Evening star., 1950-10-29

free Europe.
1t is generally assumed that the
supreme commander will be an
American. Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover and Omar N. Bradley are
believed to be leading possibilities
for the post. Relatively little de-
lay or difficulty is, in any event,
anticipated in arriving at agree
ment on the selection of SCAPE.
I The question of arming the
Germans and inviting them to
join IN North Atlantic treaty
planning is considerably more
delicate and more complicated,
and will probably take consider
ably more time to solve.
The United States strongly
favors Western German participa-
ton in a common defense of free
Europe, and believes that the
Bonn Republic should be allowed
to arm on a limited scale for this
purpose.
The other members of the North
Atlantic treaty organization agree
on this in principle. Most of
them do so reluctantly. however,
and some of them agree only sub
ject to conditions, exceptions and
reservations on which further and
possibly protracted negotiations
will be necessary.
France not unnaturally regards
the possibility of revival of Ger
man military power with most
particular anxiety. The French
propose that Bonn be allowed to
rearm only if and after two major
conditions have been fulfilled:
! l. The Schuman plan for the
pooling of European coal and steel
industries must first be adopted
by at least the six continental
governments now negotiating on
agreement on tine plan-France,
Western Germany, Italy, Belgium,
Holland and Luxembourg.
2. A "supe1national" political
authority must also be created to
control the continental European
elements taking part in the North
Atlantic treaty forces in Europe,
although not the American, Cana
dian or British elements. This au-
thority would consist of three main
elements: (a) European minister
of defense, chosen by the con-
tinental countries contributing to
the combined European defense
force; (b) a European assembly
to which the minister of defense
would be responsible, and (c) a.
council of defense ministers, who
would fix single, combined
budget for the European army.
Acheson Welcomes Plan
The French National Assembly
approved this plan Thursday by
a vote of 343 to 225. Defense
Minister Jules Moch is laying the
program before his colleagues of
the Defense Committee in the
sessions which began yesterday.
!. Secretary of State Dean Ache
son welcomed the French proposal.
It represents further approach
toward the objective of bringing
the common interests of the free
nations of Europe more closely to-
gether within the framework of
the North Atlantic community"
Mr.. Acheson said.
French insistence on their plan
could, however. cause considerable
delay in North Atlantic treaty
planning.
For one thing. the program will
require close examination and ex-
tensive discussion by the IL
other North Atlantic powers.
This proposal, which contains
many far-reaching concepts, de-
serves and requires further study,
which the United States Govern
ment will undertake to give 1t"
Mr.. Acheson declared.
For another thing, the French
proposal may not prove acceptable
to the other North Atlantic powers.
Yet Paris fatty asserts that it
will agree to arming the Germans
only if the principles of the French
plan are accepted.
Final detailed agreement on a
united North Atlantic treaty Eu-
ropean defense force is thus not
yet in sight.
This is all the more truly the
case because the defense ministers
cannot finally dispose of the prob
lens before them, even if they
reach instantaneous and unani-
nous agreement on every point.
They can only make recommends
tions to their governments-whi
may or may not adopt the minis
ters' views, and, even if they do
adopt them, may or may not act
quickly.
, Tries to Bolster u. n.
In the meantime, however, and
penQlng 1lnal agreement on these
problems, the United States is
pressing forward with it's own re-
armament and with military as
Sistance to its partners of the
North Atlantic treaty. Congress
has voted $25.e billion for this
country's own national military
establishment thus far this year,
and IS, ,125, ,000, 900 for arms aid to
Western Europe. Before the end
of the fiscal year on June 30,
President Truman will probably
ask Congress for still more funds
for military purposes. possibly as
much as $40 billion.
Final ALLEGATIONS of American
. arms aid to other North Atlantic
treaty countries have yet to be
determined, but 1t has already
been made clear that France is to
receive the lions share
The United States is also press
ing forward with it's plans for
J strengthening the United Nations.
President Truman stated three