The Washington times., 1937-10-16


Your explanation Is somewhat
confusing" the Premier re-
marked dryly, but pray con-
tinue."
FULL EXPLANATION
1.-THE English Cabinet" MatreS.
ser went on, changing his place
slightly to avoid the first rays Of
sunshine pouring in through the
high windows, realizes that you
may have some apparent cause
for complaint but 1t offers you a
frank and full explanation.
II believe I am correct in saying
that the French government has
fallen and been reeStablished six
times during the last thirteen
months"
France remains!" CASTOR Des-
selin exclaimed with theatrical
force.
Precisely" Matresser assented,
but to whom could we turn to
expound our scheme? Since we
opened tentative negotiations,
first Of all with a retiring German
dictator and secondly with a small
but powerful committee Of Ger
man statesmen, three French cab
inets have been established and
fallen.
"You see the point Of this, I am
sure. Three Of those men who
must have answered for your
country have abandoned politics
and gone back into private life.
"At least one Of these was an
enterprising journalist who would
have been free at any time to
publish our scheme to the whole
world and thereby destroy it."
MatreSSer paused. Neither of
his auditors had anything to say
except that the Premier muttered
name under his breath.
THAT fact and the fact alone
is responsible for what must have
seemed to you our secrecy, a
secrecy which would have been
ended yesterday before your Cab
met meeting If this terrible mis-
hap had not befallen our Ambas
Sador."
CRUX OF MISSION
IT withhold comment" the
Premier said in reply to a ques
tioning glance from Matresser
"T wish to hear all that you have
to say, sir"
1.-THE crux of Lord Somerby's
mission here" MatreSSer con.
tinued, twas to explain why 1t
had been necessary for us to
work in secrecy, but there was
never a time, nor has any modifi-
cation or variation in this scheme
ever been suggested. which less
ened the security of France.
1.-THE agreement which Is draw
ing towards its final settlement.
Monsieur Lacheur and Monsieur
Desselin, contains the written
pledge Of Germany to abstain for
fifty years from any act Of war
or aggression against your country
and provides you with definite
and cast-iron pledges that this
promise will be kept
"For this you pay-what? You
pay nothing. England pays for
you"
For the first time Matresser
felt that he had impressed his
auditors. It is true that they had
flinched at that last badly spoken
statement but they listened to II
without protestation.
Lacheur rose to his feet and
paced the room. With a glance
of apology towards Matresser, he
beckoned to DeSselin and whis'
pered for a moment or two in his
ear.
Matresser. grateful for the res
pite, leaned back in his chair. The
early morning fatigue Of a man
who has been without sleep for
many hours was stealing upon
him.
Presently Lacheur and his COM
panion returned to their places.
A glance from the former gave
Matresser the cue to continue.
"You must forgive me-" he went
on. eff have spoken too frankly,
but 1t is at your own request and
a misunderstanding between us
now would be fatal.
England is willing to offer as
free gift those colonies which
have cost her millions to subdue,
to say nothing of the lives of her
soldiers spent in their conquest.
GREAT SACRIFICE
IT am an EngliShman and yet
dare to say that no nation in
the world has ever made such a
gesture for peace or offered such
a sacrifice to bring it about. 1
ask you, Monsieur Lacheur, and
you, Monsieur DeSselin, to recog-
nize that fact and to impress it
upon your president.
Announce it yourself from the
roStrum, Monsieur Lacheur, point
to it-why not?-as a diplomatic
triumph achieved by your govern
ment, and you should remain in
office by popular acclaim.
Danish forever from your
minds any idea that England, who
has never ceased to consider you
her ally, has any selfish advan-
tage to gain by the carrying out
Of this great scheme. 1t is simply
a sincere effort to give peace to
the world"
There was Q brief silence. Mon