U.S. Interest In Europe REASSURANCE AND APPEAL RY RUSK

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 13

U.S. Interest In Europe REASSURANCE AND APPEAL RY RUSK

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, December 3. The Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, yesterday appealed for greater understanding by European nations of the United States role in Vietnam.

He said American involvement in SouthEast Asia did not mean that United States interest in Europe was decreasing.

“We are deeply interested in Asia,” he told a trade union luncheon, “but there is no change in the interests and affections of America towards Europe. “We would hope that our friends in Europe would understand what we are trying to do in Asia. “World peace cannot be maintained unless it is clear to those who contemplate

aggression that the use of force will be met with force,” Mr Rusk said. Mr Rusk continued: “In this day and age it simply is not possible to maintain peace and order in one part of the world when aggression is rampant and in full swing in another part. “Quite simply we are fighting in Vietnam to allow the non-Communist countries of Asia to build stable and progressive societies and cohesive forces to be able to withstand the forces of Communist aggression.” Referring to United StatesEuropean relations, he said: “We sometimes hear it said that the United States is somehow losing interest in

Europe. This is simply not true.

He said the United States recognised the fear among Europeans over the so-called technological gap between America and Europe. “We have no desire to dominate European industry or their economies from this side of the Atlantic,” he said. “We welcome initiatives to reduce the technological gap.” In the military sphere the United States and its 13 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military alliance partners were working “very closely indeed." Mr Rusk referred to the possibility of reshaping the N.A.T.O. military alliance, after the withdrawal of France. In such a move the United States would welcome a European caucus—“something like a European defence community”—as a full partner of a reconstituted alliance. The United States Government did not seek rigid coordination but believed that cohesion and partnership across the Atlantic was vital. If Europe were to play a role in the world commensurate with its stature it had to merge its strength. “And if that merger is to be complete and secure then Britain must be a part of it,” he said.