Paris, June 4, Franco-British parleys due to take place in London next week will be of especial importance in view of the new European commitments assumed by both the Democracies. The conversations, which will be held during the London visit to be paid between Tuesday and Friday by. General Marie Gustave Gamelin, French Chief of Staff, will be carried. on by experts.
These technicians will examine means of procedure whereby both France and Britain would be able to meet their obligations in case of a conflict. The problem of eventual Soviet support will most probably also be examined.
Paris, June 3, Although Soviet Russia suggested several amendments, her official reply to latest Anglo-French proposals in fact constituted an acceptance in principle, Havas learned today.
It would be easy to draft new plans to overcome Moscow's objections, political quarters declared. They pointed out that the U.S.S.R's chief objection was with regard to the Democracies' unwillingness to grant direct guarantees of assistance to the Baltic nations, Another dealt with mention of the League Covenant in the proposed agreement, The latter difficulty could be dismissed, they said, for, in any case, neither Britain nor France wished io imply by references to the covenant that procedure provided in it would have to be applied. The Democracies simply wished to link the new system of security to the old, bringing it within the spirit of the League.
As for the guarantees problem: they admitted that this was more delicate and required more careful treatment, Finland, Latvia and Esthonia, to whom Russia wished to extend guarantees, -wished to retain their full liberty of action and complete independence.
They declared that, in actuality, this aspect of the whole problem of tripartite parleys was secondary, for, strategically viewed, aggression against Russia based on the Baltics alone would be very little assured of any chances of success. Further negotiations should therefore iron out all remaining misunderstandings and obstacles in the way of a three-power pact, they concluded—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.