French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder made a joint plea Tuesday for adoption of the European Union treaty, a measure slated to go before a doubting French electorate next month. "France and Germany reaffirm their conviction that the coming into effect of the constitutional treaty will ... affirm Europe's influence on the international stage and strengthen its ability to act in the service of peace and security in the world," the two leaders said in a joint statement. The statement was issued as the joint cabinets of both countries met in the French capital under the shadow of looming French rejection of the E.U. constitution in the country's May 29 nationwide referendum. Public opinion polls consistently have shown that French voters will narrowly reject the proposed constitution. Schroeder and Chirac were to brief the media later Tuesday, and the leaders will speak at the Sorbonne to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Franco-German Chamber of Commerce. Their addresses are expected to equate European industrial progress with support of the treaty.
