RESTORING EUROPEAN STATUS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25049, 13 November 1944, Page 5

RESTORING EUROPEAN STATUS

MR CHURCHILL'S MISSION TO PARIS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright j {Received November 12, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 12 j The Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, and the Foreign Secretary, I Mr Eden, arrived in Paris on Friday. On the following day, Armistice Day, representatives of the Governments of the three great Allied Powers, Britain, the United States and Russia, invited the French Provisional Government to assume full membership in the European Advisory Commission. The United States Under-Secretary of State, Mr E. R. Stettinius, said that at the Moscow conference a year ago the British, American and Soviet Governments decided to establish in London ! a European Advisory Commission to study certain European questions and submit joint recommendations to the three Governments. Among matters receiving the Commission's close attention the surrender terms to be imposed on Germany, and also the treatment of that country. I Conscious of France's vital interest in the solution of the German problem and the part France will inevitably play in maintaining the future peace of Europe, the United States Government was happy to join in extending to the Provisional Government of i France an invitation to full membership in the Commission.

The Associated Press points out that this is the most advanced rfep taken toward reconstituting France as a great Power. When } General Eisenhower restored to France control of virtually all the country except the combat zones, General de Gaulle insisted that recognition of his Government was not enough; France must be given a full share in deciding future European policies. His primary request was for membership in the Commission. Some time ago Britain, America and the Soviet projected a Great Power role for France in future by agreeing in due course that France should be a permanent member of the World Security Council with Britain, i America, Russia and China. ! An official communique on the conference between Mr Churchill, Mr Eden and General de Gaulle said: "The conference lasted two hours and resulted iii a far-reaching exchange of views, which were discussed with great cordiality." Reuter's Paris correspondent says the conference was practically a duologue between Mr Churchill and General de Gaulle. The Paris radio says that Mr Churchill's discussions with General de Gaulle and the new leaders of France will centre on there-armament of the French Army.