Evening star., 1940-03-27

nInIS break
French Relations
Surits' Wire to StoIin,
Stopped by Censor,
Insult Soys Paris
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, March 27.-A complete
break in diplomatic relations be-
tween Soviet Russia and France ap.
pears to be foreshadowed in the
recall-at French request-of the
Russian Ambassador to Paris.
An official spokesman charged to-
day that France and her war ally,
Great Britain, were "insulted" by a
telegram which the envoy, Jakob
surits, recently attempted to send
to Joseph Stain, congratulating him
on the peace treaty with Finland as
. stroke against "British-French
warmongers."
Failed to Use Immunity.
Surits did not make use Of his
diplomatic immunity by sending the
message In code, but instead handed
it into the regular channels Of the
French post ONCE. The govern
ment considered the telegram. writ
ten in precise French, an undiplo-
matte act and an attempt by the
Envoy to use regular communica-
tions for Communist propaganda.
Ordinary telegra,ns. are tubject
to censorship. Surits' message there
fore was stopped and later sent to
the French Charge d'A6aires in
Moscow, who handed 1t to Russian
Premier Foreign Commissar WA.
cheslan Moloton with Frances re-
quest that Surits be recalled.
Even in view of the possibility Of
q complete rupture, there still was
no indication that French military
purposes would be served by declara-
ton Of q formal state of war be-
tween France and the Soviet Union.
But if Russia makes decisive
move with Germany In the Balkans
that would be another matter, it
was said. -.-.....
AS for that possibility, the French
pointed to the allied force in the
Near East and the allied understand
ing with Turkey, who holds the key
to the Black Sea In the Dardanelles.
Turkey, however, Is not bound to
help the allies to fight Russia.
Inner Cabinet Meets.
Premier Paul Reynaud's nine-man
inner war cabinet held its second
meeting this morning, but whether
the Russian and Balkan situations
we're discussed remained for the
time being a state secret.
Surits Is expected to leave Paris
for Moscow within few days. His
recall means that neither nation
will have an Ambassador in the
others capital. The French envoy.
Paul Emile Magyar, has been on
"sick leave" for some weeks.
The French demand that Russia
recall Surits was interpreted as q
warning" to Russia from the new
"win- n-the-war" government under
M. Reynaud that 1t intends to take
a sitter diplomatic course in the
conflict with Germany, Russia's 5
| friend.
The French, who have been en-
gagged in an intensive battle with
underground Communist organiza-
tons, also are said to be disturbed
by q reported increase in Russian
espionage. #
Wont Be Duped."
The ofncial French spokesman
said that normal relations had been
maintained with Russia "above all
for reasons of practical order. ="
However, he added, France docs
not intend to be duped. France
intends to make her rights vigorously
respected. -.:
"She Will not tolerate that acts
particularly directed against her be
committed under the cover Of neu-
tranty."
As long ago as January IA Philippe
Henriot fled a resolution In. the
Chamber of Deputies, demanding
severance of diplomatic relations
with Moscow, and today q French
press campaign toward the same
end appeared to be gaining mo-
meutun.
Increased attention here has been
turned on the Near East and pos
sible Russian German intentions
there. Italy's future course also is
the subject of close study. There
have ,been suggestions in the press
that former Premier Pierre Laval
should be sent to Rome to open
negotiations with Premier Musso-
uni.
It was N. Laval who went to Rus
sia in 1895 to negotiate the French
Russian military assistance pact,
which never has been denounced by
either country, although considered
dead letter since Russia signed Z
non-aggression treaty with Ger
many last August.
The news that the French Am
bassador to Rome. Andre Francois
Poncet, is scheduled to return to
consult with the Reynaud govern
ment gave the press new grounds
for speculation today On the posi-
btlity that a Premier intends to
attempt samG fsort ct neyotiationi
With Nus1oiint 40 s;S,%sas si