Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-01-29
French Premier
Here for Talks
With Truman
PIeven to Request
Close Cooperation
Against Communism
By Joseph A. Fox

arrived today for his defense talks
with President Truman and was
assured by a smiling Chief Execu-
tive that "all of us in this country
are friends of France and hope to
impress you with the fact that
we are the friends of France"
Greeting the French Premier at
Union Station shortly after his
arrival from New York, the Presi-
dent expressed the hope that the
conversations aimed at fostering
cooperation between the two
powers would be productive-a
wish that was re-echoed by the
French visitor.
I'VE remember what your coun-
try did for our nation in the last
two wars and that for two CEN
turtles your country and my coun-
try have been friends" Premier
Pleven told the President.
Accompanying Premier Pleven
are Gen. Alphonse JUN, French
resident general in Morocco and
inspector general of the French
armed forces: Alexandra Parodi
secretary general of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, and Herve Al
phand, delegate to the Council of
Deputies of the North Atlantic
Treaty.
The French premier comes to
America at this time to carry on
discussions that were inaugurated
last month by Prime Minister
Attlee of Great Britain when the
Western powers sought to build
closer working arrangement in
their fight against Communist
aggression.
Prelude to Eisenhower Report.
The Pleven talks actually will
serve as the curtain raiser for the
report that Gen. Eisenhower will
make at the end of this week on
the results of his trip to Western
Europe as the head of the budding
Atlantic Pact Defense Force.
Premier Pleven is reported to
have two main topics for discus
sion with American officiels. He
wants to talk over the situation
in the Pacific. where the French
are battling Communists In Indo-
China, and also the strengthening
OF France economically and mill
tarlly, as a part of the Western
defense program.
Premier Pleven is reportedlv
ready to assure President Truman
that French troops will fight on
In Indo-China even if Chinese
Communists intervene on mas
sive scale. For five years the
1ndo-China problem has tied up
the bulk of the French Army, with
100000 regulars committed.
Premier Pleven is expected to
emphasize that France will carry
on in the Pacific without thought
OF asking for troops reinforce
ments. but he is understood to
want assurances that the flow of
American weapons and munitions
needed by French forces and loyal
native troops will be stepped up.
Wants Support in U. N.
The Premier repeatedly wants
this Governments support for any
action France may initiate in the
United Nations Security Council
to brand Communist China as an
aggressor if Chinese Communist
troops intervene in Indo-China.
American sources say that the
President can be expected to
promise the French official firm
support in the U. N. in any move
against the Chinese Communists.
The President, with his top adj
visers, and Premier Pleven, with
his staff, are holding their first
conference in the cabinet room of
the executive Offices at 3 o'clock
this afternoon.
Earlier, however, they were to
meet at a Blair House luncheon.
There will be an opportunity,
perhaps, for further talks tonight,
when the President and Mrs. Tru-
man attend a dinner for the Pre-
mier at the French Embassy.
Tomorrow, morning and after
noon sessions are scheduled at the
White House. with the second con-
GLIDING the formal exchange. Pre-
(See PIEVEN. Page A-2l