NUCLEAR ARMS IN EUROPE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 11

NUCLEAR ARMS IN EUROPE

Kennedy’s Offer On Control (N-Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 15. President Kennedy assured his Western Allies yesterday that American troops would remain in Europe as long as they were wanted there. The President also promised to give the Allies as much innuenoe as could be practically devised for the joint management of a multi-nation nuclear force.

But he pointed out the difficulties of polling 15 nations on a decision to fire nuclear weapons at a moment of peril.

He said he was prepared to work with anyone She Europeans might allow to speak for them, including the British Pripie Minister, Mr TTacmillan, or President de Gaulle, of France. . But he doubted that the Allies could obtain more at this stage than “a greater voice” in the advance planning of nuclear strategy. The President said he had no intention of reducing the number of United States combat forces on the Continent, although he confirmed that the withdrawal of some 15.000 support troops had been going on for some months. Six Divisions "We still hate six divisions and plan to maintain them until there is a desire on the part of the Europeans that they be withdrawn, and we have no indications from any country in Europe that there is such a desire.” he said. In a senes of comments about the Western Alliance, the President was obviously intent upon giving assurances that the United States would continue to pay for a proportionately large share of the common defence, “The Times” said.

Washington’s willingness to share the costs and the maintenance of 400.000 American troops in Europe ought to be sufficient evidence of the United States commitment, the President commented. Five Minutes

He said the question of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear multilateral deterrent was a very difficult

one because the weapons might have to be fired in five minutes. There was the question of who was going to be delegated on behalf of Europe to make that judgment.

“If it isn’t the President of the Wtited States m the case of the (N.A.T.0.) strategic force, it will have to be the President of France or the Prime Minister of Great Britain or someone else.” he said.

Through the multilateral or multinational system he said it was hoped to provide Europe “with a more authoritative position, a greater

reassurance that these weapons will be used with care for the defence of Europe.” He added that the United States’ own interests were involved in the defence of its Allies.

The President also said that the exclusion of Britain from the Common Market must not hinder trade relations between Europe and the. United States and must not be allowed to interfere with arrangements to let under-developed nations sell more of their commodities in Allied markets.

The use of Cuba as a centre for subversive activities in Latin America was a far greater danger than the likelihood of direct attacks from trie island. He hoped other Latin American nations would co-operate in efforts to cut down travel to and from Cuba as well as trie flow of money and propaganda. Berlin Status No decision had been reached on the possibility of resuming United StatesSoviet exploratory talks aimed at resolving the status of Berlin, he said. The Soviet threat to Ber-

lin was not. so overt as some months ago, and, with a reference to the present differences among the Western nations, he remarked: “Whatever success we may have had in reducing that threat, of course, we pay for it by increased problems within the Alliance.” The President acknowledged some “suspicion” that Governor Nelson Rockefeller, of New York, wanted to run against him in 1964, but he warned Republican critics of his foreign policy against “always assuming the United States is wrong” in a controversy. The proposed Malaysia Federation offered the best hope of security for that area of South-east Asia and he was hopeful that it would sustain itself, the President said.