Paris, Feb. 27.
A semi-oficial French sources today issued a statement saying that "no mediation or peace offensive, whatever its patronage, could be made with any chance of success."
The statement did not refer to the United States, but it was considered significant that it coincided with opening of the "exploratory" conversations by Mr. Sumner Welles in European. capitals.
The statement was therefore considered by some as an indirect warning to the United States, and also to the Scandinavian countries, that the present moment is inopportune to suggest mediation in the hostilities.
The statement criticized the communique of the Scandinavian foreign ministers, issued after their confer~ ence last Sunday, in which they expressed desires for an end to the European war before heavy fighting started.
"The necessity for assuring prosperity and humanity," the statement said, "must be placed before the evident interest there is in the return to prosperity, and the freedom and security of commerce. Having assumed all responsibility in the conflict which has been imposed upon them, France and Britain intend to remain the masters of their decision."
—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.