Kennedy Proposes Atom Naval Force For N.A.T.O.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 11

Kennedy Proposes Atom Naval Force For N.A.T.O.

<N Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

OTTAWA, May 18. President Kennedy ended his first State visit today on a note of warning to Communist aggressors and of challenge to the North Atlantic Allies to strengthen free world security, according to the Associated Press. The President and Mrs Kennedy are due back in Washington late this morning after their first official visit across the I nited States boundaries since the President was inaugurated in Januarv.

In a speech to the Canadian Parliament yesterday. Mr Kennedy held out the prospect of an atomic-armed naval force jointly controlled by all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Governments, provided the alliance members first strengthened their conventional. non-nuclear forces. A.P. said. The President said NATO’s conventional and nuclear forces must both be increased so that "no aggressor will mistake our determination to respond instantly with whatever force is appropriate “Our opponents are watching to see if we are divided, deceived or in doubt about their grand designs." Mr Kennedy said. “We must show them that we are not—that we are determined.” Mr Kennedy also urged Canada to assume added res- '■ ponsibility for the defence and economic betterment of the entire Western Hemisphere, not just North America. He encouraged Canada to join the Organisation of American States. It was believed that the Canad.an Prime Minister (Mr Diefenbaker) informed Mr Kennedy during a long private conversation yesterday that his Government bad come to no decision yet on joining the 0.A.5., A P. said Mr Diefenbaker also reportedly advised Mr Kennedy that his Government was fully aware of the benefits of foreign aid But he declined to commit Canada at this time to increase assistance to Latin America and underdeveloped nations elsewhere. The House of Commons chamber was crammed with members of Parliament and spectators to hear Mr Ken-

nedy deliver his address. They welcomed the President and his wife with applause and the traditional deskpounding. They clapped when he emphasised close ties between his country and theirs, and they gave him a standing ovation at the finish. But when he advocated Canadian partnership in in-ter-American as well as North American affairs, when he called for expansion of aid to Latin America and when he proposed a NATO. buildup, they listened attentively but silently.

Mr Kennedy said N ATO must be sure of enough atomic weapons to defend the entire treaty area. But he added that these weapons must remain “under close and flexible political contrql that meets the needs of all NATO countries.” The United States was ready to work out suitable arrangements, he said. Mr Kennedy recalled that the United States would supply Polaris atomic missile submarines to the alliance, “subject to any agreed NA TO guide lines on their control and use

“Beyond this, we look to the possibility of eventually establishing a N.A.T.O seaborne missile force, which would be truly multi-lateral tn ownership and control, if this should be desired and found feasible by our allies once N.A.T.O.’s non-nuclear goals have been achieved.” Mr Diefenbaker was reported to have told Mr Kennedy in their meeting with top advisers yesterday that Canada had not yet decided how it would vote when admission of Communist China next arose at the United

Nations. Canada is exporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of wheat to China. Mr Diefenbaker was believed to have promised consultations with the United States on the United Nations question, A.P. said. Mr Kennedy and his wife were hosts last night at a small dinner party at the United States Embassy in honour of the Governor-Gen-eral, General Vanier, and Mrs Vanier, whose official guests they have been during the stay. Only about 20 guests attended.