Evening star., 1935-04-11
French to Demand Action
on German Rearming as
Peace Threat-PIea to Be
Backed by Memorandum.
SIMON is QUESTIONED
ON RESULTS OF TALKS
Mussolini. Flandin and Laval
Seek Information on Reich At
titude Toward Mutual Assist
ance as Element of Security
Agreement and on Eastern Pact

iCopyright. 1855 BY the Associated Press,
STRESA, Italy, April ll.-Greal
Britain. France and Italy today de-
cided to take up as their first concrete
problem Frances appeal to the League
of Nations against Germanys repudla-
ton of the military clauses of the
Versailles treaty as endangerlns
Europe's peace.
Shortly after Prime Minister Mac
Donald of Great Britain, Premier
Flandin of France and their host
Premier MuSsolini of Italy, had met
for their initial conference here. q
French official indicated France Woulo
insist firmly upon the Leagues acting
on the French appeal.
Memorandum Planned.
The appeal. it was said is to be
supported by a memorandum stating
Frances views concerning RelchS-
fuehrer Hitler's violation of the treaty
and suggesting this violation might
lead to the danger of war.
The conference began at 1880 am
with a preliminary exchange of views
on the European situation and ad-
journed for luncheon after the con-
ferees voted to take up Frances appeal
to the League at pm.
This announcement. which was
made to the press by British and
French delegates. created considerable
surprise as it had been generally un-
derStood the action to be taken at
Geneva concerning Germany would
hinge to a large extent upon what de-
cision was made at StreSa regarding
more secondary subjects.
After a brief greeting from Premier
Mussolini. who acted as chairman.
Sir John Simon, British foreign secre-
tarv. made lengthy statement de-
scribing his visit to Reichsfuehrer Hit
Ter and the tour made by Capt An
thonv Eden. British lord privy seal, to
Moscow, Warsaw and Praha.
Sir John Quizzed.
With Mussolini taking the lead. the
italian and French statesmen put a
series of questions to Sir John which
covered every aspect of the situation
as revealed to Sir John and Capt.
Eden on their trip.
It was understood the queries by
Mussolini. Premier Flandin and Pierre
Laval, the French foreign minister,
included especially Germanys atti-
,tude toward mutual assistance as an
ement of a general security pact. the
herman attitude toward negotiations
Tor an Eastern European security pact.
her attitude toward the independence
of Austria. her attitude on the Memel
question and her attitudes toward the
resumption of membership in the
League of Nations and the vital prob
lem of rearmament and disarmament.
Musolini and Macdonald asked the
French to inform them at 5 pm. today
of the contents of the French memo
randum which will be submitted to
the League in support of the French
protest against Germany.
Dangers Exposed.
Previously. the contents Of the
memorandum had not been disclosed
other than the declaration that it lex
poses the danger in consequence of the
of treaties An official
said the document enunciated the
clauses of the Versailles treaty
rather than Germanys rearmament
itself
A French spokesman said the men,
oranoum did not foresee the danger
of war in the near future. but he
recalled Frances appeal to the League
under Article XI of the Covenant,
which applies to ANY circumstance
which threatens to disturb interna-
tional peace
The French expressed the opinion
there was no question of Great Brit
ain or italy joining in Frances appeal
to the League
The morning session lasted two
hours A spokesman said the ques-
tions asked by Mussolini, Flandin and
I avail were informative rather than
POLITICAL This was understood to
mean Italy and France had not yet
made known their attitude on vital
matters.
Summary of Attitude.
A canvass of the deIegations gave
tie following picture Of their atti-
tudes on the issues confronting the
tripartite meeting:
l. German rearmament: Great
Britain is willing to accept Hitler's re-
armament declaration and negotiate
for further arms limitations: France
will make stiff protest before sane
tioning German rearmament: Italy
will accept it. but. like Great Britain,
wants an agreement to prevent further
expansion of military establishments.
2. The Eastern Locarno pact: Great
Britain will give it her moral support
without actual participation; France
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