Evening star., 1939-06-01
British Still Hopeful
Pact With Russia
Can Be Arranged
Baltic States Guarantee
Demanded by Soviet
Difficult Problem
BACKGROUND

! DASA 11toOND-
Hopes of Britain and France
| tor strong anti-aggreSSion front
rece1ued q SeDere setback yester-
day 1Chen Soviet Premier Molotof
rejected the latest British pro-
poSals for three-poUer pact.
With agreements already reached
'O1th Poland and Turkey, and
un'ldteral guarantees giuen Ru-
mania and Greece, Russia re-
mains the key to completion OF
the anti-aggression lineup.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June british officia
sources expressed belief today that
Soviet Russia eventually would be
brought into the British-French
front but said Russian insistence
on guarantees for the Baltic states
on her borders presented "a difficult
problem"
There was no official comment on
the speech by Vyacheslaff Molotof
Soviet Premier and foreign COM
missar, rejecting the latest British
French proposals, but one spokes-
man pointed out that Molotof him
self said negotiations still were
under way.
Molotoffs speech indicated the
main point was how the proposed
Observation-Disclosures mutual as
sistance pact would apply to other
European states.
Molotoff said it must guarantee all
the countries on Soviet Russia S
western borders-Finland, Estonia,
Latvia, Poland and Rumania.
Aid Offered If Asked.
The British French proposals had
provided for Russian military aid in
event Britain and France were in
volved in war carrying out guar
antees to Poland, Rumania, Greece
and Turkey, but no mention was
made of the Baltic nations.
The proposals did provide, how
ever, that signatories would aid any
European states which were at
tackled if those states asked for help.
The British contended this would
take care of the Baltic and would
satisfy those small nations.
Britain was represented as having
no objection to three-power guar
antee of the Baltic nations if they
wanted such assurances. But dip
lomatic sources said none of the four
small nations-particular Finland
wanted such guarantees, feeling
they would antagonize Germany.
The firmness of Molotoff' S speech
led some observers to believe the
Baltic question might result in
deadlock si,lce Britain has been in
sistent that the wishes of the small
states be Considered.
Blo'y to Chamberlain.
Prime Nj mister Chamberlain, who
had counted on announcing shortly
the conclusion of a pact with Rus
sla, faced the prospect of strength
ened opposition to his foreign policy
in the June 5 meeting of Parlia-
ment.
Recent progtess in the long
drawn negotiati ons had softened the
Chamberlain opposition, clamoring
for quick action in lining up Rus
sian military might with that of
Britain and France to bolster their
new commitments in Europe.
German Nazis considered the re-
jection-voiced yesterday by Pre-
mier-Foreign Conmissar Vyaches-
laff Molotof-not only as a setback
for Britain and France but encour-
agement for Germany and Italy.
But there was no immediate COM
ment in Berlin on Molotoff's remark
that trade negotiations with Ger
many might be resumed.
Italian Fascists viewed it as a
severe humiliation for Britain if not
actral remuneration of the British
French program.
The French expressed belief Rus
80 AMMAN