French-German Talks Cordial

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 13

French-German Talks Cordial

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, Feb. 8. President de Gaulle and the West German Chancellor, Ludwig Erhard, end two days of talks today after striking an unexpected note of cordiality yesterday.

Relations between France and West Germany are shadowed by a wide range of differences, but the French President and Dr. Erhard have agreed not to let them poison the special relationship of the : Franco-German friendship treaty. A senior West German offi[cial said privately last night; . “It has gone much better than we had excepted.”

The Chancellor and President meet at the Elysee Palace this morning for their second private exchange. View Differs They will be later joined by their Foreign, Defence and Economic Ministers and other senior officials who took part in this regular biannual conference—the sixth of its type under the friendship treaty. Subjects discussed yesterday included Vietnam, on which there is marked divergence of views. The French have recently condemned the United States resumption of bombing in North Vietnam and are unhappy about American policy in general, while West Germany backs Washington and is seeking to give the Americans the most effective non-military support. Moscow Visit The scheduled June visit of President de Gaulle to Moscow was also discussed. German sources noted that Bonn, too, wants to improve its relations with Eastern Europe. The Germans are confident that President de Gaulle will not seek closer ties with Moscow, at West German expense. The main accent in yesterday’s talks was the need for France and Germany to make progress in practical co-opera-tion.