DE GAULLE’S STAND AGAINST BRITAIN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 9

DE GAULLE’S STAND AGAINST BRITAIN

‘Final And Irrevocable’ Decision Reported

(NX Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, January 27.

A flurry of behind*the*scene activity was reported in Brussels this week-end as a result of authoritative information from Paris that President de Gaulle’s stand against Britain’s entry negotiations was “final and irrevocable.”

Envoys of Britain, the United States and France’s five Common Market partners were meeting to prepare for an early showdown with the French leader, the “Sunday Telegraph” reported from Brussels. The mood in the Common Market capital was that the sooner it came the better.

French officials publicly denied that President de Gaulle’s decision was final, but admitted it privately, said the “Sunday Telegraph.”

It was agreed that the French attitude was publicly softened during Dr. Adenauer’s visit to Paris and then toughened for the final break. Latest authoritative information from Paris was that the President had decided to reject German compromise efforts. The report said President Kennedy’s special envoy to Europe, Mr Christian Herter, was discussing the Common Market crisis as a matter of urgency in Brussels. His visit was originally arranged to prepare for trade talks. The “Sunday Telegraph" said moves for a showdown

with President de Gaulle included: (1) Negotiation by the five and Britain of the whole of the protocol for admitting Britain. (2) A series of agreements between the Governments of Britain and the five to meet problems facing the British economy because of the delay in British entry.

(3) Further American backing for members of the West German Government who favoured Dr. Adenauer’s immediate retirement as Chancellor. (4) A reappraisal of the organisation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the part France was now playing in it, and of other organisations, such as the Western

European Union, of which Britain and the Six are members.

American officials in Brussels said steps to refuse the French forces certain military items might eventually have to be considered, said the “Sunday Telegraph.” Attention had been drawn to the fact that President de Gaulle’s nuclear force depended on American tanker aircraft fuelling the French Mirage IV bombers to increase their range. The “Sunday Telegraph” said Britain’s chief negotiator, Mr Heath, was expected to confer with West German representatives today on disturbing reports from Bonn that Dr. Adenauer had succeeded in weakening West Germany’s efforts to reduce French intransigence.

The Germans were producing a compromise plan for British entry, said the newspaper. But it was said their procedure for presenting it would play into President de Gaulle’s hands. Some elements among the five feared that if they made tvo strong a stand against President de Gaulle on Britain’s behalf he would withdraw from the community and break up the Common Market. This would damage their economies more than a delay of a year or so in admitting Britain. They therefore urged Britain to consider something less than full membership. However, a majority of the delegates of the five and the Common Market Executive Commission favoured an immediate trial of strength with the French leader.

They felt that to do otherwise would give him time not only to impose his personal power on the market, but to prepare for the breakdown of N.A.T.0., the Western European Union and other systems of Allied cooperation. The “Sunday Telegraph” said Mr Heath was flying to Brussels today, eight hours early, to allow a private meeting with Mr Herter before they dined with the American Ambassador. By then Mr Herter would have received details of the plan of the five to go ahead with the negotiations without France.

The “Sunday Express” reported today that Mr Herter had delivered the Six this warning: “Let Britain in, or

aL Europe will lose important tariff concessions in the United States market." Mr Herter reminded the President of the Executive Commission. Professor Walter Hallstein, that the American Trade Expansion Act authorised zero tariffs in the United States on goods for which the United States and Europe between then accounted for 80 per cent, of the world’s trade. >Zith Britain in the market, this 80 per cent figure would be reached —and United States tariffs abolished—on 27 major commodities.