Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-13
Allies Pledge Greece Rumania
All Power to Fight Aggression;
France Bo|sters Border Defenses
Land Sea Forces
Are Co-ordinuted
With Brituin's
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PRESS.
PARIS, April l3.-Premier Daladier
announced today France was ready
militarily for emergencies and, with
Britain, had promised her aid in
case of need to Greece and Rumanla
as we'll as Poland.
His declaration, made in bluntly
worded statement, came only few
minutes after British Prime Minister
Chamberlain announced similar
commitments to Greece and Ru-
mania in London.
Meanwhile France strengthened
her border defenses and moved to
coordinate her land. sea and air
forces with those of Great Britain.
M. Daladier's declaration was ac-
cepted here as designed to serve two
major purposes:
!. To tell Germany and Italy that
any act of aggression would bring
serious risk of war.
2. To bolster the determination of
those countries which feel them
selves menaced and are inclined to
resist.
The Premier declared that the
French government attached the
greatest Importance" to the pre-
vention of any modification by force
or the menace of force" of the
status quo in the Mediterranean Sea
or the Balkan Peninsula.
Continuing Diplomatic Action.
He added that the French govern
ment was continuing the necessary
diplomatic action for the mainte-
nance of peace and strengthening
Of the solidarity which should unite
all countries resolved to preserve
their liberty" in the face of a COM
mon peril.
NJ Daladier said the protection of
"all French interests direct or in
direct and of Frances ALLIANCES" re-
NAMED the governments DUTY and
desire"
Our objective M. Daladier said,
lis to organize the necessary COL
liberation among those nations
which have no idea of menacing the
vital interests of any people. which
do not refuse to enter into the loyal
examination of present problems and
which are determined to oppose any
attempt at domination"
M. Daladier read communication
prepared in agreement with London
Taking into consideration the
special uneasiness that events OF the
last few week have brought on, the
French government has given to
Rumania and Greece particular as
surance that in case any action
should be attempted which would
clearly menace the independence of
Rumania or Greece and which the
Rumanian or Greek governments
felt 1t to be to their vital interest
to resist with their national forces,
the French government will consider
itself bound to lend Immediately all
assistance in its power"
Men, Munitions MaSsed.
Frances armed preparedness
was advanced by military de-
crees. details of which remain
secret. Their general effect, how
ever. was known in that they
called more reservists to join
the already swollen army estimated
at more than 100000 men Men
and munitions were massed mostly
in Notifications and rearguard
camps.
The combined French and British
Mediterranean f1eets-normally at
least 160 units-were standing
somewhere in the Mediterranean
ready for orders.
In event of conflict this formidable
naval force. which normally in
cludes about "a destroyers and so
submarines, would move as one fleet.
Under the French British agree
ment reached before the present
crisis, both fleets would be under
the single command of a ranking
British admiral.
Nearly all French observers, spec
ulating on reports of activities
along the Rome Berlin axis, agreed
that If war came Germany and
Italy would attempt to flank
france MaGlnOC line facing Ine
Rhine by an attack through the
Alps and from Spain.
Reich Aid to Italy Reported.
For weeks French and Swiss news
papers have carried reports of Ger
man men. arms and war materials
passing through the Bremen Pass
and other routes into italy.
On Easter Monday alone, accord
ing to the Swiss German-language
newspaper, Freiheit, of Basel, Is long
trains loaded with munitions went
through Switzerland into Italy from
Germany.
Observers on the Spanish border
(See PARIS, Page AID