Close NATO Watch On Middle East

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28153, 17 December 1956, Page 11

Close NATO Watch On Middle East

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

. PARIS, December 15. The nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have decided to dose and constant watch on tne Middle East to preserve world peace. . The NATO Council announced this a communique issued last night at the end of a four-day session in Pans. The communique says that Ministers of the 15 nations in the alliance discussed the threat that Russian penetration in the Middle East boses for NATO. In the communique, the council: Agreed on the need to face any threat which would endanger the security and freedom of the Atlantic Community. Emphasised the need for the speedy clearance of the Suez Canal in line with the United Nations resolution of November 2. Recorded its “shock and revulsion” at events in Hungary and asked the United Nations to continue to press Russia to withdraw its troops. Declared that the East European peoples should have the right to choose their governments freely. The communique referred only briefly to important decisions aimed at settling disputes between member countries find fostering political, economic and cultural co-operation. These were published earlier in the report of NATO’s “Three Wise Men” —the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Italy and Norway. Mr Dulles and Differences In a speech at today’s meeting, the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dulles) said the council had done a great deal to bury, if not to dissolve entirely, its differences. Mr Dulles said that private talks he had with other Ministers in Paris had been very helpful and important. He said that before the conference many Ministers had claimed that this would be one of the most important meetings ever held by the NATO Council. This has been proved correct. The adoption of the report of the “three wise men’ on non-military co-operation in NATO marked a great turning point in the development of the alliance. The council meeting took far-reach-ing steps to safeguard the solidarity of the alliance by providing for political consultations and empowering the secretary-general to mediate in disputes, according to Reuter’s correspondent. From next April, this task will fall on Mr Paul Henro-Spaak, the Belgian Foreign Minister, who was today appointed to replace Lord Ismay as secretary -general. The West German Defence Minister (Mr» F. Strauss) told the council his Government would plan to make the German Army an efficient fighting force backed by the most modern weapons available. He called on Britain, the United States and Canada to keep their forces in Europe so that aggression could be met with atomic arms. British Contribution The British Chancellor, of the Exchequer (Mr Harold Macmillan) said on his return to London from Paris that with greater power in modern weapons, Britain should be able to reduce substantially her ground forces contribution to NATO. He said he thought the total contribution of Britain’s whole defence budget was more that the United Kingdom economy could stand. Britain ought to try to make reductions in it, he said. The council’s communique said: Unity: “The Ministers drew from the experience of past divergences in the policies of NATO members the confirmation of the necessity for all members to develop effective political consultation and co-operation. They reaffirmed their determination to work together in unity and friendship to achieve the aims of the alliance and to strengthen the alliance- m all its aspects as an indispensable agency tor security and peace.” The Middle East: “The council discussed the threat which Soviet penetration into the Middle East would

present for NATO. In view of the fact that the security, stability and well-being of this area are essential to world peace, the council agreed to keep developments in this area under close and continuing observation. It also agreed on the urgent need to bring about, through the United Nations, a permanent political settlement between Israel and the Arab JStates. including an equitable solution of the Arab refugee problem.” Suez: “Council members emphasised in particular the need for rapid progress in clearing the Suez Canal in conformity with the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of November 2 last. The Ministers further stressed the urgent need for initiating and pressing to a conclusion negotiations through the good offices of the United Nations with a view to restoring the canal to full and free operation.”

Hungary: “The council has followed the course of events in Hungary with shock and revulsion. The brutal suppression of the heroic Hungarian people stands in stark contrast with Soviet public professions. The council reaffirmed the conviction of its member governments that the United Nations should continue its efforts, through the pressure of world public opinion, to induce the Soviets to withdraw their forces from Hungary and to right the wrongs done to the Hungarian people. The peoples of Eastern Europe should have the right to choose their own governments freely, unaffected by external pressure ana the use or threat of force, and to decide for themselves the political and social order they prefer.” Soviet Policy: “The Ministers examined the implications for NATO of Soviet policy and actions in Europe and elsewhere. In the light of their assessment of Soviet policy they were in full agreement on the need to face any threat which would endanger the security and freedom of the Atlantic community. In this connexion, the council approved a directive for future military plans, taking into account the continued rise in Soviet capabilities and the various types of new weapons available for NATO defence. The concept of ‘forward defence m NATO strategy will remain.”