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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 211, 22 June 1950, Page 5

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STATE OF WAR MOVE BY FRANCE (N.Z.P.A.-Seuter —Oopyrignt). (Rec. 10.25 a.m.) PARIS, June 21. The French Foreign Office spokesman said to-day that the French Government had sent a Note to the British and American Governments indicating its intention of submitting to the working committee of the /Big Three’ Foreign Ministers in London on July 3 a memorandum asking for the ending of the state of war with Germany. The French proposal was worked out in. Paris before the announcement of the Schuman plan for the pooling of Western Europe’s steel and coal. Increasingly Germans are being called upon to travel and take part in international bodice, and the ending of the state of war would mean that they* could do business in foreign countries without suffering from disabilities attached to an “enemy citizen.” The Schuman pool plan will make freedom of movement for German citizens more imperative than ever.' The French view is that the bnly way to bring about the desired state of affairs is to declare the state of war with Germany at an end. Another way would be to make a peace treaty with Germany, but fas none of the three Western Powers wishes, to make a separate treaty without Russia, this solution is apparently impossible. When the Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and the United States met in London last month they appointed experts to meet on July 3 to discuss the ending of the state of war with Germany, revision of the Occupation Statute and German indebtedness. The experts’ decisions will be considered by the three Foreign Ministers when they meet in New Yoi’k in September.