British Forces To Be Placed Under General Eisenhower

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1950, Page 5

British Forces To Be Placed Under General Eisenhower

LONDON, December 28 (Rec. Noon). —It is understood that British ground and air forces in Germany will be placed under the new Atlantic Command whenever General Eisenhower is ready to assume duties as supreme commander. The permission of the King will have to be obtained but no Cabinet action will be necessary. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says this was agreed at last week’s meeting in Brussels of the North Atlantic Council after the question of occupation troops had been raised by the French Defence Minister, M. Moch He submitted a letter containing the specific French acceptance of the international command and it was agreed that the other nations should file similar letters. M. Moch announced that three French divisions in Germany—the Third and Fourth Infantry and the fifth armoured —would be placed immediately under the supreme commander. This announcement came as a surprise to the British delegation. The question of at once placing the British forces-in Germany under the internationa? command had not been expected and the matter had not been completely considered,” the correspondent stated.