Allies To Discuss Rhine Army Costs

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31190, 14 October 1966, Page 15

Allies To Discuss Rhine Army Costs

GV.Z.P..4. Reuter —Copyright)

BONN, October 13.

The United States, Britain and West Germany will confer next week on what forces they will need to meet a Communist threat in Europe—and how to meet the bill.

.The talks, which will begin in Bonn on Thursday, have been prompted largely by American and British insistence that West Germany must find some means of offsetting the foreign currency costs of the troops stationed there.

Britain is threatening to trim its Rhine Army to a level the Germans can pay for.

Officials say this could in-

volve the withdrawal o± one of the three British divisions as well as cuts in logistic support. Delegates to the talks will be: United States —John McCloy, former high commissioner in Germany, Britain—deputy foreign minister George Thomson, West Germany—state secretary Karl Carstens of the foreign ministry. Another background factor is the suggestion made by President Johnson on October 7 for a mutual reduction in forces in both Western and Eastern Europe.

Diplomatic observers in London said this kind of idea could well be discussed in Bonn.

A prelude to next week’s talks will be Anglo-German talks in Bonn today on troop costs. Prospects for this look gloomy and substantial British troop cuts are forecast.