Evening star., 1938-03-12
Armed Assistance
Is Weighed by
Cabinet.
PLAN CONSIDERED
INCLUDES FRANCE
Protests on Berlin's
Course Rejected
Scornfully.
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 12-The British
cabinet today considered the possi-
bility of armed British aid to France
in protection Of Czechoslovakia from
the fate which has befallen Austria.
The cabinets views on this grave
issue were communicated at the close
Of tense session to Charles Corbin,
the French Ambassador, but no de-
cision was announced
Whether decision was reached
was undisclosed, but Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain was known to
have been bitterly angered by the
latest display of Reichsfuehrer Hit
lers naked fist'-the imposition of
Nazi yoke on Austria.
Stiff-Tone Welcomed.
The stiff tone of his communiole
at the close of the cabinet meeting
was warmly welcomed in Paris and
Praha.
But meanwhile Hitler was sweeping
toward Vienna in what was intended
to be his greatest triumph.
Mighty Nazi and Fascist armies
stretched in an unbroken line from
the Baltic to the Mediterranean to
confront Britain and France with de-
cisions as grave as those of 1914.
Protests Too Late.
The vigorous protests Britain and
France made yesterday to Berlin. it
was evidenced, came too late to save
Austria.
In Berlin the Reich government re-
Jected the protests, asserting Britain
and France had acted "on false in
formation"
berlm'S scornful attitude was cited
IN Paris as evidence that mere pro-
tests were valueless. French official
opinion was described as convinced
that only strong open Anglo French
stand could save Czechosloyakia.
Mr.. Chamberlain, his new "realis-
tic policy Of trying to appease the
dictators through friendly chats all
but destroyed, retired glumly to his
country house, Chequers. for the GUS
tomary week end. But all cabinet
ministers remained close to London, to
meet again Monday, if not sooner.
Reich Pact Impossible.
The post-cabinet communicate made
1t clear any Anglo-German agreement
was out of the question. Rome's re-
fusal to return to her old role of pro-
tector Of Austria's freedom vastly re-
duced prospects of renewed Anglo
Italian friendship.
Mr.. Chamberlain however, was be-
lieved to be still uncertain as to
whether the British public would stand
behind a clear-cut declaration that
Britain would go to war to keep
Czechoslovakia independent.
Clement R. Atlee, leader of the
Labor opposition, was called into con-
sultation with Viscount Halifax. the
foreign secretary, to be told of the
governments intentions and be con-
suited concerning the opposition's at
titude toward future policy.
Protests Too Late
1t was all too clear that Great Brit
aims words of protest came far too late
to save Austria from Nazi domination
and that the ministers must make up
their minds now whether to force a
solid front with France and Czecho-
slovakia to prevent the same kind of
a march to the East.
Furious government opposition de-
manded that Mr.. Chamberlain answer
the question of Czechoslovakia's S future
and answer it quickly.
Arthur Henderson, Laborite, served
notice he would ask the premier in
Commons Monday whether Great Brit
ain would pledge armed aid to France
In the event France is attacked while
trying to save Czechoslovakia from
German domination.
Won Ribbentrop Waits.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joachim
Won Ribbentrop, the German states
man who heard the useless British
protest against subjugation of Austria,
remained at the German Embassy
(See LONDON, Page A-4D