Evening star., 1939-07-26
New Instructions
Sent on Soviet Pact,
Says Chamberlain
Refuses TO Confirm That
MiIitory stoff Talks
Will Begin Soon
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 26.-The British
government has sent new instruc-
tions to its diplomats in Moscow,
Prime Minister Chamberlain told
the House of Commons today. He
added that he expected to make a
statement early next week on the
Moscow negotiations for British
French-Russian mutual assistance
pact.
This announcement, coupled with
optimistic reports in official circles,
led to the belief that the govern
ment hoped to be able soon to an
nounce conclusion of such pact.
Mr.. Chamberlain would neither
deny nor confirm reports from reli-
able sources that Britain and France
had agreed to begin staff talks with
Russia without waiting for conclu-
sion of the projected pact. These
quarters said British and French
missions probably would leave for
Moscow within 10 days.
Asked whether 1t had been agreed
that military and naval officers
should 60 to Moscow for staff talks,
Mr.. Chamberlain replied:
I'VE have sent certain instructions
to Sir william Seeds (the Ambas-
sador in Moscow but I have not
yet heard what the reactions are"
In response to another question
he said, "The French and the
British government are acting in
full collaboration"
The new instructions sent to
Seeds, informed quarters said, were
to agree to immediate staff talks.
Since Russia had demanded this
all along, there was held to be little
doubt that the proposal would be
accepted.
Great Britain and France are be-
coming the laughing stock of the
world "by their crawling on the
ground" before Russia, German
Propaganda Minister Goebbels' Ber-
lin newspaper Der Angriff said today
of the report that British and
French military mission would go
to Moscow.
Not much has remained of the
much-vaunted English dignity and
French superiority" the paper con-
tinued. 1T remains to be seen
whether the pact will be concluded
before Christmas or whether the
Moscow holdup will prove to be
even more indigestible
The disclosure followed reports of
rapid progress in the latest CONVEX
sations of British. French and Rus
sian diplomats looking toward a
three-power mutual assistance pact.
1t was understood the three gov
ernments had agreed the negotia-
tions had progressed to such a stage
that staff talks could begin with
out waiting for conclusion of the
pact.
The British cabinet considered de-
tails of the proposed mission at the
weekly meeting today.
Informed quarters said the Brit
ish mission probably would be
headed by an admiral while the
French group would be headed by
general, probably Maurice Gustave
Gamelin, supreme commander of
armed forces. The air forces of both
countries also would be represented.
Immediate military discussions
would pave the way for placing
both military and political parts of
the pact into effect at the same
time-in line with a Soviet wish
from the first-if-and when differ
ences are ironed out.
In working out agreements with
Poland and Turkey Britain sent
them strong military missions. In
formed sources said the government
already was arranging fol British
and French experts to talk on mill
tary aspects of the Moscow nego-
tiations.
British observers optimistically
recalled that Prime Minister Cham
berlain told the House of Commons
he hoped to be able to announce
completion of the pact before par
liamentary adjournment August 4