N.A.T.O. AND FRANCE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29324, 1 October 1960, Page 4

N.A.T.O. AND FRANCE

Some Defences , Integrated (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, September 28. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Supreme Commander (General Lauris Norstad) has had a partial success in his bid to have the French air defence system integrated within' the N.A.T.O. framework. I But a final decision to commit! French air units to war-time' action still rests with a French officer, British United Press re-' ported. Over the bulk of French! territory, the air forces still , remain under French national control. This compromise solution was approved today by the Permanent N.A.T.O. Council. The agreement had been worked out between N.A.T.O. and the French High Command. This decision does not affect General "de Gaulle’s stand on withholding the French fleet from the N.A.T.O. command during- war-time, or his refusal to allow United States atomic stocks .in France, unless the French retain control over their use. The main feature of the agreement was the linking of the French systems of ground-to-air rockets, anti-aircraft and early warning radar with the unified air defence system. In addition, the French tactical air force units in Germany and Eastern France come under the unified NAT.O. command. Announcement of the agreement was greeted with satisfaction in allied quarters in Paris, and one source said: “It is a good working agreement, and constitutes a considerable measure of progress.”