Evening star., 1938-03-13
PARIS HOLDS ARMY
ON REICH FRONTIER
French Seek Joint Stand
With Britain to Aid
CzeChos|ovakia.
Ey the Associated Press,

Gs tlie hsSoSldleQ TTeSS.
PARIS, March 12-Troops manning
the powerful Maginot line defenses
facing the German border tonight
were held to their posts as France
took an increasingly grave view G. the
European crisis.
French officials meanwhile sought
to convince Great Britain it was neces-
sary for mutual safety to take a Joint
stand to discourage any German en-
croachment on Czechoslovakia.
They considered the war-created de-
mocracy on the Reich's border the
real powder barrel because of alliances
with France and Soviet Russia.
Blum Shifts Tactics e~s
Premier-Designate Leon Blum at the
same time gave up attempts to form
national union government of all
parties and sought desperately to re-
create Peoples Front cabinet to give
the country a ministry.
His proposal to include Communists
in a cabinet for the first time brought
almost united disapprbval from center
and right groups in the Chamber Of
Deputies.
The ministers of Camille Chautemps'
government, which resigned Thursday,
remained at their posts immersed in
the international developments.
Edouard Daladier minister of ma
tlonal defense and war in that cabinet,
ordered the troops in the Maginot
line to remain at their posts without
leave until further notice after he had
conferred with military chiefs.
The line is the famous barrier of
steel and concrete and heavy guns
which was constructed after the World
War to halt any new German invasion.
1t is a vast and mighty under
ground system stretching virtually
from Switzerland to Belgium.
The full import of the order can
ceiling leave was not disclosed, but it
was agreed generally that it was a
sign of grave apprehensions. Daladier
conferred lengthily with army and air
commanders.
France Committed to Aid Czechs.
France definitely is committed by
treaty to aid CZechoslovakia in event
of aggressions; Britain's hands are
free.
The foreign Office pointed out, how
ever. there were no judicial grounds on
which to base a charge of violation of
neutral states territory in the case
OF Germany's Nazification of Austria.
The Franco-C o-Czechoslovakian treaty.
it was said, was not intended to cover
similar situation.
BY this it was meant that Austria's
new chancellor, Arthur Seysz- -Inouart.
acting for the Austrian government,
asked Germany to send in troops.
The French held that there was
little likelihood of a similar case aris-
ing in Czechoslovakia, but hastened
to point out the Franco-Czechoslova-
khan treaty applied only to fragrant in
stances of aggression.
Observers expressed the opinion
France thus was covering Up" for
the future, especially in the eventualitv
she should find British support lacking
at crucial moment.
Constant communication was main.
tanned with London, but late tonight
there was no indication Britain was
resolved 10 accompany France in a
stand that might heighten the danger
of war.
Yvon Delbos, foreign minister,
earlier conferred with the British AM
bassador. Sir Eric Phipps, and Czecho-
sloyakian Minister Stephan Osusky.
M. Blum. the Socialist leader who
headed Frances first Peoples Front
coalition, was forced to seek to form
another when his efforts to provide a
national union cabinet were fruitless,