FRENCH-SOVIET GRAND DESIGN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 17

FRENCH-SOVIET GRAND DESIGN

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright/ MOSCOW, Nov. 1. When President de Gaulle visited Russia last June, the Soviet Premier, Mr Alexei Kosygin, called the trip “an important step in history.” The Soviet and French Governments announced last Thursday that Mr Kosygin would take the next step by making an official visit to France in the first half of December. Both men arc known to regard these visits as the foundation of ? grand design aimed at guiding the course of history, both of Europe and the world. These grand designs, however, are not identical, says United Press International.

Western diplomats in Moscow described General de Gaulle's visit as a first attempt to force recognition that post-war Europe has changed, that it no longer is divided into two hostile

camps, and that East and West Europe must, in the long run, erase the cold war barrier to form a unified Europe stretching “from the Atlantic to the Urals.” But President de Gaulle’s visit to Moscow made it clear that he is treading cautiously. He opened a Soviet-French dialogue and established cooperation in some economic, scientific and space exploration areas.

The French leader made no deals at the expense of his Western allies, recognised that the United States has some role to play in Europe’s future, and appeared content to concentrate on a SovietFrench detente. This detente could be a basis for generally improved East-West relations, observers said.

With the United States bogged down in Vietnam, Britain closely tied with American policy, and West Germany at perpetual odds with the Kremlin, President de Gaulle has emerged as the only Western spokesman able to talk with Moscow without rancour. President de Gaulle undertook no such sweeping assignment here in June. He appeared content with open-

ing a Paris-Moscow “hot line.” French diplomats found this reason enough to call the visit a big success. Mr Kosygin, who needs peace to realise his grandiose economic reforms, is also believed to consider the exchange of visits an opportunity to establish a basis for closer East-West ties. But he sees General de Gaulle’s withdrawal from N.A.T.O. as a chink in the wall of Western solidarity, and is determined to encourage and exploit the general’s attitude to the fullest. Russia desires the breakup of N.A.T.O. and France has shaken the Western alliance. Russia wants more trade with Western Europe, at the expense of America. President de Gaulle is willing. The fact that Mr Kosygin, alone of the collective Kremlin leadership, will make the first trip to Paris was considered significant in Moscow. Observers in Paris said last summer that President de Gaulle left Moscow with more respect for Mr Kosygin than anv other Soviet leader. the fact that Mr Kosygin will go alone was a mark of General de Gaulle’s respect, observers in Moscow said.

They considered it a sign that the visit will be used by both men for serious talks on expansion of French-Soviet ties. If it was meant only as a ceremonial visit, the Soviet President, Mr Nikolai Podgomy—President de Gaulle’s opposite number in protocol ranking—certainly would be going along, observers said. General de Gaulle and Mr Kosygin were expected to spend much of their time in Paris discussing ways to improve relations between their two countries, as they did in Moscow.

International affairs also will be discussed, observers said. But little was expected to come of these talks in the near future, because of the intractability of the two main issues.

On the German question, President de Gaulle and the Russians have agreed to disagree. On the Vietnam question, the two nations’ attitudes are close. But the United States disagrees with both and diplomats in Moscow say there is little chance that a ParisMoscow peace move, based on current positions, would meet success at present.