Evening star., 1947-06-15
france Asks Russia
To Join Discussion
|0f Marshall Plan
By the Assoeioted Press

PARIS, June 14.-France disclosed
today that she has taken the first
step to put Secretary OF State Mar
shalIs projected multi-billion dol
lar European recovery plan under a
diplomatic microscope by asking
Russia if she is willing to discuss
the proposal.
At the same time 1T was an
that British Foreign Sec
retary Bevin is expected in Paris
Tuesday to spend two days IN con-
ferring on the Marshall plan for
the United States to underwrite in
large measure q co-ordinated plan
for Europe's convalescence from
war.
From the Hague, Holland, also
came the announcement that Bel
gian. Netherlands and Luxembourg
diplomats already have been hold
ing consultations which have led
to the expectation that these three
countries will be very much in ac-
cord with the American plan for
economic aid to Europe. The an
nouncement said consultations took
place within the framework OF
Benelux, the compact by which they
have agreed to economic co-opera-
ton among themselves.
Bevin Takes Initiative.
Significantly, 1t was an enthusiast
tic Mr.. Bevin who took the initiative
in arranging the Paris talks with
French Foreign Minister Bidault and
Premier Ramadier. Typically 1t was
MIR, Bidault who, before accepting
Mr.. Bevin's proposal for a con-
ference, cautiously asked Russia If
she was willing to hold separate
discussions with France on the
subject.
Russia has not yet replied. Violent
French Communist reaction to the
Marshall plan came from the party's
L,Humanite today, how
ever. The paper said the plan was
an economic cloak for American
political imperialism" and a per-
fecting of President Truman's Inter
ventionist system"
Gen. Marshall has said Russia
could have part in the plan.
There seemed little doubt that
the Bevin- -Bidault talks heralded the
shaping of concrete plans for meet
ing Gen. Marshall's conditions that
Europe itself must come forward
with plan and suggestions for
implementing co-ordinated recov-
cry program for the continent as a
whole.
Officially, however, French reac-
ton has been limited to an express
sion that she is tremendously inter-
ested" and statement that Ambas-
sador Henri Bonnet in Washington
has been instructed to say as much
and to ask for few Qualifications .
The reason for this caution, 1t
appeared, lies in Frances complex
political makeup in which the larg-
est single group is the Communist
Party.
Backs Plan In Commons.
On the other hand, Mr.. Bevin in
dorsed the general plan outspokenly
in the House of Commons yesterday
with the declaration that it was an
offer by the United States to build
a bridge linking least and west"
The French Foreign Office said
unofficial conversations between
French and British economic ex-
perts already have been proceeding
since Gen. Marshall first made his
announcement. A spokesman said
however, that these experts had not
yet got down to brass tacks, and
that the Paris talks will be more of
an exchange of general ideas than
tackling of concrete details.
Foreign Office sources were vague
about the relation of the Marshall
plan to Frances own 'Monnet plan
of industrial modernization which
is intended to put 1850 production at
25 per cent above 1929.