DRAFT TREATY READY

Chronicle (Levin), 13 March 1948, Page 5

DRAFT TREATY READY

, (N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Organising The Security Of' Western Europe

CoDiiright)

Reeeaved Fridav, 8.4o p.m. LOXDOX, Mareh 12. The Five-Power Western. European Treaty talks will end to-day with tlie issue of a short ofiicial statement, put full details of the treaty a will not be annoaneed untii after it lias been' sign ed by the five Foreigp Ministers on Alarch 17. aeeording to The Times Brussels eorrespondent. The Treaty 's politieal aim, . he sa\» is to organise -the security of Western Eurape so that the democ'ratic tracli tions whieh the five eouhtries have in eominon are safeguarded. There wiii also be referenee to the importance oi human rights. The eeonomie clause, he adds, deais with the interests of the five eountries and their overseas te-rritories. b'ermany's part in the European eeononiusysteni will be defined at next week s Paris Couference on the Marshall proposals. . A late nfessage -states that a communique issued after the conferpuee . said the Five Powers' representativgs ■ a.re Subinitting the Treaty draft to their respeetive (fovernments. The Treaty coniprised eeonomie, soeial, euitiirai, and mutual assistance elauses withm the I'.N.O. eharter's framework. Eaeli Government would publish the Treaty s substanee after final approval. The Belgian Breniier" (Mr. Spaalc ) said: "This is a good treaty and we are entitled to satisfaetion with it." It is offieiallv announced that the Western Fnion Conferenee ended after tlie eompletion of tlie draft of a fiftyyear treaty whieh the British, Frencii, and Benelux Foreign .Ministers wui sign at Brussels -on Mareh 17. .Mr. Bevin is expeeted to announee at the Marshall Aid Conferenee of 10 pations in Paris next week that Bntain is readv to mahe saerifiees for the sake of Western European eeonomie stability whieli will ineJnde reduemg Imperial preferenees. Various cuts wvn iie made, not in tlie immediate f'uture but over a period of years. Afr. Bevin and .Sir Stafford Cripps 1 conferred on the Foreign Seeretary 's statement and a paper on Britani's plans for "moving into Europe." it is understood .Mr. Bevin will aequaint tnt lfigh Cominissioners with his speech befo're he leaves for Paris. Tlie British Government 's view is that if tne European reeovery - programme is to sueeeed Britain must identity herseli more closely with the economics ot ihe Cont inental nations and "gear her life to Europe."