U.S. strategy reviewed

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 19

U.S. strategy reviewed

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Nov. 9. The Nixon Administration is conducting a sweeping review of the strategy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the New York Times News Service reports. Senior officials say it could ultimately lead to basic changes in the’ alliance’s tactics, the size of its forces, and its weapons.

A new strategy is needed, these officials contend, if the

alliance is to adjust to the growth in Soviet nuclear power and to the decline in the forces and funds being devoted by N.A.T.O. members to their non-nuclear forces.

Among the options under consideration in the review, conducted by the National Security Council, are a long range withdrawal of up to 256,000 of the 300,000 American troops now in Western Europe and a heavy reliance on a group of what are called “clean” nuclear weapons, which are said to have little or no fall-out. Present strategy, in the Western alliance calls for an attempt to meet any nonnuclear invasion with a nonnuclear defence as far as possible, leaving ambigous whether and when some of the 7000 tactical nuclear weapons based in Western Europe might be employed. Knowledgeable officials say that President Nixon is inclined to oppose the idea of withdrawing large numbers of troops during the two years remaining in his term of office.

The President, it is said, is determined to give Europe time to explore opportunities for improved East-West* relations and the possibility of mutual force reductions. At the same time, the United States is hoping that a freeze on the nuclear weapons build-up will be agreed to at the talks on limiting strategic arms, which have resumed in Helsinki.

Nevertheless, officials say, an early withdrawal of significant numbers has been proposed by the United States Secretary of Defence (Mr Melvin Laird). He is said

to have urged, in connection with Budget decisions for next year, that 20,000 to 40,000 supply troops be withdrawn. The annual savings are estimated at SUS2OO million.

The Laird plan seeks to reduce defence spending and mollify those in Congress who are eager to have the other N.A.T.O. members assume a much greater burden of their own defence. Senior planners express hope that the willingness already being shown by allies to make some improvement in their own military forces and to provide s3oom to ssoom annually in some form to help offset the cost of American troops in Europe will enable the Nixon Administration to block a drive in Congress next year for large reductions in forces.