A Single Europe Is Possible—De Gaulle

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 15

A Single Europe Is Possible—De Gaulle

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BONN, July 22. President Charles de Gaulle yesterday said he believed a single Europe encompassing both East and West had become possible, but this Europe must include a united Germany.

The French President arrived in Bonn with the Premier, Mr Georges Pompidou, the Foreign Minister, Mr Couve de Murville, and the Defence Minister, Mr Pierre Messmer for ten hours of talks centering on his recent visit to the Soviet Union and the future status of French troops in Germany.

The President and ' the West German * Chancellor. Dr. Ludwig Erhard an- j] nounced today that j< they have agreed in ‘ principle to keep I French troops on Ger- L man soil in spite of i their withdrawal from N.A.T.O. control. , The agreement is ' subject to the working out of technical and | military details, offic- j ials said.

The two nations will also join in developing a surface-to-air missile and a radar system.

Agreement on these projects was reached in separate talks between the French and West German Defence Ministers.

The talks —the eighth toplevel exchange between France and West Germany under their 1963 friendship treaty—were marked by an evident effort on both sides to restore cordiality between the two governments. The meeting—including separate discussions between the Defence and Foreign Ministers in a crowded 10-hour programme—was the first between the leaders since the N.A.T.O. crisis over France’s decision (which came into effect on July 1) to leave the alliance’s integrated military command. Cordial Tone Dr. Erhard set the cordial tone of the two leaders’ exchanges in a luncheon speech in which he thanked General de Gaulle for his refusal in Moscow last month to accept “the artificial creation of the Soviet zone of Germany.”

"This is a help to us in our efforts towards the reunifies-; tion of Germany,” he said. President de Gaulle said j French policy was trying to open up the whole of Europe and the whole of Germany. This did not mean France rejected the Atlantic alliance, even if it did require some adaptation. “There can be no whole Europe without a whole Geri many,” said General de Gaulle. Moscow Visit j He said he had attempted to | “help push through this , knowledge” during his recent visit to Moscow. He referred to his belief of a thaw in relations with MosI cow. He mentioned "new perspectives” in international reI lations.

“I am speaking of our i Europe. 1 am speaking of that which today appears possible and which for so long was not. “1 speak of a Europe which lean find itself again step by step, at first in relation, then in understanding, then in cooperation.”