ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23259, 21 July 1945, Page 5

ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS

i Little Change Noted Constitutional Problem i N.Z.P.A. — Special Correspondent 'Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. July 19. Little change has been noted here recently in Anglo-French relations. The French apparently are still hopeful that some form of direct negotiations will result, following the removal of their special troops from the Levant and Syria, but apparently the Governments of these countries refuse direct negotiations with France until all French troops are withdrawn, certain common interests returned and the French DelegateGeneral given the status of Minister. Latterly France has been somewhat preoccupied with General de Gaulle s plan for a referendum on the new constitution. This plan provides for an election in October and a referendum. By the referendum the nation will be asked to say whether the Assembly about to be elected shall be a constituent assembly. If the nation answers in the negative, France will return to the constitution of 18/5. the assembly to be elected will be a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate will also be elected. If the nation answers in the affirmative, the Constituent Assembly will appoint the head of the provisional Government, who will choose Ministers to be responsible to him alone. Besides drafting the constitution the Assembly will have some control over the Budget, over foreign treaties, and over structural changes. The constitution must be drafted in seven months and will then be submitted to the judgment of the nation in a second referendum. All sections of the National Consultative Assembly have shown hostility to the De Gaulle plan. The Assembly Commission for State Reform, representing all parties, unanimously referred the Government’s Bill back for further consideration. France with Britain is concerned in ending the unilateral action taken by General Franco in Tangier in 1941. but discussions on this have been postponed by Russia’s desire to participate. It is thought likely that Mr Churchill and Generalissimo Stalin will discuss this point at Potsdam. France is also engrossed m Algeria, where a Moslem Nationalist rising in May resulted in disorder, which even now has not been completely restored.