Paris, Mar. 23.
France's determination to fulfil all her commitments with regard to Czechoslovakia was re-affirmed today by M, Joseph Paul-Boncour, the Foreign Minister, speaking before The Senate Foreign Affairs Com-members, which proceeded during the questions, suddenly turned to sober silence as Mr. Chamberlain rose at 349 o'clock to unfold the attitude which the Government had adopted after deep consideration.
The Prime Minister declared that he could not imagine any events that would change the fundamental basis of the British foreign policy, which was the maintenance and preservation of peace. Peace was'the greatest interest of the British Empire.
"That does not mean, however, that nothing would make us fight. (Cheers)
"We are bound by certain treaty obligations which would entail on us the necessity of fighting if the occasion arose. I hope that no one mittee.
Outlining France's attitude towards record events in Europe, M. Paul-Boncour stressed the necessity of cooperation between all peace-loving nations definitely to oppose any attempts at aggression or interference in the private affairs of minor countries which would imperil European peace.
Referring to Spain, he insisted that continuation of the non-intervention policy must not result in a weakening of France's position in the Mediterranean. The French Government will not tolerate either a temporary or lasting concentration of non-Spanish forces near French territory or France's lines of communication with Africa, Authoritative circles here are keenly interested in the reports from London of the possibility of an Anglo-French conference on outstanding political "questions being held shortly.
The Premier, M. Leon Blum, and the Foreign Minister, M. Paul-Boncour, they added, would be ready to leave for London if the British Government considered present circumstances favourable for direct talks. It would, however, he pre. ferred if the British statesmen came to Paris as French Ministers had gone to London for the Anglo-French talks last November.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.