Evening star., 1961-12-16
NATO
Continued From Page Al

COntlnue0 from rage Al
Wet Foreign Minister -Andrei
A. Gromyko-and perhaps Pre-
mier Khrushchev himself-to
explore prospects of a compro-
mise on Berlin.
British Foreign Secretary
Lord Home, arriving back in
London today, said he hoped
tension over Berlin would be
relieved now that the NATO
council has approved the re-
sumption of diplomatic contacts
with the Soviet Union over the
disputed city.
Il think the allies are agreed
about the essential, substantial
elements which might form a
settlement" Lord Home said
but. of course, we cannot tell
whether a settlement will be
possible until we get into direct
contact again with the Rus
SianS." .- ...,
AS Foreign. Finance and De-
fenSe Ministers of the 15-nation
Atlantic alliance travelled home,
a high French official unfolded
the intriguing drama of the
inter-allied duel over Berlin
policy played out behind the
Sedate scenes of the three-day
parley.
This is the story as the
Frenchman told it:
France opposed talks with
the Russians on grounds that
Mr., khrushchev. who manufac-
tured the Berlin crisis, would
see 1t as weakness. About all
the other allies favored nego-
tiationS, fearing that the crisis
IN the divided city could be-
come flashpoint of possible
AAASACdL war.
Foreign ministers of the four
big Western powers directly
concerned-the United States
Britain, France and West Ger
many-thrashed the matter out
IN two days of intensive talk
ing Monday and Tuesday. The
French found themselves iso-
lated.
When the Atlantic Council
began its meeting Wednesday
the subject was discussed at
length again, for most of the
day. The same pattern emerged
France was odd man out,
The ministers ordered their ex-
perts to try to reconcile the
conflicting viewpoints.
They worked at the job non-
stop for 13 hours, producing
draft after draft. Finally agree
ment was reached on a brief
passage fitted into a general
communique of the NATO con-
ference which totaled about
1900 words.
The whole communique, with
its IA points. was placed before
the ministers yesterday.
The Berlin formula, neatly
divided into two parts, said:
"The council heard state
ments on Berlin by the foreign
ministers of the countries most
directly concerned, and was
informed of the intention to
resume diplomatic contacts
with the Soviet Union, in ac-
cordance with the aims which
the West is pursuing for the
maintenance of world peace
and in the hope that these
contacts might serve TO de-
termine whether a basis for
negotiation could be found.
Their colleagues approved
the resumption of diplomatic
contacts and expressed the
hope that a negotiated settle
ment could be achieved. After
full discussion of the situation,
the council agreed that the
alliance must continue on its
resolute course, combining
strength and firmness of pur-
pose with a readiness to seek
solutions by peaceful means"
The first part of the formula
reflected the results of the
four-power discussions when
the French in effect were noti-
fled that the Americans and
British intended going ahead
with their probing of Soviet
The second part of the for
mula reflected the unanimous
feeling IF the II other mem.
bers of .i.e alliance who favor
negotiate