Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-23
Premiers OF France
And Red China Confer
On Indo-China Peace
BY the Asseeiatsd Press

BERN, 0WlCZcEkduQ, JUNO 20
French Premier Mendes-France
and Red China'S Premier Chou
En-lai went into a private con-
ference here today to discuss
the question of bringing peace
to ndo-China.
The meeting began this after
noon at the French Embassy
Just a half hour after Premier
Chou arrived in the Swiss cap
ital from Geneva, where he has
been attending the 1ndo- China
peace conference.
Mr.. MendeS-France arrived in
Bern early today after an over
night trip from Paris. He spent
the morning comforting with
leading members Of the French
delegation to the Geneva con-
ference in preparation for his
meeting with Mr.. Chou.
Specifies Subject.
Mr.. Mendes- France made clear
the subject of the meeting would
be the war in Indo-C China.
"Indo-C China is the forefront
of my program" the French pre-
mier told reporters before leav-
ing Paris. THAT is why I am
spending all my time on it."
He declined to specify what
proposals he would make to Pre-
mier Chou, whose government
is not openly involved in the
Indo- China conflict but has been
accused by the West of supply
ing and equipping the Commu-
nist-led Wet Mini forces.
The French cabinet decided
yesterday to seek the meeting
after it was learned that Premier
Chou was leaving today for New
Delhi to confer with midas
Prime Minister Nehru.
Made Peace Promise.
& Premier MendeS-France took
ONCE with a promise to resign
Il he does not bring peace to
Indo- China by July 20. The
meeting with Mr.. Chou was seen
as his first major move in that
direction.
Up to now, the French Premier
has been busy comforting with
his own advisers, including Gen.
Paul Ely. French Union COM
n1ander in Indo- China, and Jean
Chauvel, head of the French
delegation at Geneva.
Mr.. MendeS-France also dis
cussed the Geneva Conference
Sunday with Britain's Foreign
Secretary Anthony Eden and
United States Undersecretary of
State Walter Bedell Smith when
they stopped in Paris en- route
home
Sat one time the French pre-
naier had considered coming to
Geneva to take charge OF the
Htench delegation. This plan
vas dropped after most Of the
kep officials began pulling out.
The meeting in Bern report
edty was arranged after Mr..
Mendes-France had suggested
that Premier Chou meet him on
the outskirts of Paris. Mr.. Chou
was understood to have turned
this down but said he would
delay his departure If Mr.. Men
deS-France would see him some
where in Switzerland.
One Session Planned.
The pair was due to have only
one session together.
Mr.. Chou was expected to take
OF for India tonight in special
Constellation plane flown here
from New Delhi. He will push
on to Peiping after a three-day
state visit at New Delhi.
Mr.. Mendes-France told re-
porters he would be back in Paris
tonight or tomorrow morning.
He said he had no plans to see
Pharn Van Dong, Wet Mini for
eign minister, while he is in
Switzerland.
Informed quarters said Mr..
Mendes-France had informed
the Wet Mini leader there are
limits beyond which France can
not go in seeking peace if the
Communist demands are too
high, France will refuse to meet
them, he was reliably reported
TO have stated.
No session Of the Geneva con-
ference was scheduled for to-
day. The nine-party meeting will
be resumed tomorrow with fur
Their discussions on the problem
of supervising a cease-flre in the
disputed Indo- Chinese kingdoms
of Laos and Cambodia.
Mr.. MendeS-F France conferred
this morning with Ambassador
Jean Chauvel. acting head of
the French delegation at Ge-