Evening star., 1954-08-28
France Is Believed Retreutinq
From Brink of EDO Precipice
New Delay in Showdown Is Possible,
Allowing Another Compromise Effort

llCW c1A-POWV1 AACCtAIlS WOu1O NC
called. On one point this de-
cision represents a complete
reversal of the stand taken by
Premier Mendes- France. On sew
eral occasions since his return
from Brussels he has declared
that there would be no further
delay in the decision Of the
Assembly. Only yesterday gov
ernment sources were sure that
he would stake the life of his
government on opposing any
such proposal.
No Change by Premier.
It would be highly premature,
however. to conclude from this
that Mr.. Mendes-France has
Joined the pro-EDC camp or that
prospects of an agreement be-
tween France and the other
EDO powers are any better than
they were a week ago at Brus-
sells. Sources close to the Pre-
mier, in fact. give a quite oppo-
site impression today.
According to these sources, Mr.
Mendes-France has attacked one
huge joker to, his agreement to
go along with y postponement OF
decision; nothing less than in
dorsement by the Assembly of his
position at Brussels and his origi-
nal demands for changes in the
EDO treaty itself.
If this is true. it remains ex-
tremely doubtful whether:
1. A majority Of the pro-EDC
members to the Assembly will
agree to such conditions, and
2. Whether the other i've pow
ers will be willing to reopen talks
with the French.
Dramatic Move Made.
To understand all the ins and
outs Of the present parliamentary
situation is probably not as the
French say. worth the pain. The
main points, however, are as fol-
lows:
Since the end of the Brussels
conference. there has been a dra-
matte mobilization of pro-EDC
forces within the Assembly to
stave off at all cost what seemed
like inevitable defeat of the
treaty. The result of their coun-
Gil of war has been a resolution
which was to be introduced early
IN the EDO debate. It's object:
To overthrow the Mendes-France
government, postpone the EDO
debate and resume six-power ne
gotiations on the basis of the
counterproposalS submitted at
Brussels by Belgian Premier
Spaak.
Although few observers gave
the resolution much chance of
success, there can be no doubt
that it was taken seriously by
Mr.. Mendes-France himself.
At the showdown ministers
meeting yesterday the plan got
under way. Three pro-EDC
members of the Mendes-France
government offered their resig-
nations and the opposing camps
seemed finally divided.
At this point, however, Presi-
dent Coty stepped in. The
president has been deeply dis
tressed by what he considers the
disastrous direction of French
policy. To the premier he made
what must have amounted to a
moving final appeal for a COM
promise.
Agreement Reached.
The upshot was an agreement
in principle between Mr..
MendeS-France and his rebel
ministers. The designations were
withdrawn. Premier Mendes-
France accepted the idea Of
postponement Of the vote and
resumption of negotiations. And,
in turn, three pro-EDC ministers
went of to confer with their
colleagues IN an attempt to re-
word their resolution in a way
which would be acceptable to
the government"
Until this resolution Is finally
presented the result of all the
pulling and hauling must remain
unknown. The basis of the ten
tative agreement reached yes
terday, however, seems clear
enough: Mr.. Mendes-France'.
main interest is to split thu
forces which threaten to unseat
him. On their side. the mair
interest Of the pro-EDC faction
seems to be to avoid at all cost
a showdown which would finally
kill the treaty.
It is, at best, q temporary
truce. And if the present infor-
nation is correct, it is one thai
would provide small comfort tt
Frances anxious Free Worlc