E.K. INTERESTIN' N.A.T.O.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29233, 17 June 1960, Page 18

E.K. INTERESTIN' N.A.T.O.

“Commonwealth Not Compromised” There would be no conflict b»tween Commonwealth N A TO, interests while NA.T.O remained purely a military alii, ancc. said Group Captain S. Q Quill in an address to the Canterbury branch of the Royal Co®, monwealth Society. Commander of the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wig. ram. Group Captain Quill was with the Royal Air Force at a N.A.T.O. headquarters in Ger. many while on exchange from th* R.N.Z.A.F. The aims of the two bodim were entirely different, but organisations they were similar in that neither had a co-ordin. ated foreign policy and both were made up of independent countries. The membership of the United Kingdom and Canada in NA.T.O. had improved the defence of the Commonwealth, he said. These two countries had improved their military organisation, equipment and defence by joining the European alliance. Britain was a senior partner in the Commonwealth and the senior Commonwealth partner in N.A.T.O. Any military advantages gained from the alliance would be passed on to the Commonwealth countries, said Group Captain Quill. Regional Alliance

Some persons held that the presence of Commonwealth countries in N.A.T.O. meant that the Commonwealth was involved in European affairs. It should be remembered that almost all Commonwealth countries had made some defensive pact. India and Pakistan were committed to the Bagdad Pact, and Australia and New Zealand were members of A.N.Z.U.S. These were all regional alliances, just as the membership of the United Kingdom and Canada in NA.T.O. was regional. It did not follow that if Europe was plunged into war, the rest of the Commonwealth had to follow the United Kingdom and Canada. AU Commonwealth States were sovereign power* and it was already noticeable that countries such as India and Ghana were neutralist in policy, said Group Captain Quill. There was no division of loyalties by the United Kingdom and Canada being member* of N.A.T.O. However, if there was any change from a military alliance to a political union, there might be problems. “However, I feel that it is safe to say that the United Kingdom and Canada would not join any federation outside the Common-, wealth,” added Group CapUiq Quill. y ’