Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-17
u. ). Officials Fear
edo Change May Kill
European Army Plan
Feel French Proposals
Are Too Drastic; Six
Ministers Will Confer
By John A. Scoli
Associated Press staff Writer.

Associated Press Stoff Writer.
State Department officials from
Secretary of State Dulles down
were reported fearful today that
new French defense proposals
might kill the ong-cherished
six-nation European army plan
Authoritative American in
formantS seemed convinced that
changes in the European De-
Tense Community Plan, proposed
by French Premier Pierre
Mendes-France, were far too
drastic to be accepted by the
other countries involved.
r And they foresaw little or no
chance that the other proposed
European army partners-West
Germany, Italy, Belgium, the
Netherlands and Luxembourg
could find any formula for rec
onciling their own views with
the new French attitude.
Meet in Brussels Thursday.
Foreign ministers Of the six
nations are to meet in Brussels
Thursday to discuss the problem.
In advance of this, State De-
partment officials made little
effort to disguise their deep dis
appointment over some 20 al
terations proposed by Mr.. Men
des-France.
One responsible official said
the French leader has in effect
torn up the carefully drafted
European army treaty and re-
written a new unacceptable one
All participants except France
and Italy have ratified the treaty
originally propose by the
French, aimed at bolstering
Communist threat without al
lowing unlimited German re-
armament. The United States
has strongly Endorsed the plan.
The Mendes-France amend
ments, among other things,
would allow any member to
withdraw from EDO if American
and British troops were pulled
out of Europe. would make the
EDO treaty's length the same as
that of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, forbid the
stationing of German troops on
French soil sand withhold final
French ratification pending a
new attempt at settlement with
Russia over Germany.
While most United States dip
lomats were reluctant to say no
hope for compromise exists, they
tended to regard the Mendes-
France changes as a package"
which probably had to be either
accepted or rejected in a single
unit. ....
Bonnet Confers With Smith.
In a move to explain the new
French plan, Ambassador Henri
Bonnet met secretly at the State
Department yesterday with Act
ing Secretary Walter Bedell
Smith. The appointment was not
publicly announced.
Gen. Smith was reported to
share the view that the French
plan imperils the entire future
OF the defense community. How
ever, he was said to be leading
an intensive drive to find some
middle path which might be
acceptable to France and the
other European army partners.
Officials who have been strug-
Cling with this problem for more
than two years were reported
pessimistic over Gen. Smith s
chances.
In a further United States
move to bolster EDC's prospects
Chairman Wiley of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee an
nounced he will leave for Europe
today to talk over the matter
at Mr.. Dulles request-with
British and French officials. in
Guiding Mr.. Mendes-France.
A sharp reappraisal of Ameri-
can policy toward France and
Europe generally would be in or
der if the European army plan
collapseS.
Present foreign aid legislation
calls for channeling all Ameri-
can military aid to European
army countries through the sin
gle authority that would be Gre
ated under the EDO.