What policy or course of action did france take in response to hitler and the german threat between 1935-1941?

Appeasement

Explanation:

French government lead by Chamberlain remembered horrors of the First World War, following a policy of appeasement ( conceding to Hitler's demands) in order to avoid escalating conflict and seeking peace.

Appeasement policy led to changes in Europeand landscapes between 1919 and 1937 to signify the pursuit of peace.(Czechoslovakia was annexated, following previous Anschluss or Austrias merging with Germany)

Chamberlain's foreign policy was followed by the British governments  towards Nazi Germany leading to the Munich agreement where further demands of territory were given.

They forgot about  Treaty of Versailles, which had been also seen as a diplomatic failure and such concessions were to continue until they badly saw how war would be inevitable. As Poland got invaded France response to finally declare war came to late and it would cost them a quick defeat and later occupation of French territory.

"a government in which power is divided between state and national levels". federalism is a system of government in which entities such and state and province, share power with the national government.