Role Of Greece And Turkey In Free World’s Defence

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 7

Role Of Greece And Turkey In Free World’s Defence

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) OTTAWA, September 15. The North Atlantic Council agreed to-day to take up the United States proposal that Greece and Turkey be brought into the Atlantic Defence Alliance to safe* guard the Eastern Mediterranean against aggression.

A full debate on this question was assured when the 12nation body adopted an eight-point agenda at its first closeddoor session to-day.

Delegates arriving at the meeting place had to skirt round a Communist picket line bearing anti-American slogans and urging Canada not to conscript soldiers for use in support of United States ventures. .

In his welcoming address the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Louis St. Laurent) made a plea for a new long-term plan to broaden the purposes of the defence alliance to include the peace-time objectives of helping the people of the Atlantic region to a richer life. “We need to consolidate our moral positions while we develop our strength.” he said. “The stronger we become the greater will be our responsibility, not only towards the peoples of our respective countries but also towards other nations.

“To-day the problem of security is paramount in our minds, but we would all rather devote our energies in more humanly profitable directions.”