DEFENCES OF WEST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 5

DEFENCES OF WEST

“No Immediate War Threat” AIMS STATED BY MR ACHESON (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 31. “Notlnng was said at the meetings Ox the North Atlantic Foreign Ministers in Landon this month to indicate any immediate threat of war.” said the United States Secret” ry of State (Mr Dean Acheson) to-day in an address to Congress on the meetings. “It was our unanimous view that this is not the problem,” he added. “Ihe problem is to meet a threat which in view of the known programme of the Kremlin will exist unless we act to prepare our defences against aggression. “i do wish to emphasise our basic understanding on objectives, on the dangers and threats which confront us. and on the requirements for action, and the businesslike atmosphere of the meetings. These may not at first appear dramatic, but this is in my opinion the most dramatic fact that could be reported. It is news of quiet, practical, and immense significance.” It was unmistakably clear in all the discussions that the common purpose in preparing common defences was a peaceful one. said Mr Acheson. But so long as any dictatorship built power ul armed forces, so long must the democracies evidence their determination to defend themselves by maintaining adequate forces in an adequate state of preparedness. Five Tasks The five tasks allotted to the Foreign Ministers’ deputies were: (1) To co-ordinate the various planning activities related to defence. (2) To recommend measures necessary to carry out those plans. To consider common political problems related to the objectives of the North Atlantic Treaty. (4) To promote and co-ordinate public information on treaty questions. (5) To consider the development of political and economic co-opera-tion as contemplated in Article 2 of the treaty. Mr Acheson said the most important action of the Council was the recommendation of principles to the Governments to guide the development of common defence. He said that me principle of balanced collective forces "is of great, perhaps revolutionary significance.” It wou.d demonstrate that each country would rely on every other member of the Atlantic community. It would demonstrate that each country recognised that its own security was not better than the security oi the community as a whole. “it will give tangible proof to an aggressor that he must face the combined resources of the community and that there will not be opportunities to pick off one member at a- time.” The United Stales necessarily had a leading role m rhe building of collective forces, said Mr Acheson. “11 we faithfully observe this principle ana direct our energies to the creation of such forces, we will find a corresponding response from tne other treaty members. “The President has authorised me to say that he supports Defence Secretary Johnson and me in our view that w e must make this principle work, for we can see no other way to accompl sh the job oi defence and at the same time get ahead with the constructive tas.t of building a successluily functioning economy in the free u orld. “The Right Road” “The Atlantic community is on the right road. We have gone some distance down it ana we know where we are going. This is the road to peace. “Tc getaer, this community has the human and material resources. skiLs, initiative, tradition, and devotion of Iree men, and a dynamic idea which can give us confidence that the future belongs t > freedom. In our unity there is strength, and in our strength is tne foundation ot peace.” Mr Achesun laid particular emphasis on what he called “the new vigour in European life and European leadership.” He said that signs of this were the French coal and steel proposal and the imminent solution of the problems surrounding the European Payments Union. Those two developments gave him warrant in saying that the meetings marked the beginning of something new. something which was full of hope and a promise of strength. He said the ec nomic progress of the Western European nations in* the •ost-war years had played an .essential part in the strengthening of their social and political structures and in preventing the subversion of their free institutions. While that had been going forward the Soviet Union had been devoting so much of its resources to military purposes that a dangerous situation was developing. It was plain that the provision of the necessary defence would require a very large economic and effort. and that the continued development of production and productivity was essential to underpin the defence effort and to maintain and extend hard-won social and oclitical gains. “In the face of these equal and equally compelling needs for increased defence and strengthened economies the free nations have corne therefore to another time of decision.” said Mr Acheson. “The world does not stand st<ll. It is un to us whe'nrr we go forward or f 'll back, and in falling back risk not onlv al 1 the progress wo hav'’ mode but tot-ff failure. British Commonwealth Mr Acheson said that his talks with Mr Bevin and Mr Schuman reflected a deep appreciation of the need tor common, mutually supporting pclic'.cs. Stating that it had long been clear in Europe that no real progress would be oossible until France and. Germany wcricea out their age-old differences. Mr Acheson added that the Foreign Ministers were hopeful that Germany would soon join the councils of Europe. “Our statement expressing our determination to maintain our rights in Berlin, together with our actions m that city in recent months, may have had some influence on the relative ouiet which prevailed in Berlin on Sunday.” he said. “In London the initiative of the Commonwealth Conference in Sydney for a programme of economic development in South and South-east Asia was discussed, and Mr Bevin was informed that this Government will attempt to co-ordinate its efforts m that area with the efforts of the Commonwealth. in order that our actions wi l ! be mutually sunporting.” Mr Acheson added that he and Mr Bevin had reaffirmed their governments’ concern with the securitv and welfare of Greece. Turkey, and Persia, and that with Mr Schuman they had agreed on a firm policy towards arms shipments and security for the Arab Stages and Israel. .

He had had “a most satisfactory discussion” with Mr Schuman on the Indo-China situation.