TALKS ON RUHR COAL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25246, 26 July 1947, Page 9

TALKS ON RUHR COAL

U.S. INVITATION TO BRITAIN ACCEPTANCE ANNOUNCED BY FOREIGN OFFICE (Rec. 7 , p.m.) LONDON, July 24. A Foreign Office spokesman said that Britain had agreed in principle to talks at an dfficial level in Washington on technical matters connected with increasing coal production in the Ruhr. It was expected that a group oi three or four British officials would leave next week. In the meantime, Britain was awaiting further amplification of the proposed agenda. “Britain agreed to discuss Ruhr coal in Washington after some hesitation,” says the diplomatic correspondent of “The Times.” “When America first proposed the conference, Britain asked a number of questions about the agenda. She agreed to the talks when the Americans made it clear that the discussion would not be confined to management and working conditions but would include the need for food and mining equipment. “Mr Ernest Bevin made it clear Wat Britain could not incur heavier dollar charges for feeding and equipping the Rhur. . , ... “Britain is keeping in touch with Paris, and is well aware of the French desire that no political decisions should be taken in Washington.” A French Foreign Office spokesman said in Paris to-day that France would accept the British and American invitation to discuss the future level of German industry. France was awaiting more definite information before giving an official reply. Earlier the French Foreign Office released a letter from General Marshall suggesting a .conference between toe United States, Britain, and France to discuss German production levels separately from , the approaching BritishAmerican coal talks in Washington. The letter said* that the United States would take no stand on the German economic question until France had had reasonable time to discuss it with the United States and Britain. French official circles consider that the assurance holds out prospects of guaranteeing French security in relation to renascent Germany, and that it offers a substantial guarantee of success for the Marshall plan.