Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
THE WEST REACTS
The Presidents GIobaI Illness
NATO Session SoreIy Needs
Thut Eisenhower Prestige

nations in NATo that their OBJ
legations - and dangers ~ under
NATo commitments VIII remain
the same while their security
dwindles.
France In particular will seek
not only q more important role
in NATO's top councils. but also
will demand inclusion in the nu-
clear weapons monopoly French
policy. disclosed at the recent
LONDON sessions OF the United
Nations Disarmament Subcom-
mittee. is to push its own nuclear
weapons development toward COM
pletion. A French atomic explosion
is expected BY next April.
While other NATo member ma
tons have no similar plans. they
have indicated plainly that the
division Of responsibility In NATO
must be such as TO assure them
full participation IN policy.
The Question Of Boses
Among the most pressing prob
lens to confront the Paris sessions
will be that OF bases in continental
Western Europe for American In
termediate range ballistic missiles.
Such devices as the Army's Jupi-
ter and the Air Force Thor, or
dered into production by the De-
Tense Department last week. have
a range Of about 5000 miles and
could command most key targets
IN European Russia.
But the NATO nations on whose
territory such bases would be es-
tablished are going TO proceed
cautiously, Since they would
themselves be prime targets for
Soviet missiles. they will need
to be assured that the security
they may gain is worth the risk
they take.
In direct connection with the
missile base proposal. the United
States has indicated it will seek
10 establish stockpiles Of nuclear
weapons in Western Europe. Such
depotS will be United States prof.
ects. with American control as
required by present legislation.
But the forces OF NATO members
will be trained in the use Of tao
tical nuclear weapons. and later.
II Congress eases the existing re-
strictons. may take over opera
ton of the stockpiles themselves.
Here again. the host nations will
move with caution and for the
same reasons.
There is expected to be little
difiiculty in working out a NATO
plan for full cooperation in basic
research. including the exchange
Of information as well as joint or
multi-national projects. But here
again Congress must act TO permit
the sharing Of nuelear informa-
ton with NATo members. since
the Atomic Energy Act forhids the
divulging Of atomic secrets even
to allies.
In the present circumstances.
however. with the Soviet Union
obviously well informed In the
field. little difntWty is expected in
Congress for the administration
plan to amend the law.
These and other challenging
problems will make the Paris
meeting NATO's most important
since the inception Of the alliance.
In substance, the West will be
meeting to face the fact Of a
changed and now menacing world
situation. The stakes will be
survival.
But NATO. although its pri-
mary role has been military, is
increasingly concerned with politi-
cal considerations. In an alliance
of Is nations of many degrees of
power. the expansion of NATO's
significance outside the military
field involves extremely compile
Gated problems. And although out
side the purely military. the politi-
cal problems are necessarily closely
related to the military and must
be considered as such.
While there are many facets
Of the political situation TO be
discussed. they all have a common
denomination: In an alliance such
as NATO. how much national
sovereignty must be sacrificed,
and how much will the peoples
Of the member nations permitY
Thursday the NATO Council,
emphasizing the importance Of
this months Paris meeting. de-
cided to keep the sessions at the
'heads-of -government" level, even
II President Eisenhower could not
attend. Additionally. Mr.. Spaak
promised a major change in policy:
For this Council meeting. he will
hold q press conference following
each session, thus assuring great
er public knowledge Of the crucial
deliberations.