French Commission Votes Against E.D.C. Plan

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27373, 11 June 1954, Page 11

French Commission Votes Against E.D.C. Plan

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, June 9. The influential French Foreign Affairs Commission today urged the National Assembly to reject the treaties setting up the six-nation European Army with a West German contingent.

By 24 votes to 18, with two abstentions, the Parliamentary Commission rejected French ratification of the treaties establishing the army and ending the occupation statute of West Germany.

Although the vote is not binding on the Assembly, it is expected to hamper the Government’s fight to win final approval of the treaties signed in May, 1952.

Six Socialist members of the commission, including three former Ministers, rebelled against party discipline to Vote against ratification.

The Socialists were led by Mr Jules Moch, the commission chairman, and a former Minister of Defence, who drafted the report recommending the Assembly to turn down the European Army. West Germany, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg have already ratified the E.D.C. treaty, and it remains for only France and Italy to do so. Today’s vote came only five days after the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dulles) had reiterated his earlier warning that failure by France and Italy to ratify the E.D.C. “would necessitate a thorough re-examination of American policies.” Italy refuses to ratify the treaty until the Trieste dispute with Jugoslavia is settled.