M. SCHUMAN CONFIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26713, 6 March 1948, Page 7

M. SCHUMAN CONFIDENT

DEFEAT OF COMMUNIST CHALLENGE

CRITICAL PERIOD AHEAD Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 5.

In ail interview with the Paris correspondent of the Yorkshire Post, M. Robert Schuman, Premier ,of France, said he was confident that France could meet and defeat the Communist challenge. “ The latest indications we have received from our security services,” said M. Schuman, “ indicate that French Communists are not planning any immediate coup here on the Czech pattern. Paris will be less easy prey than Prague.”

M. Schuman said he was confident that his Government was strong enough to subdue any internal attempt to overthrow France’s national institutions. “ Nevertheless,” said M. Schuman, “ the danger still exists. The next few months will necessarily be critical, since Communists everywhere are pledged to sabotage the Marshall Plan. Any signs of weakness and indecision on our part will be fatal.”, M. Schuman said he based his hopes of defeating the Communists, not only on defensive measures, but also on the conviction that France was on the eve of a big financial and economic recovery which would reprive the Communists of power to incite mass revolt.