Stormy Sequel In France To Rejection Of E.D.C.

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

Stormy Sequel In France To Rejection Of E.D.C.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) PARIS, August 31. Angry deputies in the Assembly shouted demands for the resignation of the Prime Minister in a stormy sequel to the rejection of the European Defence Community treaty last night.

Catcalls between the Popular Republicans, who supported the European Army project, and the Communists, forced the Speaker to call several members to order. The Assembly was considering a demand by 50 deputies for a special debate on policy to be held immediately, now that it has rejected E.D.C.

The Speaker asked Mr Pierre Mendes-France, the Prime Minister, what date he proposed for the debate. He rose and replied: “I propose November 3.”

Cries of astonishment greeted this announcement. "Resign, resign,” members of the Opposition shouted. The Prime Minister, displaying mild astonishment himself, said that it had already been arranged that Parliament would be recalled during the summer recess to discuss foreign policy questions.

Therefore, an early opportunity for the debate now being asked for would be available.

Mr Paul Reynaud. a former Prime Minister, wanted to know what Mr Mendes-France’s foreign policy was not. It was not good enough for him to say he was in favour of the Atlantic Pact.

Deputies wanted to know the answer to two questions—what about the restoration of German sovereignty?, what was the Prime Minister’s attitude towards the creation again of the. German Army? Indirectly accusing the Prime Minister of being responsible for the French rejection of E.D.C, Mr Reynaud said that there was now a danger that the Germans would be seduced away from the West by the Russians. He said the Germans are dynamic and restless people and always ready for change. He feared that an independent German Army, with the old Nazis at its head, would now emerge. He said later that Britain and the United States had made many mistakes before World War in. British governments in the past had shown a reluctance to state in advance how thhy would act in certain circumstances.

Britain would have prevented World War n by provoking the fall of Hitler in 1936.

Mr Reynaud told the Prime Minister in conclusion “by your neutrality and indifference in the E.D.C. debate you killed a great idea. We (the Europeans) are willing to await the verdict of history. But, I ask you, on what majority of this assembly you are counting to get approval for the rearmament of Germany? Pointing to the Communist benches, Mr Reynaud said: “As for your present majority, you are welcome to it.” “Anxious to Reply” Mr Mendes-France, visibly nervous and pale under this attack, seemed anxious to reply. But another speaker went to the rostrum to interrogate the Government. Mf Joseph Halleguen, the Right-wing President of the de Gaullist Party, accused the Prime Minister of having accepted Communist votes at a moment when Western defence was on the point of being firmly organised. He said that the Prime Minister was no longer in a position to represent France at international conferences. Outside the chamber, well-informed

Government sources said the Prime Minister plans to take the initiative in the international field and to propose a meeting with Britain, the United State’s, and perhaps West Germany. He will propose that they should find a formula for West German participation in Atlantic defence, although France is expected to reject any supranational solution, or any system in which Britain and France have different rights and duties. Socialists Appeal Meanwhile, three prominent Socialist leaders announced today they will appeal against their expulsion from the party for their opposition to the European Army. The former Defence Minister (Mr Jules Moch), the former Labour Minister (Mr Daniel Mayer) and the former Secretary of State for War (Mr Max Lejeune) said they will appeal to a party congress. They headed 50 other Socialists who joined the Deputies in voting that the Assembly should “move to the next business—which meant the rejection of ratification of the ED.C. treaty. -Mr Gay Mollet, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, told the Prime Minister that, he must not count on the support of the Socialists if his future policy involved the creation of an autonomous German army. He warned him that the American and British Governments might simply ignore France if she refused to agree to an autonomous German army.

On the other hand, if the Prime Minister did agree he would "start a gigantic anti-British and anti-American movement among a badly informed public opinion in France which might lead to a reversal of present alliances.” Uproar broke out in the Assembly when Mr Antoine Pinay, a former Conservative Prime Minister, accused Mr Mendes-France of having done more to reach understanding with Mr Chou En-lai, the Chinese Communist Prime Minister, in Geneva than he had done to readh an understanding with the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr Paul-Henri Spaak, at the Brussels E.D.C. talks. Indignant cries of protest came from the Prime Minister’s supporters. The Prime Minister himself snouted above the uproar: "The practical results of my action in Geneva are there for all to see. Before July 20, 400 Frenchmen were dying every day in IndoChina. Since July 20, 400 lYench lives have been preserved every day.”