U.K.-FRENCH TALKS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28869, 14 April 1959, Page 15

U.K.-FRENCH TALKS

Differences On Two Subjects (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 13. The French Prime Minister (Mr Debre) will fly to London today for two days of talks with the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) chiefly to co-ordinate the two countries’ views on the West’s forthcoming negotiations with the Soviet Union. All British-French problems are expected to be touched. upon in the discussions. The Middle East, especially the situation in Iraq, is a probable subject, according to usually wellinformed sources. Sources close to Mr Debre said Britain and France were completely agreed on three points concerning Berlin which will be among the topics to be discussed at the East-West Foreign Ministers’ conference opening in Geneva on May 11. These were: That there must be no weakening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s power in Europe: That there must be no recognition of the East German Government; That«the three Western Allies must maintain unhindered access to Berlin for their troops. But there were two differences of opinion on tactics, the sources said.

The French regarded as a weakness Britain’s insistence on the need to demonstrate Allied willingness to negotiate and secondly. French diplomats were convinced that Mr Macmillan’s plan for a central European zone of disarmament was disastrous, both militarily knd politically.