The rise of Nazism in Germany greatly alarmed France because of open advocacy by Hitler for change of status quo and scrapping of the peace settlement.
France was eager to retain the Treaty of Versailles and maintain status quo, Therefore, she concluded agreements with countries which felt perturbed over the rise of Nazi power in Germany. France first of all reached an understanding with Italy which was greatly afraid of Hitler’s growing power, particularly after his intervention in Austria.
In 1935 France and Italy concluded a series of agreements by which they ignored their mutual differences and agreed to cooperate in the event of German aggression. France ceded to Italy a strip of French equitorial Africa adjacent to Italian province of Libya and a small triangle of French Somaliland adjoining Eritrea.
She also agreed to regulate the status of the Italians in Tunis. France also showed her disinterestedness in any concessions which Italy may obtain from Abyssinia. France also concluded a five-year Mutual Assistant Pact with Soviet Union in 1935. Under this pact the two countries agreed to come to each other’s assistance in case of attack by any European power. France concluded almost in identical pact with Czecholovakia.