E.D.C. TALKS FAIL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27435, 23 August 1954, Page 11

E.D.C. TALKS FAIL

No Concessions By France

Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 P-m.) BRUSSELS, August 22. Mr Jean Riviere, the French Ambassador in Brussels, reported this morning that the six-Power conference on the European Defence Community had ended in failure. He told reporters that Mr Mendes-France had not been {ble to accept the counter-proposals which the five other countries had unanimously submitted as the furthest they could jo to meet the proposed French amendments to the E.D.C. Mr Riviere said: “I have the impression it was a complete breakdown of the conference and a meeting later today will be restricted to drawing up a communique registering the fret”

The failure of the talks was conby the official spokesman of the French delegation, who said it had proved impossible to reach agreement.

He said Mr Mendes-France would be reporting to a Cabinet meeting as soon as he got back to Paris. Mr Mendes-France would leave Brussels as soon as the final communique on the conference was The spokesman mAe the announcement after a last-minute attempt tc heal the breach between France and her E.D.C. partners Ijad been made by Mr David Bruce, the American roving ambassador in Europe. Mr Bruce hurried to Brussels from Paris on Friday night with a message to Mr Mendes-France from Mr Dulles. Details were not disclosed.

It was learned on good authority that the main points on which the conference broke down were the French proposals for (1) Provisional suspension of the supranational powers to govern the E.D.C. for a period of eight years. (2) Limiting French troops to be integrated in the European Army to those stationed in Germany. (3) The right for France to withdraw from the E.D.C. in certain conditions.

The main points of Mr MendesFrance’s plan were: • France must be free to withdraw from the E.D.C. if the United States and Britain pull back troops from the Continent or change their pofrey towards the E.D.C., or if a united Germany fails to join the scheme. Each member—France, Italy, West Germany, Holland, Luxemburg and Belgium—must for eight years have the right of appeal against any decision of the EJJ.C. executive which it thinks may endanger national interests. France must have the right to integrate into the European Army of her troops stationed in Germany. On none of these points had Mr Mendes-France given way since the talks began on Thursday.

Diplomatic experts in Brussels today speculated on the effect of the first serious check Mr Mendes-France has suffered since he became Prime Minister on June 18. Mr MendesFrance came to Brussels to offer what he considered were the only terms on which France could enter the E.D.C. His terms were refused, and to that extent he failed in his objective, but at the same time he refused to surrender to all pressure, and this stand, it was thought in Brussels, would meet widespread approval in his own country. Consequently, the possibility of his resigning after a Cabinet meeting on his return to Paris seems unlikely. Mr Mendes-France, throughout the E.D.C. negotiations in Brussels, has repeated over and over again that in its present form there is no majority for the E.D.C. in the French Assembly.