France’s Costly Defence Commitments

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26512, 29 August 1951, Page 7

France’s Costly Defence Commitments

(NS. Press Association—(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, August 28. Mr Rene-Pleven’s newly-formed French Government has decided to* raise with the United States the whole question of military and economic assistance and to seek a greater share for France, says the Pans correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune.” Such an opportunity is expected to arise shortly in Washington when three leading politicians—the Foreign Minister (Mr Schuman), the Defence Minister (Mr Bidault), and the Finance Minister (Mr Mayer), as well as General de Lattre de Tassigny—go there for international talks. The correspondent says that the French Government came to the conclusion, after a series of top-level. meetings, that something must be done quickly if France is to meet her defence commitments and responsibilities for the coming year.

“The books show that the resources are not available for the double task of the Indo-China war and the rapid creation of large combat forces for Western Europe’s security. “Rising prices in World markets, inflation at home, the continued shortage of raw materials, the need for hard currency, and the growing pains of the coalition have combined to widen the gap between what is believed possible and what is considered necessary and desirable.” The correspondent says that as a result of all these things Ministerial

missions to Washington will seek a large share of any foreign help Congress authorises. Mr Schuman will be in Washington for the Three-Power conference, in San Francisco for the Japanese Peace Conference, and in Ottawa for the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Mr Bidault and Mr Mayer are visiting Washington and Ottawa and General de Lattre is going to Washington at the invitation of the secretary of defence (General Marshall) to discuss war developments in IndoChina.

“All these delegates will urge what they believe the most effective division between military and economic assistance. They will suggest that coal for rearmament and ships to transport it should be allowed as military items and that the United States provide more help in the prosecution of the Indo-Chinp war. “France is less worried about straight military support than about financial aid for Indo-China and economic aid for her own defence industry. “The Government’s new policy has a dual purpose—first to minimise American spending in the parts of the world France considers of secondary importance at the moment, and second, to narrow the gap. between the country’s resources and the security burden recommended by Allied experts and her own military chief*.”