BRITISH-FRENCH DIFFERENCES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25677, 14 December 1948, Page 5

BRITISH-FRENCH DIFFERENCES

MR BEVIN MAY VISIT PARIS RELATIONS “ WORST SINCE ( VICHY ” (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. "The Foreign Secretary (Mr Ernest Eevin) may go to Paris after Christmas to discuss Eritish-French relations, which are worse than they have been at any time the Vichy Government was established.” says the “Daily Mirror.” “The following are the differences: “(1) The French Government’s refusal to accept austerity and budget balancing implied by agreeing to Sir Stafford Cripps’s four-year plan. "(2) French anger at British and American policy in planning to build up German industry. “(3) Misunderstandings—fomented by General de Gaulle—as to the part Britain is ready to play in European defence in the event of war. “It is felt that the French Government. which has shown little desire to discuss the financial situation with Sir Stafford Cripps, may be more willing to go into broader issues with Mr Bevin.” Reuter’s Paris correspondent says that the projected visit of Sir Stafford Cripps to try to reconcile the differences between the British and French four-year plans for European cooperation will not take place until January at the earliest.