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Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1949, Page 5

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(N.Z.P.A J

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West Agrees On Policy To Present To Russia

r.omiHnht.)

Received Monday, 11- a.m. PARIS, May 22. The three Western Foreign Ministers met at the French Foreign Office today for their linal talks on policy co-ordina-tion before the opening of the Big Four Foreign Ministers' Coimcil tomorrow. The meeting was devoted to a continued study of the joint report by the Foreign Ministers' deputies on the preliminary conferences of the past week. The Associated Press correspondent says that the Western Powers are agreed on a common German policy to present to Russia, aceording to an nuthoritative source. It is iinderstood that the last obsta- : le to Western agreement was removed when the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson, gave an assurunce that the United States would oppose any proposal by Russia for a quick withdrawal of the occupation troops. The basis of the Western Ministers' stand, aceording to this source, will include, first!y, firm support for a West German State and no compromise on any plan which would jeopardise its existence. Any unification of Germany must ■.'ome on the basis of the West German constitution just ratilied. Secondly, opposition to the withdrawal of the occupation iroops. Any such proposal would be referred by the West for a further study on the basis of gradual reduction >ver a period. Thirdly, an iron-clad agreement with Russia over the i'uture of Berlin will be sought, irrespective of whether agreement on Germany as a whole Is reached. This question may be given priority in view of the present rioting and disorders nve^ping Berlin. In Strong Position Reuter's correspondent says that the Western Foreign Ministers will be in a far -tronger position than they were at the Moscow and London conferences in 1947. They have consolidated their position in Europe and the battle for European recovery has turned favourably for them. They have strengthened their position politically through the Xorth Atlantic Pact and the ••stablishment of the Council of Europe.