Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-09-23
FRANCE PROMISES
TO FULFILL PACT
DaIadier Says Engagements
Will Be Faced if Reich
Invades Czechs.
BY the Associated Press,

PARIS, Sept. 23.-Radical Socialist
Deputies tonight quoted Premier
Edouard Daladier as declaring that
If Germany enters Czechoslovakia
France will face her engagements.
Deputy Louis Malvy. one of the
leaders Of the Premier's own party,
Was one Of those who quoted those
words to newspaper men after 4 dele
cation Of Radical Socialist ministers
had called on the Premier.
M. Malvy also said that M. Daladier
declared ne would call Parliament i'm
mediately back into session IT the
situation should become worse"
Troops Ordered on Alert.
At the same time, troops along
Frances Belgian, German, Italian and
Spanish frontiers were ordered to as
sumo positions of alert" it was re-
ported in sources close to the general
STAFF at Strasbourg.
Such an order. issued by the gov
eminent. means that troops take up
positions ready for an emergency.
At Thionville, rear the German
frontier. 1t was reported sections Of
army engineers had been sent right
to the frontier, as well as attachments
OF mobile guards destined to be shock
troops in event Of conflict.
The new surprise order sent military
police hurrying through garrison towns
rounding up officers and soldiers who
had been sent back to barracks.
Inclusion in the order Of troops on
the Belgian, Italian and Spanish from
tires as well as on the German border
was seen as move to assure pro-
lection Of every inch of Frances Dor
der no matter what may happen.
Aid Pledged to Czechs.
France is pledged to go to Czecho-
slovakia's aid should the latter be the
victim CT ''unprovoked aggression"
The declarations attributed to the
Premier were reported by Malvy Short
~ before $50 pm. Q2:30 pm, e.
S. A..
They came after the British Ambas-
sador, Sir Eric Phipps, had had a sur.
prise Commute conference with For
eign Minister Georges Bonnet.
Earlier Parliamentary circles said
Premier Daladier had agreed to sub
nit the blanket resignation of his
government as soon as the inter-
national crisis takes a definite turn
one way Of the other"
The decision, made necessary by a
split tn the cabinet over the policies of
the Premier and Foreign Minister
Bonnet. followed reports that revolt
ing cabinet members forced from M.
Daladier a promise that France would
make no more concessions to Germany.
Split Nine to Nine.
The cabinet was said by some men,
bers Of the Chamber of Deputies to be
split nine to nine over M. Daladier's
refusal to fulfill French obligations to
aid Czechoslovakia.
The Premier was said to have made
1t condition Of the blanket resigna-
ton that the revolving cabinet mem
bers, to whom he promised no further
French concessions, remain in the gov
eminent until Prime Minister Cham
berlain finishes his negotiations with
Adolf Hitler.
That promise, coupled with patriotic
pressure on the ministers not to cause
. crisis during the crucial talks be-
tween Mr.. Chamberlain and Chan
cellor Hitler, it was said, prevented an
immediate breakup of the French
government.
Usually well-informed sources close
to the government declared, however,
that three Of the ministers left their
designations with Premier Daladier,
not to be acted on until the outcome Of
the Godesberg conference Is known.
These three, Paul Reynaud, minister
Of justice; Georges Mandel, minister
Of colonies, and Auguste Champetier
de Ribes, minister Of pensions, talked
to M. Daladier yesterday In stormy"
conference, informants said.