Evening star., 1935-03-23
Stating Rhine
Frontier Is
Pushed.
FRANCE SEEKS
PENALTY TALKS
Agrees to Debate
Economic Steps
Privately.
BULLETIN.

PARIS, March % tP).-The
three-power conference here be-
tween France, England and Italy,
announced this afternoon that
complete unity of purpose" among
their governments was apparent
from the day-long conversations on
German rearmament.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS. March 23-With her mill
tary stating of the Rhine frontier Off
cially confirmed. France proposed to-
day at the three-power conference
here a public discussion Of penalties
for Germany before a meeting of the
League of Nations.
It was understood. however. that
Capt Anthony Eden of Great Britain
had induced Pierre Laval, the French
foreign minister, to delay any action
against Germany and to go more cau-
tiously than the French had planned.
The penalties proposed by France
were understood to be economic in the
main possibly economic blockades)
1t was reported Eden succeeded in
establishing an agreement that such
drastic measures should be debated
privately during the meeting of the
powers at Como, Italy. in order to
lessen European friction.
Meeting Is Postponed.
The three-power conference in Italy
consequently was postponed until the
first week in April to await Eden's
return from Moscow and the League
Council session to be held afterward
The strengthening of the eastern
frontier garriSonS was described as
purely technical Encouragement of
defense forces" but the confirmation
came during meeting of the superior
council Of national defense presided
over by President Albert Lebrun and
attended by the premier and minister
of war
Meanwhile. the foreign minister
sought to pull together the three
power front of which England ap-
peared to be shying by sounding the
warning of new German demands to
Capt. Eden and Fulvio Suvich. Italy's
undersecretary for foreign affairs.
Their much-heralded meeting, con-
stituting three-power conversations in
advance of Sir John Simons visit to
Berlin. opened at the foreign Office
this afternoon.
The three power representatives
discussed the groundwork of policies
that may divide Europe into the old
system of two armed camps, or gather
all nations into mutual defense against
an aggressor, as the result of the
Reichs decision to rearm.
Differ on Tactics.
France and Britain admittedly diff
fer on tactics, but Laval. in private
talks with Eden and Suvich tried
to smooth out the difficulties prior
to the formal opening of the talks
at 11:15 am.
The diplomats, assembled to discuss
policies prior to the visit of British
Foreign Secretary Sir John Simon
to Hitler in Berlin, talked over the
problems even during lunch in an ad-
joining room at the foreign Office
Laval was eager through Eden to
stiffen the attitude of Sir John toward
Hitler.
Laval is understood to have told
Eden that France is unalterably op-
posed 10 any discussion on the return
of Memel or any other territory to the
Reich, question the French expected
Hitler to raise in Berlin with the
British foreign secretary.
France Moves Troops.
AS the conversations proceeded
France moved to transfer to the Rhine
area half of the garrisons now sta
toned on the Italian frontier.
A common front was sought by all
OF the diplomats, but France already
Is committed on the negotiation of a
pact with Russia, for which Laval will
go to Moscow.
England is understood to prefer the
postponement of any Russian pac ne
gotiationS until the question is settled
whether Simon can induce Hitler to
return to the League of Nations and
reduce Reich armamentS to a figure
that might be approved in later arms
limitations conventions.
Additional French diplomatic plans
In the line of Russian support are we'll
advanced, it was said in informed
quarters. The Franco Russian accords
already are prepared for the visit to
Moscow OF Foreign Minister Pierre
Laval and it was believed Franco
Russian mutual aid may be an ac-
plished fact before the end Of April.