Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-29
Repair Time for NATO

It would be mistake to underesti-
mate the significance of the bitter anti
American feeling engendered in Britain
and France by the position our country
has taken against their military move
into Egypt. AS indicated by newspaper
comment in London and Paris, it is a feel
ing that is deep and wideSpread-so much
so, for example, that third Of the Con-
sentative membership Of the British House
OF Commons has subscribed to an extraor-
binary declaration attacking our Gov
eminent and warning that our policy in
this matter has placed grave strain on
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Although one may question the de-
gree Of its gravity, such strain undou-
btedly exists, and an urgent effort is
needed to ease 1t as quickly and as thor
oughly as possible. To that end, as an
nounced in a statement issued at the
temporary White House In Augusta, Sec
rotary Of State DulleS-despite his recent
serious operation-will fly to Paris next
week to take part in full-dresS meeting
of NATO's ministerial council. In the
meantime, ending his recuperative period
in Key West, he will confer with the
President on Sunday on all aspects Of the
international situation, with particular
reference to the badly shaken status Of
Anglo French American relations.
This is a matter that bears vitality
on the effectiveness of NATO, and NATO,
as the Augusta statement has empha-
sized, sis basic and indispensable ele-
ment Of American defense alliances
against the continuing Soviet Communist
threat to the peace and security of the
world" 1t is a shield, in short, that pro-
tectS free men everywhere, and inter-
allied Squabbling cannot be allowed to
crack it. Actually, according to the White
House, differences that have arisen be-
tween the United States and her tradi-
tional friends and allies are those arising
from particular international incident.
These differences in no way should be
construed as a weakening or disruption
of the great bonds that have so long
Joined our Nation with the United King
dom and the Republic Of France and our
other allies in assuring that peace, justice
and freedom shall prevail"
Yet the fact remains that our coun-
try, because of the nature of the expedi-
ton against Egypt, has felt compelled
by principle to align itself with the
overwhelming United Nations majority
against Britain and France. So there is
an angry split between us and our two
greatest allies, and while it may not be
permanent it should not be allowed to
widen. On both sides of the Atlantic, the
repairmen must patch up the differences
that have weakened our Western unity.
Working with cool heads and in a spirit
of good will, they must put an end to
bitterness and recriminations and bring
back to the Atlantic alliance at least as
much solidarity as it had prior to the
Middle East crisis.
All of us can be reasonably certain
that this job will be carried out to a sue
cesSful conclusion. In any event, in spite
of the hard feelings that exist now, the
British and French-like ourselves and
every other ally-know in their hearts
and minds that the drift toward disunity
must be stopped and that the Atlantic
community must hold fast together for
the sake of common survival in a world
that seems to be growing daily more
dangerous. Surely, as long as that fact
governs Western relationships, we can be
confident that NATO, regardless Of cur
rent strains, will grow in strength rather
than decline.