OFFICIAL WASHINGTON HAS FAVOURABLE VIEW OF SCHUMAN PLAN

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1950, Page 5

OFFICIAL WASHINGTON HAS FAVOURABLE VIEW OF SCHUMAN PLAN

NEW YORK, May 30 (Reed. 7.40 pm).—The Schuman plan to pool the coal and steel resources of France, Germany and other European nations, whatever its economic implications, provides a tangible opportunity for France and Western Germany to get together after four generations of military strife. This is the official Washington view of the plan, according to the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” “The whole Atlantic community, including Britain, has everything to gain and nothing to lose in The negotiation of a real understanding between France and Western Germany.”

Washington officials believe some elements in Britain are fearful that the French are trying to create a Franco-German economic bloc that will be powerful enough to dominate' the economic life of Western Europe. Conicidentally, the fear in official Washington quarters is that a powerful element in France are assuming the British do not want to see established any Continental economic bloc that, may develop into a powerful rival for Britain’s export markets and threaten Britain's delicately-balanced and carefully-planned economy. The view in official quarters in Washington is that these mutual suspicions are not justified. Washington officials regret the difference of the approach by Britain and France and are trying to help resolve it. The view of the State Department is that both sides are perhaps pushing events a little too fast. The feeling in Washington is that M. Schuman should be permitted, to explore his proposal with the Germans or anybody else he chooses at the beginning. Similarly, officials feel that Mr. Bevin should not be asked to accept the Schuman plan in principle until the plan has been worked out in greater detail.