London Optimistic Over Triple Alliance Lourdes, May 3l.
A "clearing of the decks" in anticipation of an early announcement of the Anglo-French-Soviet agreement to resist aggression is noticeable in the latest London, Paris and Moscow reports.
From Paris, it is stated that well: informed French quarters expect the Soviet to answer to the Anglo-French proposals in the "near future perhaps a possible announcement of the agreement before.the end of the week.
The impression prevails in these quarters, however, that the speech on Foreign policy, which is expected to be given in Parliament tonight by M. Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Commissar, will be couched only in general terms, and will make no reference to the proposed pact.
Some diplomatic correspondents on this side of the Channel are more hopeful. The most optimistic of them is Mr, Vernon Bartlett, Member of Parliament, who is the. diplomatic correspondent - of the—"News-Chronicle."
In referring to the call at the Foreign Office yesterday of M. Ivan Maisky, the Soviet Ambassador in London, he says that Sir William Seeds, the British Ambassador to Russia, has received fresh instructions "designed to clear away "the one remaining difficulty," before M. Molotov's speech.
League Reference Difficulty i The difficulty is reputed to arise over Soviet suspicions regarding a reference in the draft proposals to; the League.
Mr. Vernon Bartlett is not alone in insisting that Britain is making it clear, that it did not contemplate that action to resist aggression should be held up by reason of League procedure.
Reports from Moscow state that the Soviet answer to the proposals for an anti-aggression pact is expected at the British Embassy before M. Molotov addresses Parliament tonight.
Sir William Seeds' lengthy discussion with M, Molotov on Monday night to elucidate several points in the proposed pact, as reported from Moscow, was given prominence in morning papers in (London today.
Some dispatches from Moscow on the subject refer to another point over which the Soviet is represented as being concerned—the position if neutral Baltic States are unwilling to accept "embarrassing" promises of assistance.
The correspondents do not commit themselves in saying whether or not this difficulty has been removed.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.