WEST COAL AND STEEL POOL PLAN TO PROCEED WITHOUT BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23271, 5 June 1950, Page 5

WEST COAL AND STEEL POOL PLAN TO PROCEED WITHOUT BRITAIN

(N.2.P.A.—Renter— Coerright.)

(11.15 a.m.) PARIS, June 4. France announced today that the six Western European countries would go ahead with negotiations on the Schuman plan to pool coal and steel resources—without Britain.

The British Government, in a last-minute proposal, had urged a preliminary conference of Ministers on procedure, but France turned this down.

The French communique said, however. that Britain would be kept fully informed from day to day of developments. The French communique said it had been agreed to begin negotiations with Italy. Western Germany and the "Benelux’’ countries to pool coal and steel resources and to set up a common high authority with full powers to direct the pool. The French Government would send out invitations soon for the respective Governments to attend the opening of negotiations.

tion of the most effective and expeditious method of discussion of the problem could be examined and settled. The French Government took the view that the first step in the execution of the plan must be an international conference of countries prepared to accept a commitment in principle to pool the coal and ste°l resources and set up a new high authority whose decisions would bind the Governments concerned. Britain welcomed the French initiative and appreciated its far-reaching importance for future relations between France and Germany. Britain was “most anxious to be associated with the discussions and strongly desired to make a helpful, constructive and practical contribution.”

“The French, German. Belgian, Italian. Luxembourg, and Dutch Governments, in their determination to pursue common action of peace, of European solidarity and of economic and social progress, assigned to themselves as their immediate objective, the pooling of production of coal and steel and the institution of a new high authority whose decisions will bind France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and the countries which may adhere in the future,’ 'said the communique.

Britain today delivered a new Note on the Schuman plan. It is learned that Britain’s latest observations are based on a study by the Foreign Office of eleventh-hour talks last night between the British Ambassador. Sir Oliver Harvey and the French Foreign Minister, M. Schuman. There are still hopes that Britain might be associated in some way with the negotiations. Italy Welcomes Plan

Historic Day for Europe

French Government spokesmen described this as an "historic day for Europe.” It is the first time in history that six independent nations have agreed to meet and pool part of their national sovereignty. French high officials are convinced that in due course Britain would associate herself with the effort. In London the British Government issued a communique declaring that Britain did not feel able to accept in advance nor did it wish to reject the French proposal. The communique added that if the French Government was prepared to contemplate a fresh approach and arrange a meeting of Ministers to reach agreement on procedure for opening negotiations Britain would be glad to participate. Britain considered that a detailed discussion that would throw light on the nature of the scheme and its full political and economic consequences was a normal and, indeed, essential preliminary An unhappy situation would arise if, having bound itself to certain principles without knowing how they would work out in practice, the Government found itself as a result of discussion compelled to withdraw from the undertakings. The British communique added: “There is a substantial difference of approach between the British and French Governments as to the basis on which negotiations should be opened. Britain, to its regret, found it impossible to associate itself with the negotiations on the terms proposed by the French Government.” British Attitude The British Government was anxious to do its best to see whether a workable scheme could be produced that would be fair and just to all concerned. Britain felt this could best be furthered by a meeting of Ministers of countries” interested at which the ques-

The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Sforza, said he was happy about the French initiative for a coal and steel pool. The plan was of European and world interest and particularly interesting because it provided for the setting up of a supra-national body. The surrender of part of national sovereignty agreed to in common by different countries was one of the keys in European civilisation.

The French High Commissioner in the Saar, M. Gilbert Grandval, said that if the Schuman plan was realised there should no longer be any Saar question between France and Germany. The British United Press correspondent in Dusseldorf, says that Ruhr industrialists believe the Schuman plan can succeed without British participation but once any pool is operating Britain will find it impossible to stay aloof. France, Germany, the “Benelux” countries the Saar and Italy, all committed to the plan, between them control approximately 30,000,000 tons of Europe’s 45,000,000 tons of annual steel production. Much of the coal and coke for French steel production was British. France could use German coal under the plan. If Britain refused to enter the scheme, Ruhr steel men feared that Socialists whose support is vital to the scheme would also refuse to co-operate.