REARMING OF GERMANY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 13

REARMING OF GERMANY

French Move For Ratification

(Rec. 9.20 p.m. PARIS, November 2. Mr Mendes-France, the French Prime Minister, will tomorrow start the Parliamentary machinery for French ratification of German rearmament, when both Houses reassemble for their winter session. The Prime Minister will table the treaties on Germany’s entry into the Western defence system, signed only 10 days ago. Mr Mendes-France himself will set the complicated ratification process in motion by addressing the influential Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly tomorrow afternoon. He will explain the agreements to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of the Republic (the Upper House) the next day. The Prime Minister hopes to start the crucial full-dress ratification debate between December 10 and 14 so that the final vote can be taken before Christmas.

Political observers believe that Mr Mendes-France should not have any major difficulties in winning approval for the treaties he signed in Paris last month, unless an unforeseen development, such as a, spectacular Soviet concession on Germany, provokes renewed uncertainty among French politicians. The overwhelming majority of Radicals, Conservatives, de Gaullists and Socialists are expected to back the Paris Agreements. Major opposition will come from the 105 Communists, who are opposed to any form of German rearmament, and from isolated groups in other parties who consider that the Soviet Union should be given “one more chance” before any final decision on German rearmament is taken.