'De Gaulle Determined To Break Up N.A.T.O.'

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30055, 13 February 1963, Page 13

'De Gaulle Determined To Break Up N.A.T.O.'

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, February 12.

President de Gaulle is not only determined to keep Britain outside his Europe, but he also intends to bring about the break-up of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation—for while it remains in being, his hopes of creating a tight little European third force are doomed to failure.

These, according to the “Guardian’s” Paris correspondent, are the conclusions of British and international observers in Paris after a careful study of President de Gaulle's recent public statements and semi-public remarks and of remarks made in confidence by well-known quarters close to de Gaulle, “who have been remarkably frank and ready in exposing his future plans.” The correspondent said that what was being put about was roughly this: President de Gaulle is confident the angry reaction of France’s five partners in his rejection of Britain will die down and the Common Market will continue in the way he wishes it to. He reckons he has 10 -years to form the European third force he has planned—in other words that he will remain in office for that time.

He intends to negotiate treaties with Italy, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg on the same pattern as that recently made with Germany. Then, to counter accusations

that he is adopting an autocratic attitude towards his

partners, he will reintroduce his project for a European union, which will be framed to call for joint consultations among the Six on defence, foreign affairs and ‘economics.

The correspondent suggested President de Gaulle’s plan “is to pull the teeth out of the Rome Treaty.” There was at the moment nothing to indicate, he said, that the other five would find the European plan any more palatable in the future than they had done last year, when they rejected it emphatically. But, as they had finally acquiesced in France’s exclusion of Britain from the community, they might also accept the rest of President de Gaulle’s plans for Europe. “This would, however, be impossible while the Atlantic alliance remained in force and while American troops and bases were still in Europe. It is stated the general is confident that American forces will be withdrawn in five years, but there is a new obstacle to his plans looming up: a proposal for a N.A.T.O. multilateral force. “If this force is brought

into being with American and British Polaris submarines or, before they arrive, with British Vbombers and Italian dements, and if West Germany makes a contribution, then other non-nuclear N.A.T.O. Powers can be expected to join in and, far from breaking up, the Atlantic alliance will be strengthened. “President de Gaulle is on record as saying to some deputies in June last year: ’You speak to me of Europe. I prefer Europe to N.A.T.O. and among all forme of Europe it is that of the Six I like best.’

“To fashion Europe of the Six it is imperative he should bring about the disappearance of N.A.T.O. and that, it is thought, is likely to be his next objective,” the correspondent said.