|
|
Libellé | Conférence des 3 alliés occidentaux à Londres, représentés par leurs Ministres des Affaires Etrangères ( Bevin, Acheson et Schuman) pour discuter de l'Allemagne, de l'Autriche, des problèmes monétaires internationaux et de l'OTAN |
Date (début) | 11/05/1950 |
Synopsis | Big Three Plans For Cold War LONDON, May 11 (A.A.P.). The Foreign Ministers of France, the United States and Britain, began their vital three-days' conference in London this morning. Reuters' Diplomatic Correspondent says a new allied grand strategy for fighting the cold war, based on common action to counter Communist expansion moves all over the world, is expected to emerge from the talks. In the House of Commons to-day, the Prime Minister, Mr. Clement Attlee, welcomed the Schuman plan to merge French and German heavy industries. The conference is being held at Lancaster House, in the same cream and gold room that Big Four Foreign Ministers met a few years ago in an attempt to bring Russia and the West to- gether. After the morning session the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin entertained the American and French dele- gations to lunch at his private residence. - British Opposition leaders were among the guests. Obser- vers considered this a Gov- ernment move to give British Foreign policy a bipartisan flavour. Reuters' Diplomatic corres- pondent says almost every item coming before the foreign ministers has some bearing on relations between Russia and the West. From these talks might emerge a grand western strat- egy for fighting the cold war on a long-term world basis, says the correspondent. U.K. AND SCHUMAN PLAN STAFF CORRESPONDENT , AND A.A.P. Welcoming the plan ad- vanced yesterday by the French Foreign Minister, M. Robert Schuman, to merge French and Ger- man heavy industries, Mr. Attlee said this must be regarded as a notable con- tribution towards the solu- tion of a major European problem. Mr. Attlee said the proposals had far-reaching implications for the future economic struc- ture of the participating coun- tries. * , This aspect would require very careful study by the British Government and other Governments concerned. The British Government would approach the problem in a sympathetic spirit and desired to make it clear at the outset that it welcomed the French initiative to end an age- long feud with Germany, and so bring peace and unity to Europe. WEST'S POLICY The Prime Minister con- tinued: It is the clear policy of the Western Powers to pro- mote the entry of Germany as a free member into the comity of European nations. The French proposals are designed to facilitate this pro- cess and must, consequently, be regarded as a notable con- tribution towards the solution of a major European prob- lem. Both the Opposition leader, Mr. Winston Churchill, and the Liberal leader, Mr. Clement Davies, asked for time for discussion on the French plan, preferably before the Whitsun recess. Mr. Attlee agreed that the House should discuss the matter, but did not tie himself to a definite date. Mr. Anthony Eden (Cons.) suggested that French state- ments had made it clear the scheme included the participa- tion of other Western Euro- pean nations, besides France and Germany. So I understand, Mr. Attlee replied. U.S. WELCOME United States Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson, wel- comed the Schuman plan for pooling coal and steel re- sources. In a statement from the American Embassy in London, he said the objectives of the plan had long been favoured by the United States and he regarded it as a most impor- tant development. Count Sforza, the Italian 7oreign Minister, congratulated M. Schuman on his initiative, which, he said, was in accord- ance with the spirit of the Franco-Italian Customs union. In Bonn, the West German capital, most people were solidly behind the French Foreign Minister's plan. DELICATE MATTER The semi-official French newspaper Le Monde said: It will be surprising if Bene- lux and italy do not come in, but British participation is a delicate matter. The entire Russian control- led Press to-day attacked the plan as a scheme for a mam- moth cartel, inspired by Wall Street, to give the. United States control over West Euro- pean industry. |