Evening star., 1951-09-14
Germans Recruiting
Awaits Europe Army,
French Ministry Says
BY the Assoeio..d Pres,

PARIS. Sept. 14.-The French
Foreign Ministry said today re-
|cruiting of Germans for Western
defense will begin only when the
framework of European army
has been established. It said
that under no circumstances can
there be even the nucleus of q
German national army.
The Foreign Ministry issued the
statement in denying a report ir
the newspaper Figara that For
eign Minister Schuman had con-
Sented to "the immediate raising
Iof German contingents under the
authority of the Atlantic organi-
zation."
A government spokesman at first
told a reporter Figaro's report
from Washington was correct. but
Ia few minutes later he telephoned
to say the information was wrong
and the Foreign Ministry would
issue an official denial.
statement Issued.
The ministry then issued this
statement:
Certain dispatches from Wash
ington have stated that M. Robert
Schuman has agreed at the Bic
Three Conference to 'the immedi-
ate raising of German contingents
under the authority of the Allan
tic organization
"These reports are contrary tc
truth. The immediate raising OF
German contingents has not beer
agreed to. nor has it been asked
by any of the participants.
"The fundamental principle re-
mains. according to the statements
of Minister Robert Schuman, tha!
there cannot exist at any time
even the embryo Of German ma
tional army.
"The recruiting of German per-
sonnel will thus begin only when
the organs Of the European de-
fense community begin operation
and at no other time. The organs
of SHAPE (Supreme Headquar-
tiers. Atlantic Pact in Europe) and
its subordinate commands may be
called upon, but only in that
period between the time when the
Organs of the European defense
community begin operation and
the time when they will be in
a position to take on all their re-
Isponsibilities."
Refers to Pleven Plan.
BY "the European defense COM
munity" the statement referred to
Premier Rene Pleven's plan for a
unified Western European army in
which Italians, Germans, French
Belgians and Luxembourgers
would be united in single mill
tary organization. Talks on this
plan have been held in Paris. The
army would be under Gen. Eisen-
hover.
The United States and Britain
have agreed to the French idea of
a European army as a means of
settling differences about the
German contribution. The Ger
man units would be subordinate to
the overall European command,
The United States had been
pressing to get Germans into the
Atlantic defense setup as soon as
possible, because getting agree
ment on European army plans
through the various parliaments
is bound to be slow process.
Reds Harp on French Fears.
The Big Three evidently sought
a formula to overcome French
fears and at the same time con.
vince Germans they are being
brought into the defense scheme
on an equal basis, while meeting
the United States urgings for
speedy training of German units
But armed Germans still pro-
vide nightmarish prospects for
the French. and Communist prop
aganda has been harping on
French fears Experts have been
hunting a formula which would
sugar-coat the pill for the French
public The French government,
with an eye to local elections COM
ing up in a month, does not want
to shock the voters with any an
|nouncement that German re-
cruiting is beginning or about to
begin. even though French Of
f1cials accept the need for such a
program.