NEW PLAN IN BRITAIN

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

NEW PLAN IN BRITAIN

German Entry To N.A.T.O.

(Rec. SDJn.) LONDON, August 30. After France’s rejection of the treaty, the British Government is believed to favour a two-point plan. (1) The admission of Germany to N-A-T.CXf and (2) The restoration of sovereignty to West Germany in the immediate future In aseement with the United States and nance. Hus would be effected by enforcing immediately the Bonn Conventions which end the occupation of West Germany and which have so far been dependent on the coming into force of tD.C. The substitution for E.D.C. of a watered-down version of the European Army project, which Britain might be invited to join, does not have British backing and is not considered in London to be a practical proposition. A Bmnejnessage says that an urgent call went to Italy’s Cabinet Ministers last night, calling them back to Rome from holiday to study the situation created by the French rejection of X.D.C. The Prime Minister, Mr Scelba, is in Rome today. The failure of E-D.C. represents the collapse of the main pillar of Italian foreign policy over the last three years. Italian Government newspapers reported last night that Italy would favour the immediate calling of a conference of eight nations —Britain, the United States and the six E.D.C. nations—to try to salvage as much as possible of the original treaty.