Evening star., 1954-12-26
French Papers Hit
Assembly Rejection
OF Bonn Arms Pact
sxth.. .A..aeIa,.d prs..

! PARIS. Dec. 25.-French edi-
toria1 opinion today criticized
the national assembly in general
for voting against putting Ger
many into Western European
Union. The newspapers dis
played irritation at allied att
tempts-particularly on the part
of Britain-to influence the ul-
innate decision. however.
Yesterday the assembly voted
down the proposed seven-nation
pact $50 to 259. The issue comes
up again Monday on test OF
, confidence in the government Of
Premier Pierre Mendes-France.
Then the assembly viii be vot-
ing on the whole complex OF
London.Paris accords for West
German rearmament.
Several newspapers stressed
the Assembly's Inconsistency In
approving the principle Of West
ern European Union last Octo-
Der, $50 to 113, and then reject
ing union" itself yesterday.
Inconsistency Charged.
The Communist left wing
Franc-Tireur declared it was all
so inconsistent for the assembly
to approve, as it did, the restor-
alton of West German sover-
eighty and then to deny the West
Germans an army, IAN essential
attribute of sovereignty"
The independent Figaro. which
has the largest circulation in the
morning field, commented: This
was more than an absurd atti-
tude. It was a fight and o
betrayal"
Figaro was referring to the
action Of many advocates Of
European federation, particular
ly In the Popular Republican
Movement, whose members
voted against the Western Euro
pean Union yesterday.
It said this only assured the
victory for enemies of Europe
ana the triumph of Moscow"
Warning Is Issued.
The right wing Aurore said the
result, II assemblymen persist In
a rejection of the accords, will
be Ito throw us into the, arms Of
the Russians" 1t warned that the
United States and Britain would
proceed with West German re-
armament without Frances con-
sent If necessary.
Both Aurore and Franc Tireur
said it is quite possible that
Mr.. Mendes-France win be
beaten in Mondays test. throw
ing the French political scene
into confusion. Both averred that
such grave development still
would be relatively minor as
compared with the effect On the
Atlantic alliance system.
Western European Union Is the
kingpin of allied plans to rearm
Western Germany as the re-
enforcement of allied defenses.
It would bind France, Britain,
Belgium, Holland. Luxembourg,
West Germany and Italy into q
framework for West German re-
armament and an open road 10
full membership in the North
Atlantic Treaty (NATO) for the
Bonn government.
British Stand Assailed.
Both LIE Monde and Paris
Presse. influential evening pa |
pers, expressed anger at Ion
don's warning to the French |
parliament that West Germany |
will be rearmed in any case.
Paris-Presse put it this way: |
''The British who have hampered |
or torpedoed so many European
(uniflcation endeavors are in q
bad position to give lessons to
US"
lie Monde. in a column-long,
front-page editorial. was bitter
against Britain and Foreign Sec
retary Sir Anthony Eden.
Ordinarily such q gallant
man, Mr.. Eden did not hesitate
to assume in this connection the
attitude and tone of q monitor
of discipline, publicly and Sc
verely calling an unruly pupil to
order. French consent to an en-
deavor which however concerns
France above all Is Of no i'm
portanceo