EUROPEAN DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27503, 25 September 1950, Page 5

EUROPEAN DEFENCE

Western Big Three Ministers Complete Talks

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright

Rec. 9.55 p.m

NEW YORK, Sept. 24.

The Western “Big Three” Foreign Ministers today concluded a two-day series of joint conferences with their Defence Ministers, on the formation of a unified defence force in Europe. A bald communique issued after the meeting said the exchange of views would assist the three Foreign Ministers in further discussions in the North Atlantic Council next week. In the meantime the six Ministers had. agreed to ing their meetings, the communique

make no further statement concern: added.

At yesterday’s meeting the practical problems of completing an integrated army for the defence of Europe was discussed. The Ministers and their experts had before them the still unresolved question of whether a German contingent should ultimately be incorporated in the North Atlantic Treaty army. They had also for discussion the organisation of that army and the question of the appointment of a supreme commander. Attending the meeting were the United States Secretary of Defence, Mr George Marshall, the British Defence Minister, Mr Emanuel Shinwell, the French Defence Minister, M. Jules Moch, the United States Secretary of State, Mr Dean Acheson, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, and the French Foreign Minister, M. Robert Schuman.

M. Moch outlined to the meeting France’s desires for safeguards in connection with any rearmament in Germany. It has been French opposition to the formation of German military contingents which has to date prevented agreement in principle by the North Atlantic Powers' on the Acheson plan for an integrated North Atlantic army, including both American and German forces under one supreme command.

Informed quarters appeared more optimistic than for some time about the possibility of agreement being reached on a version of the plan acceptable to both the French and Americans which would enable the meeting of the North Atlantic Defence Ministers next month to get ahead with the practical problems of building up an integrated force. United States Government spokesmen have given assurances designed to meet the French insistence that no German national army should be created, that the rearmament of the Western Allied armies should have priority, and that the German contingents would be directly under the North Atlantic supreme commander and not subject to control by the German Government.

The New York Times says the special secrecy measures taken after the meeting indicated that a decision might have been made on whether or not to include German units in the force. Delegates were told that a “ leak ” might seriously damage the cause of the North Atlantic Council members. They even were ordered not to give “ background information ’’ to the press.