De Gaulle Seeking Deal With Russia’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 9

De Gaulle Seeking Deal With Russia’

(Special Correspondent NZJ’A.) LONDON, January 30. The “Daily Telegraph’s” special correspondent on Communist affairs reported today that President de Gaulle was believed to have sent the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) proposals for “a sweeping reorganisation of Europe.”

The essentials of the plan were said to be “the direct association of Russia with Western Europe, the demilitarisation of Eastern Europe snd the removal of American forces from France.

The correspondent also said that, according to one report, Mr Khrushchev was believed to welcome the French proposals. He regarded them as playing into his hands and considers the French-German alliance did not represent any great danger to Russia so long as Britain was kept out.

The correspondent said: “Until details of the French proposal are known it is impossible to assess the full implication” The “Guardian" said President de Gaulle’s decision to bar Britain’s entrance to the

E E.C. was based on Mr Macmillan ’« desire to continue with Britain’s special nuclear arrangement with the United States. Had the British Prime Minister offered to share Britain's noclear know-how

with the French President during their ill-fated weekend at Rambouillet, there is now no doubt the negotiations at Brussels would be

still progressing rapidly towards a successful conclusion."

“The Times” reported that the Nassau agreements tipped the scales against Mr Macmillan.

President de Gaulle had been told about the Skybolt, but not. allegedly, that Mr Macmillan would, in the Bahamas, be preferring the United States to Europe.

Although British Cabinet Ministers are bolding President de Gaulle solely responsible for the breakdown at Brussels, Paris correspondents of British newspapers maintain he has the support of the French people. The “Daily Telegraph" correspondent says Frenchmen are as much behind President de GauUe as at any time.

They might be “sorry” he should have vetoed an old friend and ally, and concerned about the risks of the political isolation of France from her Atlantic and Common Market partners, but they were prepared to take this chance. •There to practically no organised criticism of President de Gaulle's concept of the future of Europe. When told that he to aiming at establishing a third force in which France would dominate. most Frenchmen approve and believe this is feasible,” the correspondent said.