Evening star., 1955-03-12
America and the Paris Accords

In effect In his message to the prime
ministers Of seven of the nations that have
signed the Paris accords, President EiSen-
hover has reaf1irmed the substance of what
he said last April in similar communica-
ton, regarding our country's commitments
to the ill-starred European Defense Com
munity.H
Thus, although the EDO has died aborn-
ing, the substitute systematic Western
European Union in which free Germany is
to be armed as a sovereign member Of the
overall North Atlantic Treaty Organization
has the Presidents firm assurances of
unstinting American support. That is to
say, he has made clear that the United
States, since it views the two interlocking
enterprises as essential to its own security,
is solemnly resolved to continue playing its
major role in the NATO alliance and to CO.
operate fully with the WEU. Moreover, it
is determined to adhere faithfully to this
policy as long as there is danger to the great
community of nations covered by the
treaties-which means for a period "of in
definite duration rather than for any
definite number of years."
In all of this the Presidents main as
surance is that our country will continue
to maintain in Europe, including Germany,
such units of its armed forces" (at present
they include six divisions over there) "as may
be necessary and appropriate to contribute
its fair share" to the common defense of
the North Atlantic area-"while a threat
to that area exists" And he has emphasized,
among other promises of cooperation, the
,corollary pledge-a thing Of major impor-
as menace to every NATO ally, including
ITSELF "any action from whatever quarter"
that would imperil the WEU's integrity and
unity. What Is meant here is that our Nation
will be prepared to take part in allied coun-
teraction not only against Soviet attack, but
also against what many Frenchmen profess
to fear-namely, the remote possibility that
the rearmed Germans may one day secede
from the WEU and embark on a career Of
aggression, either unilaterally or in cahoots
with the Kremlin.
However, as Mr.. Eisenhower has in
dicated, all these and kindred American
commitments (Which certainly should rea-
assure the French) are predicated on the
assumption that the signatory powers
Britain, France, West Germany, Italy,
oC4SAuI11s VIC 4NCVAIC1 AoA1So o1lO AuACnDOu1S
will complete ratification of the Paris ac
cords and make the WEU an effective
operating reality. Happily, although only
the British and Italians have fully ratified
up to now, Frances Assembly and free Ger
many's Bundestag have paved the way for
final parliamentary approval, and the other
signatories are expected to follow suit in
the relatively near future. In any event, in
view of the pledges set forth by the Pres
ident, they should feel encouraged to take
Affirmative action without further delay.
Such action, assuming that it is taken,
will lay the groundwork for better and safer
days in free Europe. For it will offer, as the
President has said, ,snot only good hope" of
stopping any enemy attack but also new
core OF unity"-political and economic as
well as military-promising mutual enrich
ment of the first magnitude. In the circum-
stances, early ratification ought to be a
foregone conclusion.