Evening star., 1939-04-21

LTGL european DdttOHS OGSeG OF
Anglo-French pledges of armed
support against attack. Pledges
haze been made to Poland.
Greece and Rumdnia. Negotia-
tions still in progress 1Uith Tur-
key and Rumania.
y the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 21.-Soviet Rus
sia has proposed resurrection of
the Observation-Disclosures Triple
Entente of the World War, a highly
authoritative source said today, as
bulwark against possible future
aggression by Germany Italy or
Japan.
Such recommendation of a fiat
reciprocal military alliance was
said to have been made by Foreign
Commissar MiXim Litvinoff to Sir
William Seeds, British Ambassador
In Moscow
Both Britain and France, this in
formant said, have the proposal
under serious consideration.
May Accept Alliance.
No official indication was given of
the Anglo French reply. but Britain,
although favoring a less binding
agreement, was believed to be ready
to accept such a military alliance
rather than lose Russias support.
Moscow, having in mind the pos
eibility of attack both by Germany
In the West and Japan in the East.
was said to have demanded full
military support from Britain and
France in return for her adhesion
to the bloc of nations they are form
Ing.
Informed sources said Britain had
expected much more vague and less
binding agreement by which Russia
would merely support the coali-
ton being formed by London and
Paris.
(The Soviet Union proposed a
sweeping agreement which would
bind itself and the two democ-
racies to take immediate action
in event of further aggression
anywhere in Europe, the Chicago
Daily News reported from Lon
don. The Soviet Union, it is in
dicated. is willing not only to
give certain limited assistance TO
Poland. Rumania and Turkey,
but is prepared to throw the full
weight of its forces into action,
no matter where trouble may
start.
British and French officials
were reported to be frankly
amazed at the Russian proposal.
Their first reaction was the fear
that Russia had deliberately
sought to embarrass them by
making such a sweeping offer
that Britain and France cannot
possibly acceptJ
Fear Two May Block Talks.
Although British officials were re-
ported willing to accept Russian CO.
operation on fiat tri-partite mill
tary alliance basis, it was feared
!, here that Rumania and Poland, now
holding British-French guarantees
of their independence, might block
the negotiations.
Russia formerly ruled parts of
both these countries. and Polish
and Rumanian officials feared any
occupation of their territory by Rus
sian troops might prove an en-
barassment after any need of the aid
of the Red Army had passed.
Officially it was pointed out that
fiNr,c nnnfiro11iY1cy
both in Paris and Moscow and that
the new Soviet plan was not neces-
sarily final.
Broad Front Favored.
In his report to the foreign office
Sir William was said to have pointed
out that the Soviet government
would prefer to have a broad front
of all powers willing to oppose any
aggression combined ultimately into
q large pact for mutual assistance.
This suggestion, however, was not
being seriously considered here, for
it might mean that in certain even
Qualities Poland and Rumania would
be asked to 60 to the assistance of
the Soviet.
Foreign Office officials in London
took Turkish cooperation in their
coalition for granted, although no
official announcement has been
made as to the outcome of recent
Anglo Turkish talks.
The Turkish newspaper, Vakit,
: said yesterday that the Turkish ne
gotiations already had been con-
cluded.
It was learned that Chinese Am
bassador Quo Tai-chi had called at
the foreign Office and requested that
China be included among the powers
being lined up by Britain.
All Forces May Be Available.
Some sources said the Russian
proposals went so far as to state
the "entire forces" of the three
countries-Britain, France and the
Soviet-would be available to resist
any aggression in Europe.
Britain's original suggestions, while
secret, have been reported as in
cluding Soviet pledge of aid for
Poland and Rumania with her air
fleet only. The proposals for air
force assistance were. made, 1t was
said, to avoid Polish and Rumanian
objections to admitting the Red
Army within their borders even as
an allied force in time of en-
ergency.
Informed sources in London be-
(See SOVIET, Page A-4)