FRANCE & BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1945, Page 7

FRANCE & BRITAIN

LONDON PRESS VIEWS LONDON, September 3. British and French relations will be discussed in London when M. Bidault arrives here in a few days before the Foreign Ministers’ Conference, which begins on September 10. The British Government, is anxious to mend the relationships between the two countries, and Mr. Bevin is reported to have been giving considerable attention to the question, and also to the delicate matter of the’ Levant. It is noted in London, that while General de Gaulle makes trips to Moscow and Washington he cannot be induced to come to London.

The “Economist” said: Many of the problems which de Gaulle broached in Washington are of much greater interest to. Britain than the United States. Both countries need American aid, but both will be hampered.by shortage of dollars and could give each other considerable assistance in surmounting it. The “Economist” expresses the opinion, however, that closer British-French relations will not be easy so long as de Gaulle remains at the head of French affairs. The “Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent said:—Failure of General de Gaulle’s bid for American support in political and diplomatic matters following obvious bankruptcy of his earlier policy towards Russia, raises again the delicate question of the French attitude towards Britain. De Gaulle hoped for political concessions from America which would help to restore France to her former position among the Great Powers. These included a larger zone of occupation allotted to France and greater consideration of French claims for reparations from Germai\v, assurance that France would be treated as full equal bv America, Britain and Russia in their councils, American support for the French demand that the Ruhr should be placed under the permanent control of the United Nations, and recognition of Franch control over Indo-China. The United States Government made .it clear they were willing, indeed anxious, to help generously in the task of France’s national rehabilitation, but unwilling to. go very far to meet de Gaulle s political aims. Mr. Truman considered the Potsdam decisions sacroscant and binding, and it is pointed out on the demand for the internationalisation of the Ruhr, that Britain in particular would first have to be consulted. The “Sunday Time’s Pans correspondent said: The reserve shown in regard to internationalisation does not necessarily exclude combined control by those countries directly intei - ested in the . security, of the Rhine such as- Britain, France, Belgium and Holland. There is reason to believe that Mr. Bevin is not averse to such compromise solution, which might go

far enough to satisfy French aims in General and perhaps even de Gaulle’s aims in particular. He adds that should British open-mindedness for such compromise manifest itself during the coming negotiations for a Bri-tish-French alliance, and should the French have drawn the . right conclusions after the Washington conversations, these optimists who expect a treaty to be made before the British Parliament meets, and before the French elections may not be disappointed. The election campaign in France is reported to be well under Way with de Gaulle intending to take a very active part.