Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-08

qucl, SnOulQ De prepared 70 10 81
Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin
broadly limited such measures are
contemplated in his address to
Commons on international policy
Mr.. Bevin said Britain's military
alliances, as well as her political
ties with the countries Of Western
Europe, are to be frightened.
The informants expressed con-
fidence that the Standardization
principle will be accepted readily
in Western Europe since most OF
the countries already depend almost
exclusively on the United States and
Britain for military requirements
Asked to confirm these assertions,
spokesman of the British foreign
and war offices gave cautious mo
comments"
The war Office spokesman, how
ever. disclosed that Gen. G. M. j.
Severs. chief Of the French general
staff, has visited British military
establishments and has been in con-
+sultation on technical and training
matters with the imperial general
staff.
Every care will be taken to avoid
the impression that the Anglo
American arms and strategic pro-
gram involves "ganging up militia
rily" on Red Europe, diplomatic and
military informants insisted.
Disclosure of the plan came as the
United States Congress swung into
detailed study of the report of
the Paris conference which an
swered Secretary Marshall's call for
a European Recovery Program.
The Paris report specifically
stressed the desirability Of stream
lining continental economic recov-
cry by standardizing basic enak Of
industrial equipment. 80 + 3.
Already in Close Touch
The. sources-who ranged from
British military planners to am
bassadors of Western European
countries-pointed out that a pro-
gram of arms standardization Is
"just one stage removed" from the
principle of industrial STANDARDIZED
ton.
Most of the 16 states sooner or
later must face the question Of
whether their armies are to be
equipped with weapons forged in
the west or in the east, they de-
clared.
The Standardization program was
generally seen to be essentially
gradual" which could only be i'm
plemented over a period of at least
10 years, barring emergencies. Many
of the Marshall-aid countries al
ready are in close military liaison,
the informants added.
War Office sources said that at
least II Marshall-aid states have
sent officers and men to Britain for
training in the last year, the ex-
ceptions are Austria, Switzerland,
Iceland and Sweden.
Sweden recently placed the Sec
ond of two large orders for an un-
specified number of Vampire Jet
fighter planes with the De Havil-
land company, an official statement
announced. Technicians of the
Swedish Air Force are expected to
come here for jet propulsion train
ing at the De Havilland factory.
British training missions have
gone to most West European states
to train and reorganize their war
battered armies on the spot.
McGowan's Visit Recalled
The Italian Army, said an Ital-
ian diplomat, has been reorganized
from top to bottom on the British
model since 1913, when Mussolini
fell. He said Italy had five British
equipped and trained divisions In
the field when the war ended.
Similarly the United States has
large missions in Greece and Tur-
key, training, recognizing and
equipping their armies. Surplus
United States military stores and
equipment are being disposed of in
several other countries, including
France, Italy, Austria and the low
countries.
Britain has supplied France, Bel
GUM, Holland, Luxembourg, Nor
way, Denmark, Sweden. Italy,
Greece, Portugal. Turkey, Fire and
Iceland with radar equipment, air
craft-including jet-propelled ma
ehines-and ornaments since the
war ended.
Troops of several of those. coain-
tries wear British uniforms.
Turkish technicians were In
structed in jet propulsion at the
De Havilland aircraft works. The
French and Belgian chiefs OF stan
have visited British battle schools.
France last year purchased guns.
aircraft. transport and all the other
material necessary to equip a full.
1s,o00-strong airborne division. She
has purchased many naval vessels
since
Meanwhile, the sources saw sig
nifiance in Lord McGowarl's visit
to Portugal and Spain late last year.
The chairman Of imperial chemical
industries-largest industrial con-
Germ and arms works In Britain
called on Portuguese and Spanish
political and banking chiefs, al
though he did not see Gen. Franco.
British oficials stressed that there
Is no direct intention Of strengthen
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