Evening star., 1963-01-29
Our Loqqinq Allies

At some points, the report Of the
Senatorial group headed by Majority
Leader Mansfield is phrased In am
biguous language. Its overall import,
however, is clear enough: the United
States is being squeezed and exploited
by some or all of its allies in Western
Europe. -1 ---.-
This study was made at the request
OF the President, and the report was
signed, in addition to Mr.. Mansfield, by
Senators Boggs and Pell, and former
Senator Smith of Massachusetts,. These
gentlemen are not happy with what they
found in their European survey.
Despite the striking economic re-
covery In Europe, resulting In subStan-
tisl part from American help, the United
States still is carrying the lions share
OF the economic load. For instance, total
defense expenditures Of the United
States, the report says, are in excess
Of $50 billion year. The total for all
Of the other NATO members is about
SIS billion. Our draft period of "a
months is equaled only by Turkey and
Greece. Great Britain has no draft,
and the period in the other countries
is 1S months. We maintain 100000 men
in Europe for the defense of the NATO
area. Our allies, however, give no in
dication of intent to raise the additional
six divisions needed to bring the total
to 80. And France, whose President de
Gaulle speaks doubtfully of the willing
ness OF the United States to honor its
military commitments, has scarcely two
divisions in the NATO force.
On the economic side, Britain is
being frozen out Of the Common Mar
ket, while the continental countries, led
by France, are raising tariff barriers
against American farm exports. In
foreign aid, we are still being saddled
with a major and inequitable burden,
although some of our proSpering allies
are quite capable of doing more. Di-
viSive political tendencies are at work
in the European community, and most
OF our NATO associates are busily en-
gagged in trade with the Communist
countries, while we, fooliShly, the report
suggests, continue to maintain official
inhibitions" on such trade. Finally, the
report implies, the United States is more
concerned with the defense Of Western
Europe than is Western Europe itself.
What to do2 Here, the report is
vague. 1t says there is no reason to
reject the possibility" that the United
States might maintain fewer divisions
abroad for the defense of Europe and,
especially West Berlin. 1t says we must
be prepared" to meet economic dis
elimination by invoking the defensive
mechanisms" in the trade bill. 1t urges
that we restrain our own bureaucratic
tendencies" to introduce grant or easy
loan assistance programs in former col
onies to which our allies are extending
forms Of assistance on which they make
profit. Finally, the report warns that
prolongation of these inequities may
lead TO sudden popular disaffection
lin the United States and dangerous
retreat to the Western Hemisphere"
These candid comments are to be
welcomed. In our judgment, however
1t is doubtful that the Europeans will
be greatly impressed. For in a prelimi-
nary section, the report quotes this July
IS, 1861, statement by the President:
I'VE cannot and will not permit the
Communists to drive us out Of Berlin,
either gradually or by force. For the
fulfillment OF our pledge to that city
is essential TO the morale and security
Of West Germany, to the unity of West
ern Europe, and to the faith of the entire
free world"
This sweeping commitment en-
bodies what, for years, has been our
national policy. II the Europeans,
reading 1t, think that we are hooked
and that they can afford to take 1t easy,
who can blame them2