Britain Urges New Role For NATO

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27961, 7 May 1956, Page 13

Britain Urges New Role For NATO

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(Rec. 10 p.m.) PAFiIS, May 5. Britain today called on the 15-nation Atlantic Pact to launch a “political offensive” to enable the West to offset the effects of Russia’s switch in foreign policy tactics.

The demand came from the Foreign Secretary (Mr Selwyn Lloyd) as he presented to the pact’s Ministerial Council Britain’s proposals for building up the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s political and economic activities.

Mr Lloyd said NATO must make a “positive presentation to the world of our ideas.” He set out the West’s ideals as “freedom of thought, freedom to write, freedom of political and trade union opposition” and other basic democratic rights.

“These ideals are better than any others. They should be vigorously propounded,” he said. This should be done by more frequent political consultation among the Western allies, which should take place as early as possible when issues loomed. Mr Lloyd supported the proposal put forward yesterday by the United States Secretary of State, Mr Dulles, for the setting up of a small group of Foreign Ministers to consult urgently with all the governments concerned and to produce a new plan for Western political and economic strategy. “But these ‘three wise men’ should work as individuals and not as representatives of their governments,” Mr Lloyd said. He proposed for the job Mr Lester Pearson, Canada’s External Affairs Minister, and the Norwegian and Italian Foreign Ministers. Mr Dulles told the council meeting that Moscow’s economic moves in the struggle for the friendship of uncommitted countries required a change of method by the North Atlantic Community. Conference sources said Mr Dulles told the council that the recent Soviet policy changes were due in part to the West’s growing strength in recent years.