Evening star., 1935-05-04
L0OPHOLE IN PACT
NOTED BY FRANCE
Alliance With Russia Is to
CaTry Teeth Only if
League Mods.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 4.-Under the terms
of their new defensive alliance, France
may be spared the necessity OF giving
Russia military aid against Germany.
The treaty, made public yesterday,
says "it is understood" that Its pro-
visions shall not be carried out in any
way which might expose either the
Paris or Moscow government to inter-
national sanctions.
Such sanctions are provided for in
the League Of Nations covenant and
the Locarno pact.
Should the League OF Nations
Council unanimously agree that any
nation invading French or Russian
territory was an "aggressor," France
and the U. S. S. r. could hurl more
than a million troops against 1t with
lightning speed.
Might Only Sever Trade.
Should Germany attack Russia and
the League Council fail to agree Ber-
lin was the aggreSsor France might
merely sever all relations, including
trade.
In this way France would avoid
the risk of bringing Great Britain
and Italy to the defense of the Reich
on the ground that Paris, sending
soldiers to the aid Of the Soviet. had
attacked Germany in violation of the
Locarno pact France then could rely
on Great Britain and Italy to aid 1t
If Germany turned its troops west
ward.
bxyt kn
treaty. would be freer to come to the
aid of France.
The danger of Locarno violations
was pointed out by conservative critics.
The day when. flying to the aid
OF Lenin's republic, we shall have
crossed one kilometer of German soil
we shall become an aggressor to the
Reich" writes Leon Bailby, editor Of
lie Jour, nationalist organ. I'VE will
be the beginners of an 'unprovoked
war, and we shall have no right to
any help from our League Of Nations
colleagues"
Germany Has Rights.
The accord between the Paris and
Moscow governments is along League
of Nations lines If the League acts
with the signatories, and along their
own private lines if Geneva does not
Germany, in the protocol attached
to the treaty, received implied notice
that she could safeguard herself if
she feels menaced from either side
by joining a similar three agree
ment.
Great Importance was attached to
article l Of the protocol, which says
that if the League fails to reach a
decision on aid to the victim Of the
aggression, the other party to the
pact will render assistance.
This was viewed by the Russians as
q protection against what they see as
a frequent inability Of the League to
reach decisions. and therefore the in
ability to grant effective remedies in
times Of emergency.
Will Press for Action.
Russian insistence also was credited
here with being responsible for the
provisions of the same article that sig
natories will press together for prompt
action by the Council when such ac-
ton is requested.
According to the terms of the pact,
when the signatory country Is
victim Of aggression, the matter will
be taken, Immediately before the
Council. this. taking the place of the
automatic assistance clause which
many previously thought would be
written into the agreement.
The treaty will become effective
when approved by President Lebrun of
France and the Central Executive
Council of the U. s. s. r.
Army officers meanwhile are study
ing ways to make the military pro-
visions most effective and statesmen
are considering pacts with other
powers.