Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-29

Italy and Norway. the task of pre-
pairing suggestions as to how these
new aims could be achieved.
The events of the summer and
autumn of 1855 clearly showed
how essential was such a political
bolstering. do not indeed believe
that the Atlantic alliance could
survive a repetition of the dis
agreement that revealed itself so
grievously in the course of the
Middle East crisis.
The danger then encountered
make 1t possible to understand
what were the necessary remedies
to be applied. The Foreign Min
listers had no difficulty at their
Paris meeting last year in accept
ing the recommendation Of the
three rapporteurs.
The aim Is not to unity the
foreign policies of the is member
countries Of the Alliance. That
would really be too ambitious. 1t is
more simply a matter, by the prac-
tice of prior consultation with re-
gard to major problems as they
arise Of avoiding disagreement on
action to be acknowledgements
the results of which might prove
disastrous and. in the long run, a
death blow to the alliance. Thus
defined and reduced to its lowest
denomination. the task nevertheless
remains heavy one.
A New Course
Systematic prior consultation
considered as a moral obligation
seems to me to be a great novelty
in diplomatic procedure: 1t in
deed involves a profound upheaval
in age-old traditions.
I think it possible to assert that
individual diplomacy" has for
long been the outstanding sign Of
national sovereignty. Now that the
era Of nations appears to be giving
way to that Of continents. diplo-
macy must in its turn adapt itself
to new ways. already accepted as
valid in the economic field. An Or
ganization such at NATO is the
place in which such methods
should be worked out. tried and
checked.
It Is not at NATO. however. that
each country's policy should be
evolved: that remains the es-
sentisl prerogative of the Min
lister for Foreign Affairs in each
capital.
II, however. the Atlantic ALI
ance is not only to subsist but to
widen its field Of activity and one
day be capable Of carrying out
its full task, it cannot be accepted
that in some corner of the globe
land this is where the concept Of
regional treaty breaks down
one of the member countries
should be able to adopt some' OBJ
jective or form of action contrary
to the interests of the others.
1t is a matter Of giving concrete
form to that solidarity so often
referred to in speeches. long
term task. Nothing Immediately
spectacular can be anticipated.
What must be done is gradually to
establish a practice which will. in
due course, become constant to
the extent that it proves fruitful.
Arms Tolk Promising
There is promise, feel. in what
happened last July in London.
There, four Western powers-the
United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom and France-discussed
disarmament with the Russians.
as a subcommittee Of the United
Nations.
Unquestionably, matters affect
ing all European countries and
also NATO decisions had to be
raised. Any solution put forward
must have the appreciation of all
concerned, and it was therefore
necessary TO establish close con-
tact between the four London
negotiating powers and the is
countries represented in NATO.
The experiment was ATTEMPTED