SOVEREIGNTY IN GERMANY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 11

SOVEREIGNTY IN GERMANY

Quick Moves. Now Expected _ (N2. Press Association—Copyright) (Bee. HJOpjn.) WASHINGTON, Augtuf 31. Quick moves by Britain and the Sy** S™ l4 sovereignty to western Germany were expected in Washington to follow the French National Assembly’s death-blow to the European Defence Community yesterrt»y, the diplomatic correspondest of Reuters reported today. France’s refusal to ratify the ED.C. treaty, signed more than two years ago by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, was seen by observers as a blow to United States diplomacy as the project was developed as a keystone of American policy in Europe, he added. In the face of all sorts of evidence from Paris that the Prime Minister, Mr Mendes-France, and a majority in the National Assembly was against ratification without drastic changes, the State Department had clung to the faint hope that somehow an outright rejection could be avoided. Although .no responsible official would make any immediate public comment, it was clear that there were bitter feelings over the defeat of this long-cherished community plan and Mr Mendes-France’s refusal to support it.