France recalls how Ger
many, at the time of the evacuation
of the Rhineland, agreed not to molest
that part of the population which had
been on good terms with France. yet as
soon as the French had gone, while the
police stood by and looked on, gangs
Of roughs from Prussia burned houses
and assaulted these persons, hundreds
of whom fed, penniless and wretched,
to France.
In the second place, since every
Frenchman believes Germany is delib-
erately violating the present disarma-
ment rules, nobody here really believes
that Germany could be trusted to OBJ
serve future rules. or that, in the face
Of German sabotage. international su-
pervision would work 1t is reported
moreover, that the Reichswehr generals,
whatever Hitler may say, still oppose
the whole supervision idea.
Moral Default Secuted.
Finally, respecting German ambitions
inconceivable that France could morally
compromise itself BY agreeing to the
spoilation of certain countries, for which
it has hitherto been protesting the
warmest friendship.
That France is nevertheless profound
ly disturbed is indubitable. For one
thing, it sees itself alone and deserted
by Italy, Great Britain and the United
States, If it chooses to oppose German
ambitions. In the second place, Ger
many, 1t is alleged in the often we'll
informed newspaper, Populaire, that
Hitler just now is spending huge sums
on propaganda In France, partly to in
huence directly the French press and
partly IN handsome German pamphlets
and periodicals printed in French,
which are mailed to many individuals
in France
News Censorship Cited.
Populaire sees grounds for suspicion
IN the fact that certain leading French
newspapers have consistently withheld
from their readers the details of the
Nazi terror, which, in the American
and British press, were common knowl-
edge. These same newspapers, Populaire
asserts. have commented on Hitler S
alleged pacifism with complacency."
AS for certain German pamphlets,
their theme seems to be that the Hitler
regime simply means a restoration of
discipline, order and authority in Ger
many and that for the rest the Ger
mans will to peace is ardent ana
profound.
The only elements in France which
consistently oppose these views are the
Conservatives. According TO them,
Germany is already violating not only
the treaty of Versailles but Locarno as
well. because 1t is actively rearming
everywhere, even in the demilitarized
Rhtneland. According to the Conserva-
tives, the Hitler policy is:
l. To rearm as rapidly as possible.
2. Meanwhile to gain time diplo-
matically.
Peace Talk Held Mask.
3. To do this particularly BY talking
peace to France and Poland.
4. To drag out the Franco-German
conversations over a few months.
knowing that they cannot succeed and
then throw the blame on France and
announce that Germany henceforth
considers itself free to do as it likes.
.. To force the issue by Nazifying
Austria. probably early next Spring
and then sit tight and wait and see
what happens. If anything.
Hegardlng German rearmament, the
French Conservatives thesis is now clear r
not only from the recent speech in the
Champer OF Deputies by Deputy Georges
Mandel, but from a lecture by Gen.
Deoeny and from articles in LIE Temps
D 1y sne well-nown publicist, Jacques
According to these sources, all of
sIns Mtnoii y. are are presumably drawing on the
!lies OF tne rIency ministry Of war, Ger
follows: 80
Men. Raicl,cxrol,,-