Innocence Abroad

In his 9 1/2 months as Premier of France, Antoine Pinay seldom saw a foreigner, and was, in the eyes of one diplomat, "absolutely innocent of foreign policy." From Bonn last week came a well-authenticated report that shed new light on the innocence of the little tanner from St. Chamond.

In the last days of his government, Pinay tried to arrange a secret meeting with West Germany's Konrad Adenauer at an old chateau outside Paris. Purpose of the meeting: to discuss renegotiation of the European Defense Community treaty. Adenauer was assured that Foreign Minister Robert Schuman would not be present. Facing a political crisis over Schuman's demand for unequivocal ratification and parliament's demand for amendments, Pinay hoped to escape his troubles by working out a deal with Germany.

Chancellor Adenauer sent one of his aides to Paris to sound out the French further, and what he learned disturbed the Chancellor. Adenauer turned down the invitation to the meeting on the grounds that 1) he is opposed to new negotiations before ratification, and 2) any discussion without Schuman would be improper.

A few days later Pinay fell. In his place came Rene Mayer, and one of Mayer's first acts was to oust Good European Schuman (TIME, Jan. 19). Last week new Premier Rene Mayer promised that parliament would soon have a chance to examine the EDC treaty, along with protocols which he said would modify but not basically change the treaty. Back home in the little world of St. diamond, tanner Pinay went over his factory accounts, and considered whether to run for mayor again in the spring municipal elections.

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