NEWS OF THE WEEK
/T is clear that the visit of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to Paris has completely fulfilled its purpose, which was not to conclude new agreements—there was never any question of that—but to ensure that when Mr. Churchill and Mr. Eden go to Washington next week they should go with a full knowledge of all that is in French statesmen's minds. But there is, in fact, a little more in it than that. In view of the demands being advanced in some quarters in the United States for the creation of a federal Western Europe, including Britain, it may be of considerable value to point out that France, the author of both the Schuman and the Pleven Plans, is fully satisfied with Britain's attitude towards these two moves towards closer association between the nations of Western Europe. In regard to a European force in particular, British intentions, as explained by Mr. Churchill, should meet every practical need. British troops on the Continent of Europe will stand in precisely the same relationship to a European Army, if one is created, as American/ troops—both bodies, like the European Army itself, being included in the larger and increasingly effective North Atlantic Treaty Organisation under General Eisenhower. That arrangement creates no difficulties whatever. But it is not neces- sarily the last word. The British Ministers pledged their Govern- ment `.` to associate itself as closely as possible with the European defence community in all stages of its political and military developments." The reference to political developments invites interesting speculation, which will no doubt be satisfied in due course. It suggests that differences between the Governments in London and Paris are as nearly non-existent as could well be possible. Differences between London and. Washington should be no greater. Ippr
