Extract from a confidential report from Con Cremin to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(P. 19/34) (Copy)

1. The announcement of the signature of a Non-Aggression Pact between Germany and Russia has taken French public opinion completely by surprise. The impression had become deeply rooted that Germany and Italy were playing a game of intimidation and that France and Great Britain had only to show themselves sufficiently resolved to resist to make the axis

Powers mitigate their demands. For James DONNADIEU of the Epoque (Nationalist but very anti-'Munich'), writing before the announcement from Berlin and Moscow was known 'the situation at the present moment is the following: either Italy and Germany, conscious of the impossibility of weakening the Peace Front, will retire before a general conflict where they would have everything to lose; or else they will throw themselves into the adventure; a prey to an incomprehensible madness'.

For Romier writing in the same circumstances in the FIGARO (Right, Catholic and anti-Axis absolutely convinced of Italian subordination to Germany, distrustful of Russia) 'the term of the "War of Nerves" has come. We arrive at an impasse ... the masters of the Reich either wish still to conceal that an impasse has been reached or else hope still to succeed by the same method as succeeded last year ... the known facts as to the armaments and forces in opposition cannot encourage even the most presumptuous (i.e. Germany) to risk the adventure'. For 'Ere Nouvelle' (Radical-Socialist opinion but not of great importance) it is now (i.e. yesterday) a question of 'reaffirming both in the matter of military readiness and diplomatic action what has already been done and happily done'. For Leon Blum in the Populaire (Socialist, anti-Fascist, rather pro-Russian in sympathy) 'the situation does not vary fundamentally and one can only repeat daily the same reflections and the same advice ... It is probable that the Italo German press campaign is only the newest kind of threat. But let us not waste our time in trying to discover if it betrays a final hesitation of the Dictators or if it presages resolutions already reached. For in both hypothesis the French attitude should be the same - calm, vigilance, firmness'.

2. The above views were, without doubt, those of the average Frenchman yesterday. It was indeed seriously rumoured here last evening (press-men stated that they had been so informed by M. Bonnet on Sunday evening) that the French Ambassador at Berlin¹ had advised that general mobilisation should be decreed this week so as to show Germany that France is in earnest in the attitude she has taken up. Practically all this morning's newspapers also refer to the possibility of the British cabinet deciding today on another declaration of British policy for the same purpose.

[matter omitted]