U.S. THANKED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22363, 23 June 1947, Page 4

U.S. THANKED

AID-EUROPE PLAN FRENCH CHEERS APPEAL TO RUSSIA PARIS, June 20. The French Assembly spontaneously rose and cheered when the Foreign Minister, M. Bidault, in the first public comment on Mr. George Marshall's aid-for-Europe plan, said he wanted to render just homage and gratitude to the United States. Only the Communists sat silent. M. Bidault said the invitation to the Kremlin was not sent only as a matter ol form. He sincerely hoped that Russia would understand its importance to Europe. “The decision of a great mind must not go unanswered," he said. “The days to come will be decisive for France, for Europe and the world. It is time to remake Europe.” M. Bidault dismissed as juvenile the imaginings and reports that France had made an about-face toward the West. He said there had been no change in French policy of mediation. France was disappointed but not responsible for the multiplicity of discords at Moscow. If she had been at the Potsdam conference the world would have been spared many disillusions and many debates would have been unnecessary. “A great question now is whether the world unity can be maintained,” he said. If it is not, France cannot be reproached. All our post-war Governments have shown their desire that France should be a bond and not a stake in international politics." In the coming international negotiations, France would try to break the cycle of quarrels “for we are not tired of playing the role of conciliator.” The Foreign Minister, Mr. Ernest Bevin. today sent the following telegram to M. Bidault: “It is my earnest desire that discussions which we hope to resume shortly on a broader basis will enable us to make an effective contribution to the recovery of warscarred Europe.” In Warsaw an official spokesman said the Polish Government had not yet been invited to discuss the Marshall plan. Organised help for Europe was necessary, but possible only under the following conditions. ,(1) The countries involved should decide themselves whether help was needed. ;(2) Political conditions should be excluded. ;(3) The organisations set up under the plan should work with the United Nations. '(4) There should be preference for countries which were victims of aggression.