Troubles And Changes From Conference

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 9

Troubles And Changes From Conference

(Rec. 8 p.m.) BONN, May 4. The Atlantic allies today faced fierce, new onslaughts from Russia and their own political opponents for basing Western defence largely on the deterrent of hydrogen bomb power, the American Associated Press reported today. Their insistence to do so was reaffirmed in a policy declaration last night, which served notice that the allies w-ere ready to use all available means, including their nuclear weapons, against any aggressor. The statement spelled trouble most of all for the Government of the West German Chancellor, Dr. Adenauer, which is to campaign for a General Election on September 15. The 50,000,000 West Germans are split almost down the middle on the role their land should play in the struggle between the American-led and Russian-led power blocs. Grip on East

Dr. Adenauer and his Conservatives want to remain tied with the allies, and think that if they go on leaning long enough against the Soviets they will eventually free their East German kinsmen from the Communist grip. The Socialist leader, Mr Ollenhauer, wants West Germany out of the Atlantic alliance—the price he thinks Russia will accept for allowing the two to reunite.

Lately the issue has been dramatised by this simple problem: Should West Germany’s emerging army be equipped with the nuclear weapons of mass destruction only 12 years or so after being vanquished in a world war of their own making? The Kremlin has already warned Dr. Adenauer that his country might become one big ’’cemetery” if the answer is “yes.” Now sounds of hot new Russian fury are awaited. Adenauer’s Answer By joining 14 Atlantic Pact partners in their newest statement Dr. Adenauer clearly has answered “yes.” He has defied the Russians and a lai7?e body of political and scientific opinion at home.

The N.A.T.Q. Foreign Ministers raced through their programme to wind up last night. Few decisions were taken. The two-day meeting primarily was an occasion for swapping views on the problems of the Middle East, attending to a number of family quarrels and assessing ..Russian intentions in Europe and Scther parts of the world. The United States Secretary of State, Mr Dulles, made it

plain that the United States was determined to go some way beyond the mere movement of the Sixth Fleet to the East Mediterranean if Jordan’s independence demanded it. But he did not indicate just how far they might go. U.S. Intentions Some of America’s friends were said- to hay* ■ fiffifrAfea lantfc allies shouiakept better informed of the United States’ intentions during the Jordan crisis. Apparently they felt their countries may have been involved if things had gone wrong. Most of the Foreign Ministers will disperse today. Mr Dulles called on Dr. Adenauer today to discuss the results of the N.A.T.O. conference. There had been no sign of reviving the pre-Suez practice of three-power consultations among the United States, Britain ana France before important international meetings. New Departure Most officials of the N.A.T.O. delegations seem to think that the Bonp meeting marked a new departure in international procedure among the Western nations. The impression is that Mr Dulles has now assumed the position of leader of the Atlantic community, replacing the sort of unofficial three-power leadership the alliance had had before the Suez crisis. Observers see a shift from the old British, French and American trio to a German-American axis.

The emphasis which the N.A.T.O. council put on German reunification in its communique last night is "seen in Bonn as a first fruit of this “axis,” and a diplomatic success for Mr Dulles and Dr. Adenauer. Both Mr Selwyn Lloyd ana Mr Christian Pineau, the British and French Foreign Ministers, are thought to have played secondary roles during the meeting.