RELIEF IN FRANCE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27408, 22 July 1954, Page 11

RELIEF IN FRANCE

“End Of Wasteful War” ( gac. 8 P-m.) PARIS, July 20. 1 Mtwf of peace in Indo-China after irrea years of strife was received in ynaee tonight with expressions of reief ud of praise for the statesman*aip of the Prime Minister (Mr Iffldes-Frande), who staked his office a the outcome of the Geneva talks. The feeling of the nation was ex- < pressed by the chairman of the Foreign ifairs Commission of the National As- i tnbly (Mr Daniel Mayer), who said: . sotonly the French people will cele- < tete the end of the war in Inao-China ■ nth relief for today and hope for toeoitow. The whole world of men of podwill who do not despair of peace i rJI rejoice, too.” i Mr Mayer expressed France’s grati- 1 me to Britain for her help during the i rgotiations. i *We underline with gratitude the fcacious comprehension and active s given us by British diplomacy,” he &L I The man in the street in Paris ; ■“ted the news of peace with sober < Eief. There was the spontaneous : ■.ebration which hailed the end of Wd War 11. To most French men and women toEht marked neither a great defeat I r a notable victory for France—it ] eant the end of a wasteful war on : « other side of the world, draining ' •?nch military resources and casting < ■hety over thousands of homes. 1 Reactions cabled from other world Htas were:— MOSCOW: The Moscow Radio qUot- ; q a message from its Geneva corres- : Ment said the Geneva .conference vocid end in an hour in “important . kceements testifying to a new victory for the forces of peace.” VIENNA: The Austrian Foreign Minte. Dr. Figi, said the Geneva agreesalt raised hopes of a return to normal in other problems of world politics. ■ hope the Great Powers will now ad the opportunity to deal with ques--ns affecting Austria.” BONN: News of the Indo-China leace agreement revived fears in the Tert German capital that France might » inclined to bargain advantages in te Far East in exchange for an agreeto do nothing about the European Defence Community. There is also uneasiness in West German Parliamentary quarters about ?e conditions Russia and China might sve exacted for the completion of the Geneva agreement, ROME.—The newspaper “11 Popolo” “Nobody among those responsible jr Western policy appears disposed to Kcept the Geneva solution as a suffisent guarantee to ease vigilance in of the areas most threatened by Bed advance.” The Right-wing “11 Giomale dTtalia” •aid: “The prestige of the white race a Asia today received a very grave blow in Geneva.” The Communist Party’s “La Unita” hailed the cease fre as a “victory of the people of Vietnam and of peace.” r LONDON.— The "Daily Express” said: Jn this miserable situation the duty aid upon all is plain: to strengthen ®derstanding between free nations, to brush aside the causes of distrust &d above all . a pursue with a more Ernest resolve the partnership of Britain and the United States. Upon Jat vital factor depends peace in the »est and the strength in the East.” Ibe “Daily Worker” said: “The Powers which have made the settlement in Indo-China can make a settlement in Europe.” The “News Chronicle” said: "The Geneva Conference has imposed a r -~in on British and American relationships which will not be repaired wo easily. There are, however, substantial compensations. The fighting Cas stopped and with it the tremenphysical drain on France. It may J B . too, that her moral and political has ended, for a strong ffench leader has appeared in Mr Mendes-France.” * .. [he Times” said the truce had its problems no less than the war and that greatest problem of all was to prsSQve the Western alliance “through unceasing effort of persuasion and ’■aiderstanding, so that it may serve jjee steadily without either weakness or provocation.” Z.’s Paper Exports.—Within seven ■ r ear s, the value of New Zealand’s exerts of timber pulp, newsprint, and products would exceed the value toe Dominion’s dairy produce, mem"®,s of the Western Samoa Chamber ? Commerce were told this morning T. G. Tompkins, president of New Zealand Manufacturers’ Asand leader of a trade deleT, 10D to the South Pacific.— Apia, 20.