French-Soviet Concord About Vietnam

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 15

French-Soviet Concord About Vietnam

(N Z.P.A.- Reuter —Copyright) PARIS, April 30. France and the Soviet Union declared in a joint communique last night that the Indo-China situation, particularly in Vietnam, created dangers for peace.

The communique, issued after a five-day official visit by Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko, called for a return to the Geneva agreements of 1954 and 1962 based on the recognition of the in-

dependance and sovereignty of the Indo-Chinese states and on non-intervention in their internal affairs. The communique recalled that the Soviet and French Governments had already de-

clared themselves in favour of the calling of an international conference on Cambodia and noted that the United States and Britain had agreed to such a conference.

The Soviet Union and France as European Powers had a paramount interest in reaching a solution of the problems relating to European security, the communique stated. Both Ministers hoped for an agreement by all interested

parties, and both Governments would continue to exchange views on the European situation.

The Soviet-French talks revealed an area of agreement which exists between the two governments and thus will facilitate the development of useful consultations between them, the communique added. The Foreign Ministers of the U.S.S.R. and France agreed that this exchange of opinion would be continued on all problems of mutual interest.

Mr Maurice Couve de Murville, the French Foreign Minister, will make an official visit to Russia at the invitation of the Soviet Government this autumn.