ERHARD WARNING ON N.A.T.O. BREAK-UP

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 17

ERHARD WARNING ON N.A.T.O. BREAK-UP

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) BONN, December 19. The West German Chancellor, Dr. Ludwig Erhard, warned yesterday against a disintegration of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

He was speaking on the eve of his departure for Washington for talks with President Johnson.

He told a radio interviewer the development of a N.A.T.O. nuclear defence system was a decisive international issue. Political sources said Dr. Erhard would make specific proposals to President Johnson for creation of an international nuclear force with German participation. Dr. Erhard will meet with Mr Johnson on Monday and Tuesday, in his radio interview he said N.A.T.O. must continue to exist

The alliance must not be permitted to take the wrong way towards disintegration. Another problem facing Europe next year was to bridge the gap between the Common Market and other Western countries, especially Britain. Dr. Erhard said we shared the United States view that China rather than Russia was threatening world peace. “There is no doubt that Communist China is on its way to becoming a great power, also in the military sphere,” he said.

West Germany wants an active role in a N.A.T.O. nuclear weapons system. It considers that creation of a nuclear force is vital not only to her security but to the future of the alliance. But Russia has warned it will not sign a global treaty to block the spread of nuclear weapons if West Germany

has a finger on the N.A.T.O. nuclear trigger. Official sources said that against this background Dr. Erhard will proceed with i great restraint in Washington : and will try to be constructive ' in finding a solution to the i nuclear sharing issue. '

The West Germans are likely to press for a say in nuclear policy and targetting, whatever form the integrated system may take. The Defence Minister Mr Cai-Uwe Von Hassel is accompanying the Chancellor on the two-day trip to Washington.