Evening star., 1959-12-01

NATO leaders propose. Gen. de
Gaulle's lack Of interest in
NATO at this point stems
partly from his idea that the
alliance is too restricted in its
geographic interests.
Mr.. Spaak's Argument that
NATO planning should be
broadened to include Africa,
the Middle East and Asia may
not coincide with the, Generals
suggestions for a three-power
NATO directorate" of Britain,
France and the United States.
But it is a step toward meeting
persistent French demands for
co-ordinated policy on a global
scale.
I If there is general agreement
for closer consultation within
NATO, however, the idea of
beefing up the political and
economic machinery of the al
lance goes further. Beyond
general planning ana eo-ordin-
alton of policies. NATO lead
ers today are suggesting that
in a period Of competitive CO.
existence" with the Communist
world. the alliance should gear
itself to cope with the problems
of economic warfare. Partic-
ularly, it is suggested. NATO
should take over, on a COM
munity basis, the matter of
economic aid to underdeveloped
regions.
On this part Of the scheme
for adapting" the alliance
there is a good deal less un-
animity. Its supporters, with
Mr.. Spaak. argue that it is
a necessary part of NATO's ad-
justment to the era Of eco
nomic competition and logical
use of the elaborate machinery
created originally to deal with
the military threat. 1t is fur
thermore an effort ideally
suited in the minds of some
to re-establish the wider har-
mony" of the alliance so lack
ing today.
This is not entirely a new
argument either. Ever since
Economist Spaak took over as
Secretary General three years
ago, he has been talking along
these lines. And from the
beginning there have been two
serious objections to the idea
of NATO involving itself in the
business of distributing eco
nomic aid.
Nations Dislike "StringS"
The first is. of course. that
the underdevelopeo areas of
the world are also, by and large.
the neutral areas in terms of
the cold-war struggle. These
countries have natural aver
sion to military colitions in gen.
eral. And they object to any
offer of economic aid which
seems to have political strings
attached.
In its own aid programs in
these countries the United
States in the past has had to
go to elaborate lengths to avoid
the appearance of shopping for
political dividends. AS a COM
petitor in the field, the Soviet
Union has gone even further.
1t remains to be explained how
NATO-flrmly identified in the
minds of all neutrals as the
original military alliance of the
cold war-could adapt itself to
any useful role in this very
tricky area.
Even if it could, there are
some who contend that it would
not be a good thing.
Stress Defensive Role
These critics believe that in
his anxiety to find new jobs for
/ NATO to do, Mr.. Spaak and his
colleagues on the NATO Staff
are getting somewhat ahead of
themselves. Until the present
relaxations of tension goes
much further-in fact until
general and controlled disarma-
menN comes into effect the
argument goes, NATO must
continue to concentrate on its
role as a defensive military al
lance. Indeed, if the present
competition with the Soviet
Union happens to be developing
along more peaceful lines. it can
be reasonably argued that the
military strength which NATO
renreSentS in Western EllrOpe
is one of the principle explana-
tionS.
If in the name of "compe-
titive coexistence" this essential
role of NATO is neglected, it re-
mains quite probable that the
military threat to Western
Europe will be revived. Or at
the very least, it is felt, the po-
sition of the West would be