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

and proved success. Bowling to
necessity, the NATO council was
able, without in any way slowing
up the main discussions, to reply
to all questions transmitted to 1t.
1t was able to consult the al
'liance's military authorities swiftly,
take the opinion of governments
and establish a common policy,
thus avoiding. in the course Of
important and difficult negotiaz
tons, any emergency of views
among Western countries.
That was undoubtedly an en-
couraging achievement. The prob
lem in this case was relatively easy
to solve, and it is indeed lucky
that the difficulties awaiting
NATO should be so scaled up. It
has, however, now been estab-
lished that this Joint policy can
perfectly well be worked out and
that the system Of prior consulta-
ton. in all frankness and loyalty.
is not an added complication. but.
on the contrary. makes things
easier.
Picking Up the GountIet
Such a success would then make
it possible for NATO to embark
upon Stage No. 8, that provided
Tor in Article of the treaty,
where it is stated:
They will seek to eliminate
conflicts in their international
economic policies and will en-
courage collaboration between any
or all of them"
1t must be acknowledged that
this phase has remained a dead
letter so far as the alliance is
concerned; yet the economic OBJ
1ective is far from being the least
important.
1t was already important in
l949 and is still more so in 1857.
Why? Because the struggle be-
tween communism and the West
will, in the future. be carried on
much more on economic and social
grounds than at the military
level-the essential one during
the FIRST years of the alliance.
The Communists are well aware
that they cannot conquer the free
world by force of arms SO long as
the Atlantic alliance remains
solid. They therefore now dream
Of reducing the free world for
their purpose has not and cannot
change. by demonstrating that
their economic system is an i'm
provement.
Here indeed is gauntlet thrown
down and to be picked up. We
may do so with a light heart. /
am indeed absolutely convinced
that it is now proved that the
combination of our political sys-
tenn and directed and social
form Of capitalism is superior to
political dictatorship allied to
state capitalism.
The results Of such a Compare
son are not, however, to be meas
ured at the national level. Some
heed must also be paid to the
poorer Western countries. II 1t
is desired that these should remain
faithful to the essential principles
Of our civilization and our alliance,
they must be assisted by making
it possible for them to make the
social and economic progress
necessary if a taste for liberty
and respect for the individual are
to be sustained.
Unity Required
This can only be done by the
West working as a solid unit.
Thus coordination of economic
policies. the main purpose Of
which would be to provide assist
ance to the leSs-favored nations
Of the alliance, as indeed to 9TH
ers outside it who have de-
cided to resist Communist propa-
ganda and its mirage, would be
one of NATO's main detectives
in the course of what hope is a
forthcoming stage. But it will be
so only if We have first of all sue
ceeded in establishing our joint
foreign policy.
To sum up:
The Atlantic alliance founded in
1949 has prevented both the grad
ual conquest of Europe by COM
munism and the outbreak of a
third world war.
The military effort for which
it calls must be maintained and
adapted to changing requirements
and the new means placed at its
disposal.
This military effort alone is.
however. insufficient. 1t must be
based upon co-ordinated foreign
policy.
Lastly. the alliance can and
must play a leading role during
the period of peaceful coexist-
ence" since it. in fact, but masks
large-scale economic and social
competition between East and
West.
We have already won the first
rubber. There is no reason to
believe. quite the contrary, that
we cannot win those that are to
follow.