Evening star., 1949-03-11
Italy Accepts
bid 10 Join in
Ta|ksonP Pact
Danes Move Nearer
Entry Into North
Atlantic Alliance
By Gornett D. Horner

ny 10IUStt y. 1OTUST
Italy announced today that she
is joining in North Atlantic Sc
curity pact negotiations as Den
mark moved step nearer to
entering the alliance.
Italian Premier Alcide de Gas
peri told Parliament in Rome to-
day, the Associated Press reported,
that the cabinet had accepted
unanimously an invitation to help
in the final draft of the Atlantic
treaty
This brought to nine the num-
ber of nations linked in negotia-
tionS to work out a regional Sc
curity alliance aimed at discour-
aging Russian aggression. Those
already conducting the negotia-
tions are the United States,
Canada, Great Britain, France,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Lux
embourg and Norway.
Rasmussen Sees AchesOn.
Danish Foreign Minister Gustav
Rasmussen called on Secretary of
State Acheson at noon today in
the first of series of conferences
in which he is seeking to learn the
terms under which Denmark may
join in the unprecedented security
pact.
Mr.. Acheson scheduled another
session at pm. with Ambassa-
dors of the nations already ne
9otiatlng the pact with the
United States. 1t was hoped that
this meeting could speed agree
ment on final wording of the
treaty to clear the way for pub
lication of the text next week,
giving time for wide public dis
cussion before it is signed, prob
ably early in April.
What was expected to be the
final draft of the treaty was sub
mitted to the various govern
ments concerned last week but it
is still open for possible modifica-
ton in language. 1t was uncer-
tain whether final agreement on
the exact wording could be
reached today. 1t might be left
open for possible suggestions by
Italy and Denmark. if the latter
government makes a prompt deci-
sion to join in the negotiations.
Consultations Provided For.
Premier de Gasperi told the
Italian Parliament that the new
treaty includes provisions for mu-
tual assistance. consultations if
any member Of the alliance is
attacked collective measures and
contributions to defense.
The collective defense measures,
Mr.. de Gasperi added, do not
automatically bind a signatory
nation to wage active war.
When the Premier ended his
talk, Pietro Nenni, leader of the
Socialist Party's pro-Communist
wing, launched an attack on the
government and the pact itself.
He termed it mot defensive, but
offensive"
The decision of the govern
ment today he declared. "is as
grave as the Fascist governments
decision of 1889"
Thus he compared Italys alli-
ance with the West to Mussolini's
Axis pact with Hitler Germany.
He accused Mr. De Gasperi of
keeping the treaty terms secret
and demanded that they be
thrown open for parliamentary
inspection.
Rasmussen Flies to u. S.
The Danish Foreign Minister,
who flew to New York yesterday
and came to Washington by train,
told reporters that most people in
Denmark favor the treaty, but
that his government must know
the text and it's implications be-
fore committing itself to join.
He said that he would inquire,
for one thing. into the amount of
American arms Denmark can ex-
pect. He probably will be told
that Denmark would get it's full
share of American equipment
provided to help build up the
armed forces of the European
members of the pact, but that no
specific commitment can be made
yet
The State Department is anxi-
GUS for separate consideration.
especially in Congress. of the
security pact and related military
assistance legislation.
Opposes price Tag"
Any efforts to put a price tag"
on the pact are misleading"
Michael ]. McDermott, depart
ment press officer. asserted yes
terday. He insisted that the,
treaty Stand on it's own feet" and
docs not depend on military as
sistance legislation"
While the mutual aid, self
Continued on Page A. Col. S.