French ‘Thaw’ On Berlin Reported

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 15

French ‘Thaw’ On Berlin Reported

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyripht) LONDON, November 26. President de Gaulle is reported to be showing signs of “thawing” in his opposition to formal negotiations with Russia on Berlin, according to the "Sunday Telegraph."

The newspaper said there 1 were reports of this in Lon- ' don, after yesterday's talks between the President and the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) at Mr Macmillan’s Sussex home. It said President de Gaulle, < who is due to fly home this morning, had always regard- i ed any Western initiative on i Berlin in 1961 as “bowing to ' Khrushchev’s ultimatum.” < But his rigid attitude might ; well relax if the new year dawned without any new So- 1 viet provocations. The degree of Mr Macmil- I lan’s success at the week-end : talks was not likely to reveal : itself fully until the Western Foreign Ministers met again i in Paris on December 11. I The newspaper said little detailed discussion on Common Market problems was reported to have taken place :

between the two leaders this week-end. No experts were present, and President de Gaulle had a “magisterial disdain for technicalities.” • The main issue was broad enough to be to his liking—whether the Commonwealth could survive if Britain joined Europe without it, and whether the Common Market could survive if Britain joined Europe with it. The “Sunday Express" said the two leaders talked yesterday in front of a blazing log fire at Birch Grove, the Prime Minister’s heavilyguarded borne. During the morning they interrupted their talks for a half hour walk in brilliant weather round the estate. No communique would be issued on the talks, said the newspaper.