NEW ROLE OF GERMANY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 11

NEW ROLE OF GERMANY

Discussions In ■ Britain

(O. Pr««s Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 pjn.) LONDON, September 1. A specially called meeting of the Cabinet at No. 10 Downing Street this afternoon will consider what can be done now that France has rejected the P™ *or a European Army. Under the EJD.C. treaty six nations would have contributed troops—prance Italy, West Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Luxemburg. , Some political observers in London believe that the alternative to EJD.C. be to give Germany virtual control of her own affairs very soon, as provided by the Bonn Treaty, in the hope she will agree in return not to rearm for a specified period. Britain is expected to back the direct admission of the West German Government to the 14-nation Atlantic Fact. This is considered in London to be the inevitable outcome of the defeat of the ED.C. treaty. Mr Mendes-France is, however, reported to be considering an . alternative scheme for building a united European force which it is hoped that Britain might join. In the event of the parties concerned deciding to back German membership of N.A.T.O. the main problem to be faced is that 1 of securing some limit on German rearmament without according West Germany a status inferior to that of other N.A.T.O. members. /

Britain and the United States are already agreed they win make an early move to restore sovereignty to West Germany by enforcing the Bonn conventions which end the present occupation system.