Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-10

NAA&A NAAN aNAANAAAA $50 1NAANAN
involving the stationing OF
short and long-range missiles
IN NATO countries Il routine
and unconnected with tomor-
rows opening Of the Geneva
conference. which win deal with
problems OF European security
and measures for reducing ten
sions In Europe.
The obvious effect Of the
NAro move. however, Is 10
serve notice on the Soviet
Union that the United States
and its Western allies intend
In two months 10 begin train
ing West German forces. as
well as the troops Of other
NATO allies, IN the use Of the
nuclear weapons which Soviet
propagandists dread.
Until Congress acts. or fails
10 act over the 60-day period.
the Soviet Union still has a
chance 10 delay or reverse the
administration decision.
Thus the move provides the
United States with a bargain
ing point in the coming Geneva
negotiations.
The danger OF Western re-
armament Of West Germany is
one of the points believed
genuinely TO alarm the Soviet
Union. II may be that Ameri-
can negotiators believe they are
building up a threat which
they can withdraw If the Soviet
Union makes conferences
sions.
Charge Rejected
Only yesterday, the United
States sent the Soviet Union a
note rejecting its charge that
this country was seeking to
wreck the coming Geneva ne
gotiations by providing nuclear
weapons and missiles for Ger
many and other European
countries.
The state DEPARTING en- I
answer has been that the de-
cision to provide NATO with
stockpiles of nuclear weapons
and intermediate range ballistic
missiles was taken as long ago
as December, 1857.
Offlcials say the training and
exchange Of information now
agreed to in bilateral agree
mentS with West Germany. the
Netherlands, Greece and Tur-
key applies not only to nuclear
weapons, but also to Short
range missiles.
These countries soon will
have the multi-purpose Nike.
Honest John, Corporal and
Matador short-range missiles.
The new authority President
Eisenhower seeks does not ex-
tend into the longer-range
field of the ICBM.
Britain and Italy already
have signed agreements with
the United States for the
basing of Thors and Jupiters in
their countries.
Britain has its own atomic
weapons and presumably has
enough American warheads, as
well as design information for
producing more, to arm not
only the IRBMs but also its
own shorter-range rockets.
The agreement with Italy for
basing Jupiter IRBMs there
was signed only a month ago,
and there is no definite infor-
nation whether nuclear stock
piles are available in that
country.
There were two reasons for
the timing of the NATO an
nouncement on the move to
train troops of the four NATO |
nations in the handling Of
nuclear warheads.
Waiting Period
First, the requirement that |
the bilateral agreements lie be-
fore Congress so days dictated
that the State Department ap-
proach Capitol Hill soon so
that the time can expire be-
fore adjournment. expected in
July.
Second, American officials
felt the action should be taken |
before the start of the Geneva
foreign ministers conference. to
avoid giving the Soviet Union
a pretext for breaking off nego-
tiations.
The texts of the agreements
between the United States and
West Germany, the Neither
lands, Greece and Turkey are
expected to be made public |
when they are placed before |
Congress this week.
Troops of the four NATO
powers have already been |
training in the operation Of |
the short-range missiles which |
will carry the atomic weapons.
The missiles are dual purpose
weapons, also capable of using
conventional explosives in the
warheadS.