HOPES FOR PEACE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27405, 19 July 1954, Page 9

HOPES FOR PEACE

“Breach In Wall Of Mistrust” (Rec. 9.30 pun.) GENEVA, July 17. Mr Pierre Mendes-France, the French Prime Minister, declared tonight that none of the difficulties separating East and West on an IndoChina armistice was insurmountable. He was. broadcasting to the French people from Geneva three days before his deadline for peace or resignation expires. In spite of all the obstacles he said he honed that within the next three days would at least prove less powerful than peace.” He was hoping for the success of the nine-nation Indo-China conference “not Only to re-establish peace in Indo-China but also—and perhaps above ajl—because it would mean the first breach in the thick wall of mistrust which was so menacing for the future.” He recalled that his time limit for peace expired in three days, after which |ie would have to report to the Nat ional Assembly on the result of his rhission. “But whatever this result may be, if I had today to give this conference three (flays, three weeks, or three months; to finish, I assure you I should choose three days without hesitation.” “I been convinced from the start that there was no reason why we should not quickly come to an understanding with our adversaries on an honourable settlement and if we were not going to find agreement it was also necessary to know this quicklyt after multiple talks, after many working sessions, my conviction on this/is stronger than ever. “Nothing that separates us now is unclear or insurmountable.” Mr Mfendes-France said that each of the' problems to be solved had been explained and the efforts which must be made on both sides were known and measurable. It wfts no longer so much a question of work as a question of the will for a Settlement. There was nu reason for further delay, he said.

FRENCH-INDIA SETTLEMENT AGITATION INCREASED IN PONDICHERRY (Rec. 10 pan.) MADRAS, July 16. Reports from the French settlement of Pondicherry indicate that agitation for a merger with India has increased at Pondicherry and another French settlement, Karaikal. Todiy the French administrator of Mahe, on the west coast, formally handed over to a local administrative council, and Karaikal is also shortly to be evacuated by the French. That will leave Pondicherry the sole bone of contention. Following the pattern set in Mahe, pro-merger Nationalists are trying to cut off to both Pondicherry and Karaikal. Volunteers are picketing all vehicles bound for Karaikal, and road traffic between it and neighbouring Indian villages has almost ceased. Mahe, which covers 23 square miles and has a population of 18,000, is now in the hands of the Mahajan Sabha movement which agitated for union with India. A fourth French settlement, Yanam, had already been taken over by local political leaders. The Administrator of Mahe, Mr Deschamps, left by sea for Pondicherry today immediately after handing over to the Mahajan Sabha. Four members of the French police elected to •tay behind, but the rest went with him.

PRESENTATION TO BANNISTER ®ec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. .The Duke of Edinburgh, at white City Stadium today, presented Roger Bannister with a plaque commemorating his feat as the first man to beat the four-minute mile. Bannister ran the mile in 3mm at Oxford last May. - me presentation was made before th start of the International Athletics n -h between the teams of England nnj Wales against Scotland and Ire-