Evening star., 1949-12-18
III. to Receive
Arms Aid Pucts
By FIoro Lewis

41G x4fa1oc - "41CA NO444~
pleted, 1t is learned here, bilateral
agreements setting up terms Of
the Atlantic pact military aid pro-
gram are to be registered with the
secretary general of the United
Nations. This move-clearly de-
signed to forestall Soviet criticism
that the program is incompatible
with the Charter-is one of the
provisions of the master agree
ment now being drawn up in
Washington. The United States
will sign prototype Of this docu-
merit with each of the other pact
countries in the same manner as
was done with the Marshall aid
agreements.
The preamble also lays special
emphasis on the obligations Of
each member under the United
Nations Charter. It specifies that
nothing in the document Is to
prejudice exertion of maximum
efforts to provide the U. N. with
+ its own armed forces and to OBJ
tain universal regulation and re-
duction of ornaments with in
Spection safeguards.
Drafts Under Study
Drafts of the massive document
have been studied by the nations
concerned, but 1t is not yet in its
final form. It is not expected,
however, that any major revisions
will be made.
Although it recognizes that the
United States will be the major
supplier of equipment. the agree
ment provides for mutual help.
Detailed arrangements for the
transfer of aid are to be made
separately. The draft states that
each government will make avail
able to the other supplies and as
siStance needed to resist armed
attack.
The aid is to be used in accord
ance with the Atlantic pact inte-
grated defense plans and recipients
pledge that they will not use it
for any other purpose without
prior agreement with the supply
ing nation, that is, the United
States.
Provision is made for preventing
leakage of supplies to Russian
dominated countries through third
parties by prohibiting the transfer
of goods to any other government
or individual. This applies to
goods manufactured from ma
terials sent by the United States
as well as to arms supplied di-
rectly. NSubstitute goods available
because of aid received may not
be transferred without prior
notice.
The agreement also binds the
parties to recognize that they
should control the transfer of all
war materials and potential war
materials, even those not con-
nected with the aid program.
Missions Authorized
Recipient countries accord the
supplier the right to send missions
to observe how supplies granted
under the program are used and
agree to provide local currency re-
Quired for administrative purposes
Of such missions. They also agree
to help the United States stock
pile strategic raw materials avail
able in their countries or their
dependent territories, although
this is to be done with regard to
the producing areas own needs
and commercial export require
ments.
Consultations are to take place
on agreed information and Sc
curity policies on the general
aspects of the program, while spe-
cif1c pledges are made to guar
antee security on any secret
weapon or technique which may
be transferred.
The agreement is a careful at
tempt at a compromise between
the demand of American public
opinion for control over the use
of the aid and possible European
resentment against any clause
which would allow for one-sided
American interference. It is q
fairly brief document and will
presumably require no ratification
since 1t is termed an understand.
ing"