Evening star., 1939-06-08
New British Formula
Believed Acceptable
To Rulers Of Soviet
Eoch Would Be Entitled
To Summon Aid for
VituI Interests
Bv PERTINAX.

PARIS. June 8 (NANA).-The
British Cabinet has reached an i'm
portant decision that is likely to
be regarded by the rulers of So
Wet Russia as satisfactory.
1t may be summarized as fol-
lows: Each signatory of the con-
templated pact of mutual assist
ance, Britain, France and Russia.
would be entitled unilaterally to de-
fine its vital interests" and to call
upon the two others to give help.
Such formula was conceded last
April to Poland in order to enable
her to cOunteract an offensive of
any kind launched against her across
Lithuania. 1t will extend anala-
gous protection to Soviet Russia as
far as Latvia and Estonia are con-
cerned. I do not mention Finland
because originally it was not in
cluded in the Russian program and
was introduced there much later,
as an afterthought probably to dis
pei the general apprehension that
Moscow had in mind very definite
uColSllS I'll CtLCu dSdllob 1d ldf1 anu
Estonian independence.
Blank Check for Each.
In practice, each Of the three
signatories will be given a blank
check that the two others will be
pledged to honor, unless, of course,
it should become obvious that some
thing else than resistance to un-
provoked aggression is intended.
British Prime Minister Chamber
lain was persuaded by Foreign
Secretary Halifax to take that mo-
mentous step because the British
foreign Office. like the French Quai
d'Orsay, realizes that the only
chance left to avert a general war
or, alternatively, abject surrender
is to place as soon as possible be-
fore the German Fuehrer the ac-
complished fact of an Anglo
French Russian alliance.
On that account, much regret
was expressed last night in COM
petent quarters that Mr.. Chamber
lain should not have agreed to dis
patch forthwith Sir Robert Vansit-
tart to Moscow so as to complete
there the final wording of the
treaty with minimum of delay
Sir Horace Wilson, who still sue
ceeds occasionally in influencing
Mr.. Chamberlain Notwithstanding
his checkered record, seems to have
turned him once more against the
diplomatic adviser of the British
government. He suggested that Sir
Eric Phipps, the British Ambassa-
dor to Paris, as the exponent OF
the views of the French govern
ment, and Sir William Seeds, the
Ambassador to Moscow, should be
summoned to London to take part
in a final consultation and that
Seeds should return to his post
after having been given definite in
structions.
Phipps Tool of Bonnet.
BY the way, Phipps, all through
the international crisis since last
summer has made himself the too
of French Foreign Minister Bonnet
and has constantly joined hand:
with Wilson against Vansittart, his
own brother-in-law.
But Phipps being for the present
confined to his bed, other arrange.
ments had to be made, and, in the
end, William Strang, head of the
European department OF the for.
eign Office, was selected to 60 tt
Russia. AS he is taking some rest il
Polish country house, the foreign
Office had to spend some hours II
locating him.
Last September Mr.. Chamberlain
knew how to move more quickly
when Hitler had to be placated
He still fails to understand tina
the rulers of Soviet Russia art
thirsty for prestige and considera'
ton, that they feel they hold tht
key position in Europe, that the fat
of the continent depends upon Wha
they will or will not do, and tina
concessions of form, if given in time
might perhaps be substitute TO
concessions of substance.
There is irony in the fact tina
Mr.. Chamberlain, having started
with outspoken antagonism to any
thing like cooperation with Kus
sia, should now be compelled II
bring it into existence undiluted ant
unguarded. Such is the ransom TO
Munich and for what followed Mu
Mich. No wonder that not infre
quently he should hesitate in hi