Milford chronicle., 1952-02-22
NATO
Planners Tackle Problems

Planners Tackle Problems
Two months ago in Rome, Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower told the North
Atlantic Council:
Nations of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization must pool SOW
ereignty and attempt the impossible
if there is to be any real security in
Europe"
In the weeks since the generals
remarks, Nato nations have made
some impressive gains toward the
impossible" But there are some big
problems still blocking the road.
Next week, at another meeting OF
the Nato Council, this time in Lisbon,
the IL Atlantic Pact nations will size
up the progress made and try to whit
tie down some of the Iosdblocks.
West Germany's list of demands for
helping the free worlds defense
against Communist aggression will be
ore of the top issues up for discussion.
The lower house of the West Ger
man parliament last week voted ap-
proval of a government plan to re-
cruit German troops for the proposed
six-nation European army. The vote
was taken only on the principle Of the
proposal and the Germans attached
stiff conditions
These included an end to Allied oc-
cupation, full sovereignty for Ger
many, an equal voice in western
strategic councils and release of many
German war criminals.
Foreign Ministers Meet
The foreign ministers of Britain the
United States and France met in Lon
don this week to decide on a common
policy Eor bringing the Germans into
the western defense system.
Basically, the French want Ameri-
can and British guarantees that re-
armed Germany will not provoke
war with Russia. France wants to
make sure that West Germany, in a
reckless desire to bring Russian-occu-
pied Germany back into the fold, will
not seek to do it by force.
All of this boils down to one fact:
The French (and also the British)
want to learn by prolonged test
whether Germany will work harmoni-
ously with the West without trying to
play one ally off against another IN
order to gain her own ends.
To get the answer will take time
and there isn't much of that to spare.
Meanwhile, the Natc picture is COM
plicated by the Italian disavowal OF
any further obligations in the l947
peace treaty with Russia. Italy gives
as it's reason for ditching the pact the
fact that the US.S.R. has vetoed heI
admission into the United Nations five
times. U.N affiliation for Italy wa:
specified in the treaty.
Military Committee Meets
The military committee of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
composed of the chiefs of staff of l.
countries and a civilian representa-
tive from 18th Atlantic ally, Iceland
which has no army. held meetings thi
week in Lisbon.
At this meeting, the western pow
ers agreed to stop wrangling owe
what rifle should be standard in tn
Nato armies and to have the membe
nations use the rifles they now hav
in good stock.
The committee also started discus
sions on issues to be brought up IN tn
meeting of the Nato Council. Thes
included:
/. How to carry out recommends
tions made by w. Averell Hartman
head of the Mutual Security Agency
to sharply increase the military effol
OF some of the allies
2. A progress report on the pre-
posed European army.
3. How Greece and Turkey are
be fitted into the Nato comman
structure
4. A progress report Oh Allied ali
craft production and pilot training.