EUROPEAN ARMY PLAN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 11

EUROPEAN ARMY PLAN

French Comment On German Role (N.Z. Press

(Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, November 8. Germany was today classified as a peaceful country by the French Defence Minister, Mr Rene Pleven.

He declared that a European Army controlled by four pacific countries— France, Germany; Belgium and Holland—would, never be dragged into a vengeful adventure. The Communists opposed the European Army plan because they did not want European unity—that would run counter to Russia’s long-term aim of world expansion—but only within European unity could France regain her independence,, and could equality be achieved between the Soviet and the North American blocs. Earlier Mr Pleven said that Western rearmament policy had helped to maintain peace, from which Germany had benefited without havmg to mak e human or financial contributions.

This was unsupportable, both from economic and moral viewpoints. There should be a levelling up of expense through either one of two formulas, Mr Pleven added—through German membership of the North Atlantic Treaty, or through the European Army, which gave greater guarantees than did the North Atlantic Treaty.