Evening star., 1936-03-15

BY PERTINAX.
TINE Franco-Soviet treaty of mu-
tual assistance was signed on
May 2. 1885, but it was left in
n abeyance for a long time and
was ratified only recently.
The truth is that Pierre Laval agreed
to political and military cooperation
with Bolshevik Russia against his own
will. He had to follow in the wake of
his predecessor, Louis Barthou, to bow
to the advice of the general staff.
Moreover, he was bullied into acquies-
cence by the continuous pressure OF his
own officials and the passionate appeal
of the leaders Of the Little Entente
Titulescu and Benes, among others
who left him no doubt that the al
lance with Russia, as a protection
against Germany, Hungary and per-
haps even Poland, was a question Of
life or death for their respective coun-
tries.
However, the French prime min
lister, even before leaving Moscow on
May Is, had already set himself to the
task of undermining what he had ac-
complished. In the preceding days he
had instructed the French Ambassador
in Berlin, M. Francois Poncet, to ar
range for an interview between Adolf
Hitler and himself on his return jour-
ney to France Though that meeting
never came of, M. Laval, who mean
while had hastened to Warsaw to at
tend Marshal PilSudskis funeral, sue
ceeded in having a lengthy conversa-
ton with Gen. Goering after the serv-
ices in Cracow.
Had Feared Reprisal.
Laval had feared lest, as soon as the
Franco-Soviet understanding became
an accomplished fact, Hitler would
seek some kind of revenge against
Czechoslovakia and Russia; lest the
immediate outcome of the defensive
system France was endeavoring to set
up would be to precipitate Germany
into a warlike adventure. This was
before the remilitarization of the
Rhineland.
But not only did Laval attempt to
soften the ruf1ed feelings Of the Third
Reich by giving it some snowy proof Of
his peaceful intentions. His purpose
went much beyond what, in the cir
cumstances, could have been regarded
as wise precaution. To carry out
the Franco-Soviet treaty in such a
manner that it would not be a real
obstacle to Germanic expansion to-
ward Eastern Europe: Such was the
carefully concealed idea he had in
mind. He was convinced that coming
to terms with the Soviets was an error
Of judgment he had been weak enough
to commit, but which he had better re-
trieve by time-honored diplomatic
processes.
On my way back from Moscow, on
the train I met M. Litvinoff, commits
sar of the people for foreign affairs.
He was deeply disturbed by the tele-
grams he had received from the Rus
sian Ambassador in Berlin about M.
Francois Poncet's doings. He must
have been still more upset, a few
weeks later, when M. Potiemkin, the
Soviet representative In France, sent
him an account Of a talk he had
had with M. Laval. The French
prime minister had affected deep as
tonishment when told that ratification
of the document signed on May 2
was necessary. For advice and en-
lightenment on that point he had
called M. Leger, secretary general Of
the Quai d'Orsay. Then, having to
make his choice between ratification by
simple governmental decree and ratifi-
cation by q parliamentary bill, he
selected the former method, only to
turn back to the latter when both
chambers had dispersed for the Sum-
mer recess. Only recently did it come
up for consideration.
"Komintern" Meeting Strange.
Between July 25 and August IS the
'Komintern" or Third International,
held its congress in Moscow. Why that
gathering was summoned at such a
vital moment in the relations between
Russia and Western Europe has never
been satisfactorily explained. The
groups yearly congress had been
passed over since 1928. Why did
Moscow think it opportune to exhibit
itself before the whole world as the
active force behind revolutionary
in such a way as to bring
q formal protest from the United
States?
1t is not easy to answer. In this
juncture M. Laval did not instruct the
French Ambassador in Moscow to fol-
low in the steps Of Mr.. Bullitt, as his
Intention was not to obtain redress,
out rather to nurse grievance care
'ully. Moreover, M. Laval, during his
stay in the bolshevik capital, had been
lnwise enough to solicit Stains inter-
ference in Frances home politics
through the issuance Of a public dis