Evening star., 1950-04-02
Atlantic ParIey
Adopts Mutual
Defense Plan
Approval Unonimous
On All for One and
One for All Bosis
~ the Assoeioted Prsss

LANDS, April 1.-DefenSe min
listers of the North Atlantic treaty
nations approved a collective plan
of self defense against aggression
in less than five hours of discus
sion today.
Their agreement on an all for
one and one for all basis in
guarding the North Atlantic
treaty area was unanimous.
United States Secretary of De-
fense johnson presided as. chair
man. The meeting was held in
the closely-guarded headquarters
OF the Dutch general staff, the
red-bricked Juliana barracks.
About 5000 Dutch Communists
jammed an auditorium on the
grounds of the Dutch ZOO at the
same time in a protest against
The Netherlands membership.
They applauded speakers who de-
nounced the pact.
Strategy Outline Adopted.
The ministers adopted an out
line OF general strategy prepared
by their joint chiefs of staff, re-
viewed the pact powers financial
situation and ordered production
chiefs to expedite the standardza-
tiion Of military equipment.
The plan adopted was drafted
earlier this week by the military
committee, joining in one instru-
ment a strategic program pre-
pared by the five regional sectors
OF the alliance and assigning to
each member the role it Is to
play in countering any aggression.
Without mentioning Soviet Rus
sla by name, Mr.. johnson laid
down the three-fold objective of
the IL member nations in a speech.
First we seek to deter aggres-
sion, second to defend ourselves,
and finally to. defeat the aggres-
sor If he forces war upon u.s.
Integrated Defense Planned.
A joint communique issued by
the ministers said:
This plan calls for an integrat-
ed defense of the entire North
Atlantic treaty area, as dis
tinguished from individual ma
tional defense. Each nation, in
accordance with Article of the
treaty, will help itself and the
others in accordance with its
available resources.
"Thus. for the first time, IL
Independent and sovereign ma
tions have achieved. through
democratic process of co-opera-
tion. system for defending
themselves and each other"
Dutch Defense Minister Willem
Schokking. in a news conference
with Mr.. johnson after the ses-
sion, declared the plan, if imple-
mented, will give the people of
Europe adequate assurance that
conflict can be avoided.
Johnson Sees Changes.
Mr.. johnson said the program
would mean changes in individual
defense schemes as each nation
brought its own share into line
with the overall plan.
The ministers communique
said the military planners, headed
by Gen. Bradley have prepared
"an estimate of the military situa-
ton if any attack be launched
against the treaty nations, and
prepared plans for defense against
such an aggression.
The ministers examined, it was
announced, how the joint military
production and supply board can
make the most efficient use of
funds appropriated in each nation
for military production.
They gave specific directions
to this board, to implement
Standardization of equipment and
to ensure co-ordinated produc-
tion,' the communique said.
Entering Producing Stage.
I'VE are moving from the
planning stage to the producing
stage Mr.. johnson told corre-
spondents. adding he thought
member governments should move
Immediately into their production
program as far as possible.
Mr.. johnson said that ministers
IN private conversations had dis
cussed the special burdens facing
France and the Netherlands be-
cause of conditions in Indo- China
and 1ndonesia, but these two items
were not studied in the meeting
itself.
Asked about Spain and Ger
many. Mr.. johnson said the meet
ing proper did not discuss the
question of leasing air bases in
Spain, or the issue of bolstering
the pact with German manpower
and industry.
That is one for the foreign
ministers" he commented.
The ministers did discuss, Mr..
johnson said, how to promote
closer cooperation within the
pact's five regions along lines of
the Western European Union of
Britain, France. Belgium. the
Netherlands and Luxembourg.
A correspondent asked if the
chiefs of staff had worked out
a new strategic concept" to
cope with the fifth columns by
concentrating on the defense of
communications as well as a
given front.
THAT is a very clever question
and one I am ducking," Mr..
johnson said.
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