TEXT OF NOTE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27190, 6 November 1953, Page 11

TEXT OF NOTE

Fate Of European Army Treaty (Rec. 7 p.m.) MOSCOW, November 4. Russia, in a long Note of reply to the invitation by the Western Powers to a conference in Lugano, has stated that she most first know if the West intends to go ahead with the European Army Treaty, which provides for the inclusion of West German soldiers, and with the Bonn Treaty, which will make Germany a near-sovereign State. The Soviet Note said: “Such clarification is essential, since the ratification of the said agreements would render impossible the re-establishment of Germany as a united State, and by the same token render futile an examination of the German problem at the Foreign Ministers’ conference.” The Note addressed to France reminded her of the Franco-Soviet treaty concluded to guard against the rebirth of German militarism. It complained that developments in West Germany had increased anxiety in the “peace loving countries” of Europe, and that hundreds of West German factories were openly working for military needs. “Vengeful Plans” in Germany - Leading circles of West Germany were displaying openly their “vengeful plans.” The Russian Note said that a Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Germany would have to consider the following points:— A meeting of the peace conference to examine the question of a peace treaty. The formation .of a provisional government for all Germany, and the holding of elections throughout the country. The question of easing Germany’s .major economic and financial burdens brought about by the war. ' The Soviet Union confirmed the proposals contained in its Note of September 28 suggesting that the Foreign Ministers’ meeting should examine, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of France, the United States, Britain, the Chinese People’s Republic and the Soviet Union, measures to lessen international tension. The conference should also, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of France, Britain, the United States and th? Soviet Union, study German problems, these to include all the proposals raised during the preparation of the conference. Five Conference The Note said that it was indispensable to agree on the urgent examination of measures to ease international tension. That called for a conference of the Big Five. The Soviet Union was ready to take into account new possibilities which existed to assure the security of Europe. The Note criticised the Western Powers for raising all sorts of preliminary conditions aimed at putting off such a Conference until a distant and undetermined date. It added that the evidence demonstrated that in fact the West did not want an easing of international tension. The easing of tension depended largely on a settlement of relations with the Chinese People’s Republic and the establishment of the legitimate tights of China in the United Nations. Talks at Panmunjon Referring to the present talks at Panmunjon, the Note said that if the United States “and certain other governments” who were handling the discussions really desired the success of the Political Conference they could not but take into account the legitimate demands of the Chinese and the Koreans. The Note declared that the creation of Western military bases, mainly bordering the Soviet Union and the popular democracies, clearly showed that they would be used for aggressive ends. Pressure was being exerted on certain countries in Europe and the near Middle East, including Persia, to force them to give up their territory for the establishment of foreign military bases. Such a situation created a menace to the security of the Soviet Union as well a» to a number of other States, leading to new aggravation of international tension, and increasing the danger of a new world war.