Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-20
Eden Departs for Paris to
Give ReaSsuranceS in
Conferences.
BRITAIN ALSO SEEKING
AIR TREATY DECISION
French Delegates to Visit London
for Continuation Of Navy
Program Talks.
Copyright. 1895. by the Associated Press)

LONDON, June ZU.-1ne bTlIlSu
government today took up the two
fold task of appeasing French fears
regarding its naval agreement with
Germany and Of seeking an imme-
date decision of the powers concerned
regarding a Western European air
pact.
Capt. Anthony Eden, minister for
League of Nations relations, was given
his final instructions by Prime Min
lister Stanley Baldwin at private
conference at 10 Downing street be-
fore his departure this afternoon for
Paris and conferences with the lead
ers of France.
Receives Won Ribbentrop.
Shortly before this meeting the
prime minister received Gen. Joachim
Won Ribbentrop, ReichSfuehrer Hit
ler's emissary, and discussed with him
the prospects for adapting various
drafts of proposed air pacts into one
agreement.
Capt. Eden, who Is accompanied
by William Strang. the foreign ONCE
expert, will remain in Paris at least
two days in discussion of the general
European situation with Premier
Pierre Laval and other French min
listers.
The next move in the naval pro-
gram will be talks between the French
and English at London. These
already have been tentatively ar
ranged. but the most important ques-
ton Capt. Eden will put to the
French is whether they are willing to
sign a five-power air pact-including
Germany, Italy and Belgium. as well
as France and Great Britain-for
mutual assistance and limitation Of
forces prior to decisions regarding
other Anglo-French proposals.
Aimed to Appease Europe.
These proposals, made last Febru-
airy 3. were intended for the ap-
peasement of Europe, and included
Danubian and Eastern European pacts
and Germany's return to the League
of Nations.
In view Of the present French
criticism of the Anglo-Ge naval
agreement on the ground it violates
the February proposals, on the
principle that all the proposals should
be settled simultaneously, France is
expected to greet the idea Of q
separate air pact coldly.
Meanwhile, British naval authori-
ties worked on an international agree
ment to reduce the sizes of warships
and to restrict drastically-or even
Observation-Disclosures.
An authoritative source disclosed
that concessions made to Germany in
their new naval agreement did not
swerve Great Britain from these OBJ
jectiveS, and 1t was understood the
Reich would give whole hearted sup
port to the program.
Supplementary Pact Drafted.
Delegates to the Anglo German ma
val conversations, at which the agree
ment limiting their navies to a
100-35 ratio was concluded, set about
drafting supplementary agreement
to be guided by these principles.
The new accord would be tentative
until French, Italian and Russian
authorities, invited to London in that
order for naval conversations, have
been consulted.
Proposals advanced by the British,
wen-informed quarters said, included:
l. Limitation of warships to $4,000
tons or less and carrying no guns
exceeding 12-inch calibre.
2. Limitation of cruisers to 1000
tons or less and their guns to inches.
3. Limitation of aircraft carriers
to $4,000 tons or less and 6-inch guns.
France Accepts Challenge.
PARIS. June 20 LP.-French on
Gals said privately today that France
intends to meet Germanyis naval chal-
lenge by strengthening Frances feet
'as much as necessary"
The officials concerned said they
considered that the Washington naval
treaty Of 1922 has ceased to apply,
that Frances hands are free" and
that Great Britain had violated the
spirit although not the letter of the
Washington accord-and that, there
fore, France was no longer bound.
The government view, as reflected
in a secret meeting of the Chamber
Of Deputies Naval Committee yester-
day, was said to be that the new
Anglo-German naval agreement, per-
hitting Germany to build a feet IS
per cent as large as the British, really
Cancelled the Washington and Yer
sailles treaties and the spirit of the
London declaration of February 3
entered into by Great Britain and
France.
French action is to be delayed, it
was said, until the German building
program is known. If Germany lays
down the keels for the remainder Of
her. 400,000-ton allowance under the
Anglo German agreement Immediately
then, officials said. France must begin
building large fleet without waiting
for the expiration of the Washington
treaty December 81, 1885.